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

DATE: SUNDAY, March 29, 1992                   TAG: 9203300198
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: F-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

CONNECTIONS, RICHES PROTECT FROM HASSLES

MANY TIMES a student is ridiculed because of his or her ethnic background, or simply because he or she has no money. As a child growing up in the city school system, I was picked on by many of my peers.

This did not stop even when I went to proper authorities. It resorted always in a fight. There was no talking it out.

My mother always was a gentle woman. She taught me if I was to get into a fight in school and was suspended, worse punishment would prevail. So I suppose I was the coward all through my high-school years.

It seems to me that as long as you have connections or are relatively rich, no one will mess with you. Since most students are not rich and do not have connections, I am not alone. Something must be done. MALINDA BLAND ROANOKE

by CNB