
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, November 7, 1995                   TAG: 9511070025
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Long

MORE MONEY ISN'T THE RX FOR SCHOOL ILLS

WE HAVE known for a long time that many of our high-school graduates cannot read, write, spell or work arithmetic. And, as reported in your Nov. 2 article (``Don't know much about history ... ''), through a survey by the federal Education Department, we now find they also know very little about history.

This is in spite of the undisputed fact that we're spending more money on education than anyone ever dreamed that we would.

In this connection, many do not believe we're getting our money's worth at the present time. Nevertheless, practically everyone running for public office - from dogcatcher to president of the United States - is apparently in favor of increased spending for education.

That brings up a question: How much do we need to spend in this country to have a first-class educational system? Those in favor of throwing more and more money down this proverbial rat hole should be able to answer that question.

While I have some ideas, I don't know the answer to our failed educational system. However, I do know that more money isn't it!

CLAUDE E. STEWART JR.

VINTON

Veterinarian was unfairly maligned

OUR JUSTICE system maintains that a person is innocent until proved guilty. Your Oct. 4 article (``Veterinarian's hearing moved'') was totally absurd. The article was filled with unsubstantiated allegations directly contradicted by proven fact.

Mike and Melissa Ferguson filed a complaint (a phone call) with the Board of Veterinary Medicine for the wrongful death of an animal. Allegedly, a veterinarian mistreated this dog. Yet the veterinary pathologist at the Virginia/Maryland School of Veterinary Medicine reported the dog died of a pneumothorax, and there was no evidence of trauma, bruising, broken bones or things consistent with rough handling. Humans and animals can and do drop dead from spontaneous pneumothorax.

The pathologist report is fact. The allegations are ridiculous. I don't recall seeing every complaint lodged against the phone company, physicians, cab drivers, beauticians, etc., made into an article.

This article appears as an assault on a professional, and I'm appalled that you would publish hearsay contradicted by fact to fill space.

PATRICIA H. SHUMATE

WIRTZ

Parking lot could become a park

AS NEWCOMERS to the area, we have a comment regarding the City Market area and the controversy over teens hanging out on farmers' tables vs. the city's tourism attempts.

Why not consider turning the parking area that's smack in the middle of the main market area (between Center in the Square and the bookstore) into a park? It would enhance the area and give people of all ages a place to hang out, no matter what time of day or evening. After the bars close, the park could close as well.

ROGER and SUSAN SILLMON

TROUTVILLE

Trashing an event with a photograph

REGARDING your Oct. 18 photograph of the Million Man March:

I was one of those marchers. I think it's a shame that The Roanoke Times and the rest of the world could find nothing wrong or bad that went on, so you had to take a picture of the trash. If you had taken a picture of the whole mall, you would have noted that it was clean except where people were crowded together and couldn't get to a trash can. Why couldn't you take pictures of men greeting each other, shaking hands and hugging each other, like we were all blood brothers?

The media print articles about black men not doing anything positive, then when we try, you same people do everything possible to make it look bad. The march was a great idea, and something positive will come from it.

CALVIN CLAYBORNE

BOONES MILL

Gay lifestyle is not respectable

REGARDING Mark Martin's Oct. 10 letter to the editor, ``For gays, the issue is simply respect'':

In closing, he states: ``The real issue is simply one of respect, for all people. If a person's religious views don't reflect this concept, he or she can hardly claim to be a follower of Christ.''

I truly do love the Lord Jesus Christ with all my heart, so before you use the Lord's precious name to justify your lifestyle, maybe you should read his words.

I'm a follower of Christ, and what the holy Scripture tells me is that what the gay community does is a sin, and it is not respectable.

SHAWN BOWMAN

ROANOKE

Let's have a pigs' swine song, please

IN RESPONSE to the Oct. 13 letter to the editor by Donna A. Gray, "Pigs are preferable to many people'':

Amusing, but unbelievable. Amusing to those of us who are perfectly aware of the reason why the letter writer has "never heard an animal make filthy comments or yell obscenities." (She can rest assured she isn't the only one.) Yet unbelievable that in Roanoke the issue of pigs as pets has recently made headlines along with such trivial matters as the war in Bosnia, victims of natural disasters and scientists making breakthrough discoveries in the fight against AIDS.

Let's move on, Roanoke! Let's get passed the people vs. pigs fiasco, and focus our time and energy on the truly important issues confronting mankind.

BETSY DIVERS

CLOVERDALE

by CNB