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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 4, 1992                   TAG: 9203040286
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

O'NEIL HAS GUTS TO SPEAK OUT

FINALLY, a school-board member with the guts to speak out with her own thoughts. I applaud Wendy O'Neil for not just echoing rhetoric of the Roanoke school board and Superintendent Frank Tota.

A matter as serious as guns in the schools should not be discussed behind closed doors, with only officially prepared and approved press releases doled out to the public in an effort to placate the masses. This is certainly not just a board issue! It affects parents, teachers, students, business and the entire community.

A political agenda and aspirations? Why not? Let's get used to it now. In 1994, we will be electing board members anyway. A board comprised of grazing and contented sheep does our community not one bit of good.

Will we be satisfied with the status quo? Is mediocrity in education good enough for our children, our future? Falling SATs and declining test scores will surely not improve in an environment filled with guns and violence. If nothing else, Ms. O'Neil is sparking debate, and debate will lead to exploring other avenues of problem-solving.

I for one hope Ms. O'Neil sticks to her guns, and maybe we can get rid of the guns in our schools. LEX P. GIBSON ROANOKE

by CNB