Pubdate: Sat, 12 May 2001 Source: Ft. Worth Star-Telegram (TX) Copyright: 2001 Star-Telegram, Fort Worth, Texas Contact: http://www.star-telegram.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/162 Author: Howard Wooldridge CONFLICTING PRIORITIES Every survey shows that education is the No. 1 priority for this state and nation. Yet we read that in Texas we are short 40,000 teachers (Tuesday news story, "State insurance for teachers advances"). To address this crucial shortage, Texas will offer an insurance plan to teachers that resembles "a used Chevrolet," said state Sen. Teel Bivins. There is no doubt in my mind that the No. 1 priority in Texas is building and maintaining more prisons. The drug war fills them up, and our resources go to lock up all the Robert Downey Jr.'s of the world. What a waste of my tax dollars. Howard J. Woodridge Keller - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens