Our governor says abolishing parole and building new jails is part of the 
answer to crime. Another part of the answer is educating our children to be 
responsible citizens.
   I see our schools working very hard to manage difficult teaching 
situations, and the educators working very hard on teaching role-modeling and 
solid values. The part of the problem that is not addressed is the role of the
parents in role-modeling and structuring their households for their children.
   The state needs to teach parenting skills and family structure - I don't 
mean just mother-father, but also mother or grandmother or whoever is bringing
up the child - to all ``young'' people who are planning to be parents.
   I see poor parenting in malls, on beaches and in other places - parenting 
by parents who have no idea what is going on in their relationships.
   I conclude that young people must be taught to be parents.
   There could be classes in schools and in evening programs funded by the 
state. They should be mandatory for graduation from high school.
   PHYLLIS GIMBERT
   Virginia Beach, Sept. 13, 1994