Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, July 17, 1993 TAG: 9307200564
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
May I suggest they begin in their own backyard. Let's start by eliminating all those lap-top computers being carried by students crisscrossing the drill field. A return to protractors, slide rules and rote memorization of logarithms will be good training for our future bridge-builders.
Fifty years ago, handicapped students were kept in closets, blacks attended hand-me-down schools and women's career choices were limited to being secretaries, teachers or nurses.
The dropout rate was nearly 50 percent a half-century ago. However, mill jobs and the military were available for all those who wanted to earn a living. Today's dropout is lucky to find a part-time job at minimum wage, and is locked out of serving his country.
Fifty years ago, guns were used against our enemies and by the police to fight crime. Today, they are carried on yellow school buses to frighten and harm others. Once identified, the guilty party must be given due process before he can be dismissed from school.
"World class education" means better preparation for today's world, not the world of 50 years ago. In the Alleghany Highlands, it means higher expectations (outcomes), greater parental involvement and updated technology in the classrooms. Contrary to the prevailing opinions of the folks in Blacksburg, our public schools are doing the job whenever they are provided with the human and economic resources to succeed.
MARTIN J. LOUGHLIN Superintendent of School\ Alleghany Highlands Public Schools\ COVINGTON
by CNB