Former Kiski headmaster flunks own test

It was with disbelief I read the June 8 letter to the editor by John A. Pidgeon, headmaster emeritus of The Kiski School, which appeared under the headline "Giving socialism a good boot."

Mr. Pidgeon wrote, "Each year in September I pose to my class a new question. I describe two men, one of whom supports the local Boy Scouts and Little League and is a model citizen, and the other a man who begins a business in his garage and gradually expands it until he is employing 2,000 or 3,000 people. I then ask them which person is contributing more to the general welfare, and I am always disappointed when they pick the first one."

History would prove Pidgeon is wrong. Many great business leaders were aided by the talents and skills received from the Boy Scouts and Little League -- probably many more than started small businesses in their garages.

To accept the headmaster's erroneous theory, we must conclude that Thomas Edison, Benjamin Franklin and Jonas Salk, although model citizens, should not be considered contributing more to the general welfare than his suggested garage widget manufacturer.

No teacher, including the headmaster of the Kiski School, develops a business that employs thousands of workers. Teachers do, however, provide the educational foundation for the business leaders of all the great industries.

Teachers, doctors, the clergy, scientists and a host of others may support the Boy Scouts and Little League but fail to pass the test Pidgeon asked his students.

Sorry, Mr. Pidgeon, your test question doesn't fly. Hopefully, your students disregarded your flawed concept and lived by the Boy Scout Law that model citizens should be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.

Now that's the type of person who is contributing more to the general welfare.