GloucesterTimes.com, Gloucester, MA

Every teacher I know is hard-working, dedicated and constantly thinking of new ways to stimulate our children's imaginations. They arrive early and stay late. They bring work home. I have the utmost admiration and respect for their commitment and abilities. Teachers taught my sons reading, writing, arithmetic, history, geography, Spanish, German and a lot more.

Coaches are teachers. They are hard-working, dedicated and constantly thinking of new ways to teach those kids how to throw, catch, run, slide, skate, etc. They arrive early and stay late. They "work" with our kids after work. Teachers and coaches are the salt of the earth and should be revered as such. They help mold, create and inspire our children to be the best that they can be. Without teachers and coaches, all is lost.

I have a lot more to say but am limited to the facts:

1. Exercise increases blood flow and oxygen to the brain. A healthy body creates a healthy brain.

2. Resistance strengthens our bones. Women diagnosed with osteopenia have been told by their doctors that they need to exercise to strengthen their bones. Babies are born with soft, flexible bones.

3. The medical community is concerned about the upcoming generation who are growing up in front of the TV and computer and not developing their bone density. These kids who don't exercise won't get strong bones. Call your pediatrician and ask him or her.

4. The vertebrae are the bones that protect your spinal cord, which in turn, nourishes your brain with oxygen, blood flow and nutrients from the body. The body achieves sufficient blood flow, oxygen and nutrients through exercise and diet. More exercise equals more brain function. More brain function equals infinite possibilities.

5. If we don't exercise this next generation, we will diminish the strength and weaken the minds of America and eventually our species.

6. One in five children will be propositioned by a sexual predator - one in five. Predators don't prey on the strong. Just like lions in the wild, they observe and attack the weakest in the herd. Drug dealers are predators, too. Will our children be the weaklings that get attacked or will they be the survivors? "Survival of the fittest" aren't just words on paper. Coaches teach confidence, and coaches build strength of character and gumption.

7. Athletics and coaches create strong bodies, minds and an inner strength and confidence that shines from within athletes. There's really no way to describe it; it's just there.

8 Coaches teach athletes to have pride. Pride in the way they play their sport. Pride in their bodies and minds, and pride in their abilities.

9. Our children cannot be healthy or safe without exercise.

Saving money:

1. Let's shut off the lights - only use them in the bathrooms and on rainy days. Our eyes will adapt. It's called the dark-adapted state. I learned it in college - my teacher taught me.

2. Let's put the thermostats on automatic timers and turn down the thermostat to 65 degrees during the school day and 55 degrees at night (10 p.m. to 6 a.m.?). And let's dress our children in winter clothes during the winter, not T-shirts to survive the heat in school.

3. Let's tighten up the doorways and windows for less heat loss. Ask someone local who will do it for no cost. If that's not legal, change the law. We can do this. We are the people.

4. Only two entrances that open from the outside in the winter. They can still open from the inside in case of emergency.

5. Monthly e-mails to parents stating meeting dates, times and thanking contractors who donated their time and efforts in the name of higher education. Contractors will beat down the doors to help just for a simple, "Thank you."

Making money:

Follow the lead of the YMCA and Wellspring House and have a road race. American Cancer Society's Relay for Life raised $112K at the GHS track. What was the overhead of that? We can do this in one, simple event.

Thank you for reading and acting on this letter.

Tracy O'Neil

Friend Street, Gloucester