Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, June 14, 1993 TAG: 9306150387
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
The Virginia Board of Education has put forward its version of education reform, the "World Class Education Initiative."
In 1991, some of the nation's top business leaders launched New American Schools Development Corp. It currently is foundering for insufficient funding. The same is true for John's Hopkins University experiment in "untracked" elementary schools, the "Coalition of Essential Schools," the "Outward Bound Expeditionary Learning" concept and the "Atlas Project."
Del. Frank Wagner of Virginia Beach says sources have estimated a possible $400 million cost for the state's proposed initiative.
Meanwhile, a disabled person in Virginia with an income of $600 monthly is ineligible for Medicaid. He must pay for his medicines, dental work and eyeglasses. (I'm told that no dentist in this area will even accept Medicaid patients.)
If we do not have enough money for such necessities of life, how will we pay $400 million for education reform? A solution: In this century, and even today, immigrants from Europe and Asia bring with them something we seem to lack: reverance for learning and strong family support. JACK E. BYRD HARDY
by CNB