Language

waynesboro@herald-mail.com WAYNESBORO, Pa. - Two parents appeared before the Waynesboro Area School Board Tuesday to protest a plan to cut art classes in fifth and sixth grades by half and replace them with introductory Spanish. Board Member Stephen Kulla joined parents in opposing the plan. The board is expected to vote on the proposal at its next meeting. As explained by Assistant Superintendent Gloria Pugliano, about 100 high school students have expressed an interest in taking art classes next year.

BOONSBORO - Language that would put restrictions on decks will come before the Boonsboro Town Council on Dec. 5. The town council on Monday night approved introducing an ordinance for vote in December that would set requirements for decks. According to Town Manager John L. Kendall, the ordinance would limit decks that are built off townhouses to extend a maximum of 35 percent into the home's backyard and within 3 feet on either side of the home's width. Allowable maximum height would be 12 feet, Kendall said.

andrews@herald-mail.com Steve Glendenning's students have said "damn" and "hell" on stage. If that's what the playwright wrote, that's what the actors say. Glendenning, who advises Jefferson (W.Va.) High School's drama club, recalled a sexual reference in the dialogue of a student-directed play. A mother objected to her child speaking the line; the student was given another part. Drugs and alcohol are another story. The administration frowns on "grossly promoting" the use of either in a play, Glendenning said.

Movie Guide Films for Friday, Saturday and Sunday (Updated for October 24-26) Note: The Movie Guide is updated every Thursday morning. Movie Links: Box Office Reviews Online Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert Chicago Tribune, Flicks Picks His & Her Movie View Hollywood Online Movie Net Paramount Pictures Premiere Magazine Roger Ebert Movie Reviews Screen It!

katec@herald-mail.com Slang - informal language outside standard and conventional use - may change with the times and different generations, but it's been around for a long time. The computer age and the Internet have provided a whole new world of communication. People can send messages across the world instantly and use an electronic shorthand and symbols to help get their points across. Michael Harsh, professor of humanities at Hagerstown Community College, said he has wonderful online conversations with his daughter who's away at college.

So much for global warming, eh? The long-term trend may be for a toastier planet but for now the Tri-State area is on ice, making a walk to the mail box a life-threatening event, or least darned uncomfortable. How are you coping? Is there anything you're doing that might make it easier for your neighbors to endure this beastly weather? Tell me, in 100 words or less, your best survival tip for winter. It can be anything from how to beat the winter blues to how to make that ice scraper work better on an ice-encrusted windshield.

Waters' column misrepresented Rosen's comment To the editor: In response to Lloyd Waters' smackdown of Hilary Rosen disguised as a Mother's Day wish, once again Mr. Waters presents himself as a well-informed, educated source of wisdom to his readers. He shamelessly used Mother's Day as an excuse to bash Ms. Rosen about her statement that Ann Romney never worked a day in her life. I know Mr. Waters is not that clueless. He absolutely knows what Ms. Rosen meant by her statement: Ann Romney is not the person her husband should be consulting about the challenges most women in this country face every day. And if any women out there really think Ann Romney knows your pain, think about it again when you are clocking in at 4 a.m. for that job with no health benefits, minimum wage and no chance for advancement.