In answer to Brent Sutherland’s question (BDN, April 16) of how is a laptop going to improve the education when 75 percent or more of Maine homes with children already have a personal computer, while Sutherland was busy being a janitor and smoker, the economics of our state, country and world have changed. Computers and the technological industry, as a whole, are changing the power placement of the future. Gov. King, I’m sure, would like to see this state’s economic picture change. Giving our children a head start in computer experiences, training and development will give Maine the edge it needs.

We have and will continue to lose much income, as a state, from traditional Maine jobs. Distance, environmental issues and lack of education in present and future economically viable occupations, has all played into Maine’s poor economic performance. Perhaps, Gov. King and the educational system would like to see more professional, rather than janitorial, graduates come from Maine schools. As for the computers that are already in the homes, they are already being used. Home computers usually are pretty busy units and have extremely limited time available for children to learn on.

I wonder, did we smokers exchange our brains for diplomas and cigarettes, or are we just addicts?

In regards to Sutherland’s childless situation: Who helped pay for his education? Weren’t there childless couples who helped with that? I’ll bet even his school was better equipped and nicer than the schools his parents’ generation attended.

Sutherland’s letter helped me make up my mind on the laptop computer issue. This childless, unhappy smoker wants to be in on helping Maine. Laptops and nicotine patches are a go. By the way, I do have two sons (ages 25 and 21) who attended many years in private schools. We paid our taxes for education as well. We are not islands on the fringe of society, we are parts of it.

Betty Tibbetts

Lubec