Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, February 24, 1992 TAG: 9202240212
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
TEACHERS ASKED TO DO MORE WITH LESS
VIRGINIA educators are being asked to do more with less each year. The fact is that they keep doing a better job in teaching children, despite Herbert Martin's allegations (letter, Feb. 5). The educational system is not less effective than it was 40 years ago. It is much different.A greater segment of the population is being served, and the schools now have many more areas of responsibility. Then, less than 50 percent of the population completed high school. Today, that number has increased substantially. That segment has many more problems than did the students of 40 years ago. Yes, it does cost more to educate students today; however, in constant dollars that cost has remained relatively stable.
Teacher salaries have not remained relatively stable. They have eroded in constant dollars. They were never high to begin with.
To label teachers "crybabies" in asking for more dollars to educate children is patently wrong. Higher salaries are needed to attract the best teachers so our students will be competitive in a global economy. Recruiting excellent teachers when Virginia salaries have slipped below the national average could pose problems.
To assert that private and parochial schools do a superior job of educating children is also incorrect. To compare the results of private and public schools is like comparing apples and oranges. The populations served and the services provided are not similar.
Virginia ranks in the upper quartile in terms of ability to pay for education. In terms of what is paid, Virginia ranks in the bottom quartile. The true crybabies are those who would selfishly perpetuate this condition at the expense of young people. WILLIAM OWINGS ROCKY MOUNT