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

DATE: SUNDAY, June 10, 1990                   TAG: 9006110186
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: F-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

ALONG WITH BIBLE, A LESSON IN LOVE

WHEN I was in school, a dear lady, Mrs. Alphin, taught Bible class. We never received any reward for attendance; we automatically wanted to take part. That was a time when we Americans stood for mom and apple pie and had not let one powerful woman take prayer out of public schools, and before a decline in morals.

Your May 22 editorial stated that the proper place to acquire religious beliefs is at home or places of worship. This may be the only form of worship some children may see. If some parents do not take the time to see if their children are reading properly, or at all, you certainly don't think they are interested in their morals. There is a vast difference between mere religion and spiritual living.

In Mrs. Alphin's class, I saw her hug a small, dirty child whom our class had very little to do with. She was teaching a lesson in love, and we can all use a dose of that. The more educated we become, the dumber we are in some areas.

I do not find this is a mere matter of separation of church and state, but education taught in a broader form of morals. I saw in Mrs. Alphin's class an example set for us in the commandment, love your neighbor as yourself, regardless of religious or financial background. That's more than I can say for some of our judges.

I just happen to be one of those citizens who does not believe everything my government tells me. If the parents of Botetourt County let these trailers that the Bible class are taught in be moved again, the next move may be do away with them altogether. CINDY DOWNS BUCHANAN

by CNB