Anyone with teenagers knows what a hassle it is to get them out of bed at 6 a.m. to get them to school on time. Teenagers need more sleep than adults, but with school starting so early, many do not get enough. The result: students often fall asleep in class.

It is time for county schools to set a later high school start time to improve student attendance, health and grades.

School districts in 19 states have adopted later start times, with good results. More than 100 districts in 17 other states are considering the idea. The most notable is Minneapolis. It was the first to change and has seen dramatic results. A Minneapolis high school that delayed its starting time saw a 4 percent increase in attendance from 83 percent to 87 percent. At Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, on average, 100 students are late to first period each day. If a student is tardy five times, he or she loses credit for the class, so being on time to school is critical for students' academic achievement.

Forcing students to get up so early is bad for their health. The National Sleep Foundation has found that teenagers need nine to nine and a half hours of sleep per night, but most get six to seven depending on the homework load.

According to the New York State United Teachers, 20 percent of all high school students fall asleep in school. A study of 3,000 students by the University of Minnesota Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement found that students who started school 45 minutes later than others in the same area behaved better and showed fewer signs of depression.

Also, since schools start so early many teenagers skip breakfast, which is necessary for growing and developing children, especially teens. One B-CC 10th-grader said, "I have to wake up at 5:30 to eat breakfast," which means he gets even less sleep than he would if he skipped breakfast.

High school students are under pressure to get good grades for college admission. The Minnesota study showed that student grades increased with delayed start times. Tests are based on what is taught in class, and students who are late or drowsing at their desks miss important material. Consequently, they do poorly on tests, and their future may be affected.

Some have argued that a delayed start time would make it difficult for athletic teams to hold after-school practices, especially in the fall. But most students don't play sports, and their academic progress is being jeopardized for the sake of a few athletes.

Changing high school start times would benefit everyone: students, parents and faculty. The county should wake up and face the fact that early start times are a failure.

Evan Witten, Chevy Chase

The writer is a 10th-grade student at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School.

Subin: Much to be thankful for

This Thanksgiving period has given me much time to reflect and think about what I am most thankful for.

It has given me the chance to give thanks for all of my friends and how grateful I am for them. We all have periods when we find out how important they are and I just did.

I also have reason to thank my ofttimes and worthy political adversary, Bob Abrams, who has taken the opportunity to remind me that politics should not be personal, that adversaries on an issue are just that, adversaries and no more.

Thanks to Bob Abrams and all my other friends who know who they are.

And thanks to The Gazette for keeping us all on our toes.

Michael L. Subin, Gaithersburg

The writer, a Democrat, is an at-large Montgomery County Council member. He recently announced he had successful surgery for prostate cancer.

Triangle has plenty of planned housing

I would like to correct the misimpression about the amount of new housing in Bethesda's Woodmont Triangle, made by Planning Board staff member John Carter ("Woodmont Triangle plans on hold," Nov. 23). He said that there has only been "one housing project built in the area" since the master plan was approved. That is true, but two others have been approved by the board.

These three Woodmont Triangle projects include a total of 569 housing units -- over one-fifth of the total master plan housing goal for all of downtown Bethesda. And the Woodmont Triangle is only one of 13 districts in this area, with three others (the Bradley Boulevard, Battery Lane and transit station districts) being high density residential areas.

The rate of new housing development in downtown Bethesda is sufficient to deliver all 2,700 new dwelling units recommended in the master plan. The addition of 1,616 more units in the proposed Woodmont Triangle Plan Amendment will push the area well past capacity of the roads and schools to accommodate such growth. Regardless, the decision to be made by the Planning Board should be based on full and accurate information, not partial truths.

Jim Humphrey, Bethesda

The writer associated with the Montgomery County Civic Federation.

Bethesda drivers have much to learn from Jamaicans

I recently moved to Bethesda after living with my two children in Jamaica for 4 1/2 years. I have followed with interest the stories in the papers about reckless teen driving, and have come to the conclusion that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, and bad driving habits, like other bad habits, are learned at home.

I am, quite frankly, stunned at the lack of regard Bethesda drivers seem to have for pedestrians. In the last two weeks I have witnessed two incidents that could have resulted in tragedy, because the drivers of the vehicles were in no mood to wait for pedestrians to cross a busy road.

I recently was walking with my son to his school and we had to cross Greentree Boulevard. A driver, surprisingly, stopped for us to proceed in the crosswalk. However, the woman behind him swung out to the right and practically ran me, my son and my dog over in her hurry to get past this person who had the audacity to stop for a mere pedestrian. Even though I was waving at her as I was jumping back on the curb, she merely accelerated in her hurry to get to wherever she was going.

