THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, February 17, 1997 TAG: 9702140024
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A18 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 216 lines
I am writing in to a letter in which one of your readers complained about how a garbage collector, as he puts it, earns $40,000 a year, while a Virginia teacher earns much less.
I would like your reader and many others to know that this wonderful state of Virginia is against unions, against labor. The most many workers can expect to earn per hour is $7.50.
The bottom line here is union. Whenever a worker is a union member, he or she most of the time earns a decent living and doesn't have to work two or three jobs. I know about what I speak. I am a retired New York City employee, living in Smithfield. I do not have to work part time.
Harry J. Blake
Smithfield, Feb. 8, 1997 PETA Nothing is funny about valuing life
Some people find the idea of PETA amusing. Was it also amusing that the police force held a funeral for a dog? Some, I'm sure, would say yes and probably chuckle at the thought. Except, of course, if your life was the one saved by the bullet the animal took.
Why is it that an animal's life is only important if it saves ours? If we are so selfish that it is difficult to respect life in all forms, it is no wonder our children are abused, murdered and taught to kill each other as a way of life.
Children grow up and become parents who teach their children to have no respect for life, and the cycle goes on. How sad that our society has become what it has.
Cindee Hawkins
Chesapeake, Feb. 6, 1997 TRAVEL Be flexible on HOV lanes
Regarding the Feb. 8 letter to the editor by Tom Marlett:
I agree that the HOV lanes were ``designed for a specific reason: to curb and curtail the amount of traffic in this area. They were also designed to halt pollution released by every car.''
But if there is an accident on I-64 West heading toward the Norfolk Naval Base, why not intermittently allow the general public to switch to the HOV lane instead of building up pollution standing still? The monitoring central at Indian River Road can spot if there is an accident or just slowing down due to merging at certain access points. Then, once the traffic is flowing smoothly again, it can toggle the off switch for access to the HOV.
Common sense I think should prevail over idealism on this matter.
ERNIE PANCHO
Virginia Beach, Feb. 7, 1996 ENVIRONMENT Save our trees, kill billboard bill
Virginia's natural beauty has been a chief drawing card for tourists over the years and will hopefully continue to be so. The trees, flowers and shrubs of our native environment have enhanced this state as a primary attraction for both tourists and residents. I am shocked that our General Assembly has chosen to ignore what has been put in place over these many, many years and moved toward the passage of legislation that will allow the Virginia Department of Transportation to cut trees so that we may enjoy the ``beauty of billboards.''
I have followed, over the past several years, the shenanigans that have occurred nationally with the billboard legislation as a result of the extensive lobbying efforts in Washington by the Outdoor Advertising Industry. I have always been proud that our Virginia legislature has risen above this level of action. Therefore, I was quite surprised when I saw a bill come from nowhere with all the signatures on it belonging to many House and Senate members whose names I recognized.
I would hope that the citizens of the commonwealth would rise to the occasion and demand that their legislators not only defeat these bills, but in the event they are passed, insist that the governor veto this legislation.
REBA S. McCLANAN
Past president
Virginia Urban Forest Council
Virginia Beach, Feb. 7, 1997 GENERAL ASSEMBLY Consumer council playing active role
I write critically of your Feb. 1 article, ``Not to be ignored,'' about Jean Ann Fox and the Virginia Citizens Consumer Council. Ms. Fox has been a superior consumer advocate for many years and, while she will retain new employment, she will still be an active VCCC board member.
The implications in your article that VCCC has no active role in the 1997 General Assembly are not true. VCCC has promoted legislation to provide public protections on the sale of not-for-profit hospitals, and greater consumer protection for utility consumers and consumers of managed-care services. VCCC opposes legislation banning tent sales of cars, allowing largely unregulated extended service warranty contracts of cars, and has addressed legislation that would have ended grace-period requirements for credit cards.
Of course, without Ms. Fox's daily work, the style and extent of VCCC's advocacy will change. Rather than focusing on VCCC, your paper should focus on the state regulators who are well-funded and required by law to protect consumers, and who often fail to do so.
David Rubinstein
Vice president
Virginia Citizens Consumer
Council
Richmond, Feb. 10, 1997 FIRST AID ODU needs its own rescue squad
I am an emergency medical technician, though I am currently attending Old Dominion University. I recently attended an ODU Lady Monarchs basketball game where a man had a seizure and went into cardiac arrest. I was very upset at the lack of qualified first aid for the patrons of ODU activities.
Most major universities have their own on-campus volunteer rescue squads. Their main job is to deal with on-campus emergencies and supply a medically qualified first-aid staff for all university events. It is time ODU invested in the future of its students and guests. ODU cannot sit back and hope that the Norfolk Fire and Paramedical Services will be able to respond instantly.
