Compare that building to Marion High School, both of which were built around same time, and you’ll see what a huge difference it has made. McAuley looks amazing. Marion High School is falling apart because maintenance wasn’t a priority. Now school corporation is sending taxpayers an avoidable multi-million-dollar bill.

Catholic schools don’t fit every student. Students with special needs may not find proper resources. Some schools may have education methods that don’t suit specific students. Some families may find that Catholic teachings clash with their own.

This is why I hope that Catholic Schools week inspires not only those who attend Catholic schools, but everyone who wants best for Indiana’s children.

Lutheran schools, which are common in Fort Wayne, do excellent work. Other Christian schools, whether denominational or non-denominational, are multiplying as parents become frustrated with public schools that challenge their religious teachings.

Actually, private schools are proper places for morality-based teaching. Catholic schools trace their roots back 100 years, when public schools taught religion that was hostile to Catholicism. Instead of griping, Catholic parents put their kids in their own schools. Problem solved.

Public schools have their place. But we cannot expect each school to be all things to all people. Private schools have a vital role to play for our children. So could charter schools, if Indiana stops sabotaging them with restrictions.

Indiana could encourage more private schools and home-schooling by offering tax incentives to anyone who pays for a child’s education. Despite public-school belly-aching to contrary, this would leave more money for public schools because they would have fewer kids to educate and more opportunities to specialize.

Regardless of your religious beliefs or your devotion to public schools, please say thanks to Catholic schools. They demonstrate amazing things that happen when we put faith in our children.

But why just cell phones? If real intent of law is to eliminate distractions from our roadways, why not ban them all? Summers could justifiably expand proposal to include a ban on smoking in car, adjusting radio or inserting a Britney Spears CD, eating fast food, scolding rug rats in backseat, talking with your spouse, shaving or applying makeup, doing crossword puzzle, using a laptop computer, calling for on-screen directions to Starbucks, and rehearsing your excuse that explains your tardiness to boss.

Could we really ban Britney Spears CDs? I digress.

Before law is done with revisions, no common person will be able to read and understand it, and mainly, drivers will just continue to take their chances.

This begs significant philosophical question: Why bother?

Isn’t it sufficient that citations can already be issued if use of a cell phone is cause of an accident? Why pile on? No harm, no foul: If use of a cell phone isn’t endangering anyone in moment, why penalize for harm that was not caused?

Ah, law is to be a deterrent, to eliminate possibility of harm. But won’t it also become more than that? How much of a stretch is it to envision police pulling over drivers who endanger nobody on a deserted road at 11pm, but who are guilty of making a cell call, just so officer can meet his monthly quota? Isn’t that a harm all its own?

Say, if police pull a driver over to side of road, isn’t that sort of distraction that could cause an accident? It should be banned!

Let’s hope this Bill dies in committee. If it passes, Summers will run for re-election in 2006 on basis of having produced this wonderful law… and of having been suitably busy.