In another incident, I stopped on Bradley Boulevard to let a girl of about 14 on her bike cross the road. Despite my signaling to incoming traffic by flashing my lights, no one was inclined to stop to let her cross. Further, several of the cars behind me began to pull over to the right in preparation to pass, until, I suppose, they noticed the pedestrian trying to get across.

Parents, you have a responsibility to teach your children good driving habits, and one of those habits is respect for pedestrians and respect for the law that gives the right of way to pedestrians.

While Jamaicans are routinely cited as driving recklessly, there is an appreciation of what it is like to be a pedestrian, and I miss their civility and respect for people who walk. Life is too short to be in such an all-fired hurry to get to the next stoplight. Civility begins at home.

Catherine Lane, Bethesda

Competition for insurance

Thank you for the excellent analysis and recommendations in the Nov. 11 editorial, "Stop playing politics over medical malpractice."

In a longer editorial, I imagine you would also ask if the State's Insurance Commission has the authority to prevent undeserved increases and increase the number of companies competing for the malpractice insurance business.

Clearly, when one company has more than one half the business and there does not appear to be effective competition, doctors and the public will be overcharged.

John A. Noble, Bethesda

Traffic/ safety are priorities

This is a response to Constance Mote's letter, "Time to target speeding" (Nov. 17).

Traffic and safety are top priority for Kensington's mayor and Town Council. The town has asked for and received more enforcement by Montgomery County Police on Connecticut Avenue. We are also paying for extra police enforcement within the town limits.

In 2002-03, I served as president of the Maryland Municipal League (a statewide organization representing 157 municipalities in Maryland.) Montgomery County Councilwoman Marilyn Praisner was president of the Maryland Association of Counties. Together we lobbied in Annapolis in support of speed cameras. Although we were unsuccessful that year we are strongly in support of realizing our goal of speed cameras as another way to slow traffic.

Kitty L. Raufaste, Kensington

The writer is town mayor.

Advice available

Legislative tort reform, and stop-loss funds, are unfair ways to deal with soaring medical malpractice insurance rates. Doctors should not be shielded from error by the state, and insurance companies should not be publicly subsidized.

Better to have doctors treat patients who voluntarily agree to settle disputes through binding arbitration. This would lower insurance costs without state intervention. Organizations such as the Conflict and Resolution Center of Montgomery County Inc. could give advice on how to do this equitably.

It would be a winning situation for doctors, patients and insurance companies.

Gerald Schneider, Kensington

Public not given full picture on ICC

As a resident of the county near Burtonsville, I do understand the need for a better link between Baltimore and Howard County to the western side of Montgomery County.

However, I don't understand the logic of having the proposed routes being so far south, with areas such as Laurel, Columbia and Burtonsville standing directly in the way of those who will be using it. Having the proposed eastbound routes end in the Muirkirk area on Route 1, south of Laurel, leads me to believe that this road really has nothing at all to do with connecting Baltimore and Rockville. Rather, it is part of a massive economic redevelopment plan, designed by the state, in the Muirkirk area, consisting of shopping centers and real estate and involving land that was purchased by the state over the past 10 years.

It's really much more about shopping than commuting.

Anyone who can read a map should be smart enough to see that something else is going on here than just the good old Intercounty Connector. Isn't it time for the state to come clean on the matter, stop treating us all like idiots, and let us in on the real purpose of what they refer to as the ICC?

Obviously, there is much more to this plan than we are being told about. I think the time has come for us citizens to get all of the facts, not just the ones they want us to have and then move the ICC further north where its effect and its benefits will be much greater.

Dale Stalbaum, Silver Spring

What are our youth to do? Does anyone care?

I am a concerned parent. It appears that all the activities that our youth and families can enjoy are slowing leaving the area. What is up with that?

In their places are more offices buildings, conference centers or other things of that nature and nothing for the kids to do to stay out of trouble or keep their minds and bodies active.

It is really nice when you have an activity that you can enjoy with your kids or let your kids do it on their own and be drug-free.

It amazes me that the activities are leaving or left the Rockville area, and not being replaced. First, the fire in Twinbrook a while ago wiped out the bowling alley. Lucky for us in Rockville we can go to Gaithersburg or Silver Spring if we want to hit the lanes.

Second, the putt-putt golf on Rollins Avenue closed. In doing a search, I was happy to find that White Flint Golf Park has a miniature golf course in addition to a location in Gaithersburg.

Third, the roller skating rink on Gude Drive has closed and, in searching for a new rink, found that we would have to travel to Hagerstown, Thurmont or Lanham. Not exactly around the corner or in Montgomery County.

These kids are our future and we need something in this area for them to do. Soon enough they will be in our jobs and running the business but until that time let's let them have some fun in their own town and be proud that they want to do these things and stay drug-free.

Lynn Tantardini, Rockville

Don't believe everything

Will someone please tell G. Stanley Doore that it sounds as if he's quoting from the "Official Business & Government Spokespersons Guide to Affecting Legislation" ("ICC can be green," Sept. 29).

