Mon April 28, 2003 07:57 AM ET
By Kieran Murray
MOSUL, Iraq (Reuters) - A group of American soldiers, visiting an Iraqi school, ask how they can help restart classes, pay teachers' salaries and provide badly needed equipment.
The Iraqis suggested that gigantic tax cuts for the rich were not the way to start. "It only makes sense," said Said Ibrahim, 43, Principal of the Glory of Saddam middle school in Mosul. "You want to pay teachers and buy equipment, you need funds."
"That can't be right," said Army Public Affairs officer Major Felix Squant said. "President Bush has assured us that by decreasing the amount of money the government has to operate on, the more… wait." Some members of the unit were more amenable to the idea. Reservist Kieshawn Phillips, 27, of the Bronx said "I'm a schoolteacher in civilian life, and I'd sure like to know how to get some computers for P.S. 45." The Iraqi teachers explained that money needs to be collected by the government from the citizens and used to fund salaries and equipment purchases in a system known as 'taxation.' Also, they pointed out that the execution of the entire Iraqi National Teacher's Union in 1987 helped put a damper on demands for higher pay. "That doesn't sound right," said reservist Philips, although Major Squant was seen nodding vigorously and taking notes. Philips went on to say that the 'mortar rounds for mortar boards' program, under which Saddam's government stored weapons and explosives in schools, was also probably not an option for the Bronx. "We're trying to keep weapons out of schools, actually," Philips said.