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

DATE: THURSDAY, March 5, 1992                   TAG: 9203050487
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

`LOVE CONNECTION' WRONG SCHOOL ROLE

WITH REGARD to the article about Valentine's Day at Northside High School (Feb. 15), I feel that this cavalier attitude on education is why this country is so far behind other countries. Would this type of activity be tolerated in schools in Europe or Japan? I think not.

One can imagine the disruption caused in classes when notes were delivered to the recipients of gifts. Surely the school secretary has more important things to do. Are our tax dollars being used to create this party atmosphere in the schoolroom? Schools are meant for learning, not as a "Love Connection" for adolescents.

There is nothing wrong with gift-giving on Valentine's Day, but does it belong in the schools? What about the kids who, for financial or other reasons, did not receive gifts? This is a far cry from the exchange of Valentine cards we all remember in grade school. It is healthy to have competition (we face it in all phases of our lives), but let it be restricted to sports or scholastic ability. MAVIS BAILEY ROANOKE

by CNB