Hey, Stanley, remember the native Americans? The officials told them everything was going to be just fine, too. Guess what happened. Allow me a bit of advice: Don't believe everything people tell you.

Davie Plihal, Silver Spring

Smooth election

I want to record my thanks to the Hyattstown election people for having a place for me to sit down to vote recently. I voted with my daughter and there was no one waiting in line.

The same courtesy was also given when I voted in Cabin John in 2002. In fact, a young lady came over and directed me to a sit-down station when she saw that after I had checked in I was walking over to stand in line awaiting a polling station.

From all I hear and read, our election went smoothly nationwide, which is a credit to our country and our democracy.

Faulkner C. Thomson, Clarksburg

Economic policy does nothing for housing prices

Montgomery Council President Steven A. Silverman's protestations about the high cost of housing sound pretty hypocritical, coming from the booster of the county's new economic development policy.

He supports county efforts to grow the economy (and thus jobs) faster than the housing supply (and thus the resident workforce). It doesn't take an economics professor to see that this policy, if successful, will drive up housing prices faster than ever.

Housing assistance programs implemented by employers are helpful, but they won't impact even the rate of increase in cost while this damaging county policy is in effect. Yet it is promoted by Silverman (D-At large) of Silver Spring and the other council members who received much of their campaign funds from the construction industry.

Come on folks, you don't acquire much merit by pursuing a hurtful policy, then sympathizing with the folks who are hurt by it.

Pamela Lindstrom, Gaithersburg

The writer is a civic activist.

Insurance companies: The intimidators

Who gave the health insurance companies the right to veto the drugs the medical professionals prescribe? The public is never even given the reason for these non-use edicts but the doctor is forced to contact these providers and is told to prescribe another drug.

And who are these geniuses that are dictating this change? I was told there is a panel of the finest doctors who are ordering these changes. Of course, the members of this elite panel know nothing about the patient, if there are any special conditions or a specific reason for the prescription; they are just there to pass judgment according to the wishes and whims of the president or the chairman of the board or it could be the price of the drug.

If these people are so knowledgeable, why aren't they out practicing real medicine and making three to five times the salary they are making on the panel?

It is outrageous that these insurance companies, which charge their patients so much money, have so much power. They intimidate patients and doctors. They give their CEOs a higher salary if he fights for them but will not pay for prescribed medicines for their enrollees.

Is there any way we can put the responsibility of the practice of medicine back to medical professionals?

Aaron Kinberg, Rockville

Don't be gullible

Will someone please tell G. Stanley Doore that it sounds as if he's quoting from the "Official Business & Government Spokespersons Guide to Affecting Legislation" ("ICC can be green", Sept. 29).

Hey, Stanley, remember the native Americans? The officials told them everything was going to be just fine, too. Guess what happened.

Allow me a bit of advice: Don't believe everything people tell you.

Davie Plihal, Silver Spring

Study the facts on malpractice issue

Yermal T. Shetty's letter ("Malpractice reform plan impractical," Nov. 10) showed the real problem with the malpractice reform debate.

People need to become more informed on the issue before making a decision or letting our political leaders make one for us. The letter stated that caps on damages were needed, opinions by certifying expert witnesses should be required before action can be brought against a doctor, and mandatory non-binding arbitration needs to be considered.

As a result of prior "insurance crises," Maryland currently does have caps on damages in all liability claims (not just malpractice cases), an expert's certificate of merit is required before a medical malpractice case can be brought, and we have a health claims arbitration board where claims must be filed.

What has never happened are caps on insurance premiums or profits. The insurance companies need to fully open their books to show their true financial picture. Any reform must include a hard look at all parties and not just penalize injured people as the current administrations plan does.

There are many aspects to this debate that are too lengthy to go into in this forum, however, I encourage people to really look at the facts behind this issue and not just listen to the few bits of propaganda that are put out by any one side.

Shawn A. Gritz, Rockville

The writer is an attorney.

Communities should fight for their schools

As an active member of the Save Seven Locks Coalition, I just want to tell Heidi Dubin and the Potomac Elementary School community that we are 100 percent with you ("Potomac parents, stand up for children's educational rights," Nov. 23 letter). Please come join us.

Here's what we want: To get all the kids out of trailers at Potomac and other schools by modernizing the current Seven Locks location and Potomac itself.

Here's what we don't want: To allow the offices of the county executive and County Council to appropriate school property so they can garner more development campaign contributions to further their political ambitions.

And we don't want to lose the facility, ballfields and community meeting place of Seven Locks ES to put up high density housing at an already disastrous (and increasingly fatal) traffic intersection.

So please get involved Potomac, Wayside, Bells Mill, and everywhere in the county, since your government is on a mission to appropriate land everywhere. This will not stop at Seven Locks.

