ROANOKE TIMES 

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

DATE: SUNDAY, February 10, 1991                   TAG: 9102080080
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

RELAXING STANDARDS NO WAY TO HELP SCHOOLS

We would like to address several issues that will significantly impact the quality of education in our schools. One issue suggests relaxing the Standards of Quality to help local schools with funding problems. This move would be detrimental to our children's education now and for years to come. We understand the funding problems that school boards face, but relaxing the Standards of Quality would ultimately increase class sizes and allow special programs to be cut in our schools.

We believe that low pupil-teacher ratios are one of the most important factors for student success in schools. With each additional student, it becomes more and more difficult to address the multitude of needs these children have. There is nothing more frustrating than the feeling that there is a student in your class who needs more individual attention than you can possibly give. Small classes allow teachers to be most effective in leading their students to success.

Many programs could be lost if there is any relaxation of the Standards of Quality. These programs are vital to the instruction of our students. To relinquish any of them, even for one year, would be a step backward at a time when we are struggling to meet the increasing needs of all students.

We would urge our legislators to take the initiative in making education the state's top priority. In addition to keeping the Standards of Quality intact, you need to fight to restore funds cut from education as well as finding ways to increase funding for rural localities, such as Pulaski County. These funding cuts threaten programs for the at-risk student, programs designed to meet the needs of the community and programs that enable students to compete with others around the state and world. They also threaten teachers' jobs. Education is our future. Thank you for dealing with this dramatic problem.\ Don Skeen\ President\ Pulaski County\ Education Association 


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