THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 21, 1995 TAG: 9504200153
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Long : 202 lines
I would like to thank Nancy S. Jacobs for her fine article ``Magnet middle school for at-risk kids'' (Kaleidoscope, Beacon, April 2). She has presented many of the same concerns that I have about my child and others like him.
My child is currently in second grade and is being well served at Old Donation Center. But I am looking to the future, a future that at present does not look too bright for my son if the funding for the proposed magnet school does not come through.
I am glad that some teachers see my son as a ``role model,'' but that is not why I send my child to school. All children can and should be ``role models'' for each other whether they are ``gifted'' or need extra help. I also do not send my son to school to ``teach'' others. That is the teacher's job. I do send my son to school to get the best possible education for him, and I expect his needs to be met as well.
At present, my husband and I are discussing the possibility of private school when our son reaches middle school. If all parents of gifted children feel the same way, what is that going to leave in the public school system? You will no longer have these ``role models''; they will have fled for schools that are better able to take care of their needs.
For the sake of all our children, please do not close the door on the proposed magnet school. All of our children are valuable assets that should not be ignored.
Wanda Warthen-Akiyama
Quarterpath Gate Bus driver wants laws to protect kids enforced
I'm a public school bus driver and training specialist for the Virginia Beach Public Schools. I had an eye-opening situation recently.
I had a car run through my warning lights, on the door side of the bus as my children were about to step down into the street. I got a slight description of the driver, the license plate number, a description of the car and even found out the address where this car went.
I tried to report this violation of the law to the police and was informed by the officer I talked to that if I pressed charges against the registered owner of the vehicle it would not stand up in court and that the person might turn around and sue me. I showed this officer the Motor Vehicle Laws of Virginia, which state that I can take the registered owner to court.
This officer, who took no report, told me to contact the magistrate's office. I called and was told they couldn't do anything unless I could get an officer to investigate this matter.
For three days I tried to get someone to listen to me and ran into one brick wall after another. I finally called the city attorney's office; they tried to help. But so much time had passed that the 30-day tags that were on the car had been transferred, which left little hope for a summons.
As a school bus driver for 14 years, I have seen and heard many things, but I have always believed that the laws in Virginia would protect the children on my bus from people like this one. I now feel that this is not the case.
I'm writing this letter so that people will know how serious this problem is for school bus drivers. They have to get such a complete description of the driver, which is very difficult when their first thoughts are to get the children out of the street to keep them safe. I don't want to be the driver or have any other driver have to sit behind the wheel and watch helplessly while one of our children is run down in the street.
Since we have laws in place to protect them, I feel it is not asking too much of our legal system to enforce these laws.
Bonnie Wolf
Virginia Beach Military band concert rousing for patriots
I attended the Armed Forces School of Music ``Footsteps to Freedom'' concert April 4 and enjoyed an evening of great military band with all branches of the service represented. It was truly two hours of various music to suit every need. Each unit gave 100 percent. I commend the School of Music, Little Creek for their hard work. The Marine Corps Drum and Bugle Corps, The Tidewater Pipes and Drums, Virginia Beach Highlanders, The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps and (I must save the best for last) the 82nd ``All American'' Airborne Division Band put on one fine performance.
I think I speak for many that ``patriotism is alive and well.''
Don Hipple
Hill Gail Road Room for improvement - and for middle-aged and retirees - in public schools
As a mother of two children in the Virginia Beach Public School System, I would like the opportunity to speak on behalf of many others sharing my opinion in response to Margaret Stuart's letter, `` `Second-class' city with `third-class' schools'' (April 2).
I must admit agreeing with Mrs. Stuart's premise that there is significant room for improvement in our schools. Since moving here (with the Navy) in 1989, from Fairfax County, I found it obvious that the Virginia Beach Public Schools were lacking in many areas; gifted and talented programs, from our direct past experience, needed and still needs serious re-evaluation. I too am aware of the many teachers in the public schools who send their kids to Norfolk Academy. I also agree that this reflects a lack of confidence to some degree, but this is where my sympathy and appreciation of her letter ends.
The city schools are fraught with problems. I would protest the argument that at the heart of the problem are a bunch of ``tired middle-aged women teachers and retired military trying to supplement their retirement income.'' We are truly getting a bargain from these highly educated and life-experienced teachers who can afford to work for the salaries we are paying them.