Jay M. Weinstein, Bethesda

Give us Ravens football, Baltimore TV

Once again, Montgomery County football fans were unable to watch their Ravens play the Jets on Nov. 14 because Comcast fails to carry Baltimore channels.

Not so with Anne Arundel, Prince George's and even Harford counties where both Washington and Baltimore channels are available on Comcast. Why not in Montgomery? Our monthly rates are higher than those counties and are being increased again on Jan. 1. We can well do without WGN Chicago and the several Atlanta stations. Replace them with Baltimore stations.

It is high time for County Executive Douglas Duncan to get involved and support our interests.

Ironically, our Maryland taxes are paying for the stadium.

Orville Hinz, Rockville

More research, please

The Nov. 10 letter, "Football games rated NC-17," made many accusations about the conduct at Richard Montgomery High School football games that should have been researched more before made.

The first statement was about the "Hey, you suck," that was stated to be our "welcome." The song, "Rock 'n' Roll Part II," has been played at RM for years and both the band and the cheerleaders work very hard to keep our fans from offending the other team. Unfortunately, this year there was a problem. So, the cheerleaders have cheered over the crowds, not an easy task, and the band director has stopped playing that song.

We do make the school system's drug, alcohol and sportsmanship statement at our games. Sometimes it's hard to hear over the noise since our sound system is not the best.

Also to even think that our school would sell alcohol at a football game shows a lack of common sense.

I have been an RM cheerleader for four years. Two of those years were spent as a junior varsity cheerleader. At most of the JV football games I attended, the National Anthem is not played.

We often have parents joining in our cheers. This is a way for parents to be involved with their children in a fun and constructive manner. Is there something wrong with parent participation? Should football parents be the only parents allowed to get into the game and have fun?

I am offended by the statements that were directed at my school. They were untrue. Next time I hope that a closer look would be taken so that the truth and the facts are reported.

Danielle Carpenter, Rockville

Who's on first?

Having read the article, "Cricket: The other bat and ball game" (Oct. 20), and the letter, "Cricket: Born in England" Nov. 3), from W.F. Smart concerning the game, reminded me of a bit of prose, which I kept, from my days of living in England. It may be of interest to your readers:

Cricket (as explained to a foreign visitor):

You have two sides one out in the field and one in.

Each man that's in the side that's in goes out and when he's out he comes in and the next man goes in until he's out.

When they are all out the side that's out comes in and the side that's been in goes out and tries to get those coming in out.

Sometimes you get men still in and not out.

When both sides have been in and out including the not outs, that's the end of the game.

My son then penned his own thought: "Cricket is actually baseball on Valium."

David Peller, Silver Spring

No videos

I object to the video screens placed in the walkway between the Wayne Avenue garage and Ellsworth Avenue.

We are bombarded with enough advertising as is.

Second, no one is going to stand there and watch them for more than a second as they are obviously headed somewhere else; and, third, they are ugly and ruin the design and architecture.

Scott Schneider, Silver Spring

Ban nuclear waste transportation

J.E. "Ned" Dolan, in a Nov. 10 letter ("No reason to ban nuclear shipments"), accuses the Takoma Park Nuclear Free Zone Committee of "fear-mongering" in connection with my recent testimony before the City Council about the danger of transporting hazardous nuclear materials through our community. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Mr. Dolan makes the unsupported claim that contamination following an accident involving the transportation of hazardous nuclear waste would be very local and readily cleaned up with no residual effects. Wishful thinking aside:

In a 1986 report, the Department of Energy found that a severe accident in a rural area involving a high-speed impact, lengthy fire and fuel oxidation would contaminate a 42-square-mile area, require 462 days to clean up and cost $620 million. Experts assert such a clean-up may not be possible in an urban area such as Takoma Park, rendering our community uninhabitable.

In a 2001 scientific study of a hypothetical Baltimore rail tunnel fire involving the shipment of just one cask of spent nuclear fuel, experts concluded that the clean-up costs would be in the many billions of dollars, hundreds of thousands of people would be exposed to harmful radiation and many thousands would die from cancer.

We know the legal obstacles cities face in attempting to protect their residents. Sometimes these goals clash with the interests of the federal government. Whether local concerns need give way to these federal interests is often a complicated and controversial undertaking.

We urged Takoma Park join Las Vegas in adopting an ordinance to ban the transportation of hazardous nuclear waste to a federal repository. This would not stop shipments by the military, as appears to be Mr. Dolan's primary concern. The city is attempting to navigate its way through the legal issues. Given the legal obstacles, we may not succeed in this undertaking. Nevertheless, it appears we have succeeded in raising awareness on a compelling issue.

Robert J. Rini, Takoma Park

The writer is commissioner of the Takoma Park Nuclear Free Zone Committee.