Dear Editor:

Today our school learned many necessary grants will be eliminated thanks to our new governor's proposed cuts. One grant would have paid for our successful After the Bell reading program, which assists young, struggling readers and has improved PSSA scores.We need quality educators to help our students grow up with intelligence, confidence and heart - things they need to help enhance our communities and elsewhere. Gov. Corbett's cuts, however, are an embarrassment to our profession's future.Corbett's campaign site states he will "Better track the use of educational dollars and ensure those with greatest educational challenges get proper funding." All schools have educational challenges, sir, and eliminating necessary funding is not only halting our drive toward improvement, but throwing it in reverse."Tom will begin to cut the strings from Harrisburg, giving greater flexibility to schools to direct resources to best achieve students' learning." I had hoped "cutting the strings" did not involve axing the money we need to help these students actually achieve.I am worried just how effective our schools will become if the money we wholeheartedly need is removed. As an educator, it is natural for me to fear for my students' futures. I do not appreciate also having to be worried about my own.Christopher BarnesNorthern Lehigh School District