My personal involvement with a gifted child now in high school, and another in elementary school, attests to the range of teachers we have encountered here. From the young ``fresh college graduates'' to the middle-aged women, and even the retired military officers, we have seen them all. My children and I would readily agree that it has clearly been the middle-aged women (maybe even a few of them ``tired'') and the military officers that have been their most effective teachers.
The Virginia Beach Public School System has many more teachers than the area's private schools. As logic would dictate, some will be better, more effective teachers than others. But the real-estate person may have a college degree, even a master's degree, and the naval officer, perhaps a graduate of the Naval Academy with a degree in mathematics and a master's degree, may be one of the very best teachers your child may ever have.
Yes, there is certainly room for improvement. Perhaps we need to stop being so concerned with the cutting of our schools' tax dollars, and instead start looking toward ways we can improve upon the quality of the education this city can provide for our children. An informal survey would surely demonstrate that areas with reputations for top-quality education typically demonstrate it with the high level of funding they commit to this valuable resource for the future - the education of our children.
Susan F. Manaskie
Virginia Beach
I am appalled that Ms. Stuart would consider our school system anything less then top notch.
Ms. Stuart needs to drop by any given evening, after school hours, to see the effort that the teachers put into their teaching. They do not receive overtime pay, yet you will always find these professionals giving extra help to students, planning for lessons, working on projects to enhance their students' learning or doing paperwork. If these ``middle-aged women'' (And what is wrong with being middle-aged?) want to supplement their income, they could find a job that pays more, with less stress and responsibility in any other profession.
Ms. Stuart also points out that a lot of our teachers are retired military personnel. Who better to teach our children than these men and women with their experience of living and visiting all parts of this wonderful world? These retirees have learned to adjust to changing circumstances, and crisis, at a moment's notice, as well as patience and discipline. These are lessons that cannot be taught in any college classroom.
As a mother of four children, a Navy wife and a school nurse, I know that Virginia Beach has one of the finest school systems that can be found. If my husband and I did not believe this, he would not be doing back-to-back sea duty, and leaving his family on and off for five years. This chosen hardship is to keep our children living in this fine city and going to good schools with teachers of all backgrounds, who are caring professionals.
Lesley J. Friedman
Holland Pines Judges' selections not the best for School Board seats
One would think that in filling the vacancies for the two School Board positions, the nine Circuit Court judges would have selected from citizens who cared enough about our school system to devote the time, money and effort to run for School Board last time. At least those citizens' positions on issues were known and those citizens had familiarized themselves with the School Board and the many challenges offered.
But it appears that politics as usual may have reigned with the politically appointed judges. No conflict of interest here obviously, even though attorneys Mrs. O'Brien's husband and Mr. Bennis may be practicing law in the judges' courts. Perhaps we need elected judges, like in many other states.
So in addition to the many other inexperienced people on the School Board, we add two more. Mr. Bennis admitted in the newspaper to not knowing much about the School Board and the newspaper article did not mention much knowledge on Mrs. O'Brien's part either. Has either had experience in developing policy for large organizations and ensuring the conduct of that policy? Has either developed, analyzed and evaluated or monitored large budgets? The school budget is about half the city's entire budget. What are their qualifications?
These are not ``feel good'' positions where we can experiment and learn as we go, especially during this potential 14-month stint. Why weren't past board members, citizens who have much time to devote to ``get up to speed'' quickly or ``experienced'' citizens appointed, at the least?
School Board members are spending half the tax dollars paid locally, which equates to about $350,000,000. It is my understanding that in the May or November 1996 elections, the city may well be asking for permission to raise property taxes some more for additional school costs and the Agriculture Reserve Program. Many people are already in at least a 50 percent tax bracket when they add up all the taxes they pay. Does anybody really care?
I encourage all concerned citizens to attend a School Board meeting and determine for themselves the performance of these 11 people in making proper use of citizens' hard-earned tax dollars. (Usually School Board meetings are conducted during working hours!) Do we presently have ``rubber stampers'' on the board or people who are truly policy-makers and evaluators and who are effectively and efficiently looking out for the taxpayers and our children vs. the school administration and the VBEA, the VEA and the NEA?
If citizens walk away happy and comfortable, fine! If they do not, they can keep track of events and get friends and neighbors to vote at the next School Board election. If they are fed up with $47,000 flagpoles, elaborate schools, computers sitting around in unopened boxes and other inappropriate use of tax dollars, things will not change unless they do something!
Ben A. Krause
Five Hill Trail
Mr. Krause was treasurer of the Kids First Team, a slate of candidates who ran unsuccessfully for School Board in May 1994. by CNB