ROANOKE TIMES

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

DATE: SUNDAY, March 15, 1992                   TAG: 9203160156
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: F-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short


SCHOOLS ARE TURNING INTO ARMED CAMPS

IN THE PAST couple of years, I have been observing the deterioration of our school systems throughout the Roanoke Valley and surrounding areas. When will it become apparent to the citizens what the true problem is?

It is not the children. It is the parents and their lack of responsibility and control of their offspring.

Where are the "parents" when their children leave for school armed? How can we allow this to continue? Our school administrators and law-enforcement officers are helplessly outnumbered by our youth. If parents do not take control, we will lose what I used to know as America, and schools will continue to look like armed camps instead of educational facilities.

I patrolled the streets of Roanoke as a law-enforcement officer years ago. Never did I experience fear as we know it today from our youth. How times have changed! VIC HAMBLETT VINTON



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