Schools such as Radford and Virginia Tech allow their students to become trained and run squad right on campus. We must be responsible for our actions. All athletic events in Hampton Roads are required to have first aid for the spectators.
Let's do our part to help take the load off of the Norfolk Fire and Paramedical Department. They do enough already.
Richard Scott Mead
Norfolk, Feb. 10, 1997 NORFOLK School searches protect our kids
It would be nice if we parents/guardians could witness a totally safe environment for our children as they enter the urban schools daily. We could enjoy that scene if it were not for the small percentage who were responsible in 1991-1192 for the 31 weapons that were brought to school.
Consequently, the problems with firearms and drugs in the Norfolk school system was reduced dramatically by the use of random searches. Random searches have become an inevitable necessity, and the reason for this type of invasion of privacy is lamentable; on the other hand, so are the reasons for the behavior that prompts searching children's backpacks on their way to classes. Abuse on either side can be wrong. However, the greater good is served by protecting our children.
As regrettable as it is that we have to address this dilemma, we're glad we have a strong policy put forth by our School Board to protect the well-being of our children.
George Bryan
President
Maury High School
PTSA executive board
Norfolk, Feb. 6, 1997 ROLE MODEL Why pay to tell success story?
In regards to your Feb. 8 article on state Sen. L. Louise Lucas, I can't understand how a person on Norfolk State University's payroll is paid $1,000 to give an ``inspirational'' speech at an NSU banquet.
The article said that ``she was chosen to give the speech because, as the only NSU graduate in the Assembly, she is a role model for blacks who aspire to hold elected office.'' The article went on to say that if she had not been paid, she wouldn't have given the speech.
On one hand, she wants everyone to know she's a success and a role model, but if you don't pay her first, she won't tell her story. You would think if one is proud of their accomplishments and wants others to follow in their footsteps, they wouldn't charge to tell their story.
James Connell
Portsmouth, Feb. 8, 1997 BIRTHDAYS A history lesson on 3 gentlemen
I am writing to clear up some historical inaccuracies in the Feb. 10 letter, ``Celebrate all three birthdays.''
First, Generals Jackson and Lee, and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. were not born on the same day. Martin Luther King was born on Jan. 15, 1929. General Lee was born on Jan. 19, 1808 and General Jackson somewhere around midnight Jan. 20-21, 1824.
Secondly, General Jackson's name is Thomas Jackson. Andrew Jackson was known as ``Old Hickory'' and was the seventh president of the United States.
As the writer said, all three gentlemen contributed to education in their time. Thomas Jackson taught natural and experimental science as well as military at Virginia Military Institute. Robert E. Lee became the president of Washington College and did much to modernize the institution and to heal the wounds of the South. Martin Luther King promoted equality in education, employment, housing and life.
Terri Hammersmith
Virginia Beach, Feb.11, 1997 LANGUAGE Leave slang in the streets
Who cares what the British think of how we have ``mutilated'' the English language? America has a crisis to deal with and it's called illiteracy.
What happened to the days when you weren't allowed to speak slang (which is what Ebonics is) in the classroom? My English teacher would deduct points from our grade if we spoke improper English.
As an ``educated'' African American, I'm angry at how our system can even think to teach slang in our school system. Leave the street language in the streets and take hold or our forums of education - the classroom.
Travis Singleton
Virginia Beach, Feb. 6, 1997 SALARIES Va. Beach teachers are a bargain
In response to Charlie Bowdoin's Feb. 5 letter to the editor, ``A math lesson for us taxpayers'':
When I signed a contract to teach children in Virginia Beach, I understood that I would be required to work for 190 days. Although my contract does indeed say 10 days are unassigned, I understand that this was included in case inclement weather closed schools. If I need to take a day without pay, I am docked 1/190th of my salary, not 1/200th, indicating that I get paid for 190 days of service, not 200.
My job does not end at ``quitting time.'' I arrive at school at 7:20 a.m. and often stay until 4:20 p.m. Many times I help at after-school activities (for which I do not get paid) and do not leave until 5 p.m. I take papers home to grade and lesson plans to write. I spend hours on the telephone contacting parents. I spend close to $1,000 yearly, buying supplies and other materials. I often attend classes (paid for out of my pocket), workshops and seminars during my ``free time.'' I am not alone.
Considering the minimum four years that teachers attend college, we are the lowest-paid professionals in the workplace. I am sure that any ``smart'' taxpayer could figure that teachers are the best bargain you can get in Virginia Beach.
Shannon Coker
Virginia Beach, Feb. 6, 1997