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

DATE: TUESDAY, April 17, 1990                   TAG: 9004170471
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

CITY SCHOOLS HERE BETTER THAN DENVER'S

LAST AUGUST I moved from Denver, Colo., with my 9-year-old daughter. She was enrolled in Highland Park Elementary, a Roanoke City public school.

Frankly, I anticipated finding my daughter to be ahead in school, as in Denver she was enrolled in one of the most affluent and highly acclaimed public-school systems in Colorado. To my dismay, I found her behind in virtually every subject matter.

In shock, I immediately consulted her teacher. Steps were taken to assist my daughter in achieving a level comparable to that of the other students.

Three months later we returned to Denver and our old neighborhood where we had resided for 8 1/2 years. My daughter is disappointed in school and feels as though she is being "held back." Her studies are not challenging, and the atmosphere is sterile. Though her friends and father are here, and she was elected to student council, and is, without really trying, one of the smartest in her class, she is unhappy with school.

Having witnessed the high quality of education provided by the Roanoke City schools, I am aware that children her age are capable of much more than what she is presently being taught.

I write this letter for my daughter, hoping that parents of students in Roanoke schools recognize the valuable asset they and their children have. My hat is off to the Roanoke schools and their excellent teachers. I only wish I could say that Colorado's school systems were as exceptional as the skiing and beauty our state offers. Virginia, you are the real winner.

TERI E. PHILLIPS\ DENVER, COLO.

by CNB