Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, September 2, 1994 TAG: 9409020037
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The Aug. 24 editorial (``Women's colleges and VMI'') said that women's colleges supporting VMI were being shortsighted in the long run. Your reasoning on this question was your typical liberal approach, and was terribly flawed.
Do you know that the only difference between Hollins and VMI is the amount of money paid to each by the state or federal government? State and federal scholarship money paid to girls' schools makes these schools taxpayer-supported, the same as VMI.
If you want proof of this, I refer you to Grove City College in Pennsylvania or Adrian College in Michigan. The federal government has attacked Grove City to prevent it from teaching its religious beliefs. Adrian refuses any federal or state scholarships because it wants to operate without federal controls.
You should warn Mary Baldwin, Hollins, Sweetbriar and other girls' schools to beware: Big Brother will get them if they don't watch out- and if they don't fight for VMI.
DAN J. BECKNER CHRISTIANSBURG
More police = more threats to freedom
IDEALLY, POLICE should be a presence that's felt, a protection for citizens who go about their business and enjoy life, and police should only become involved when there's controversy.
Tim Poland's July 21 commentary (``Less cheer, more fear'') and letters supporting his stand show problems that are getting to be a major concern - disregard of personal freedom, and the actual fear of police.
The 100,000 new police officers to be put on the streets, as mentioned in the crime bill, actually mean that many more officers will ride around in air-conditioned police cars, with the windows rolled up, oblivious to what's happening on the streets right next to them. It means many more police roadblocks in areas and neighborhoods that can afford fines and pay for defense lawyers.
How about this newspaper publishing a list of roadblocks each month, telling where they were, on what day and at what times? This should be a very telling report about fighting our valley's crime.
A person shouldn't be charged with being impaired if a police officer, who is trained to be observant and has some sense of judgment, cannot tell by observing. The suspect's actions should be the offense. Sticking some electronic sniffing device in a person's face without cause should be illegal. But illegal is now a moot point. Due process, as one letter pointed out, is no longer necessary when driving privileges are at stake.
As to the ``field sobriety tests,'' anyone submitting voluntarily to those indignities gets what he or she deserves. Most of us played those ``close your eyes and touch your nose, etc.,'' games when we were 6 or 8 years old. They were difficult then, and to try them as grown-ups, under roadside conditions and under duress, is foolish.
Stay home. Lock your doors. Enjoy freedom.
DOUGLAS CHANDLER GRAHAM SALEM
Without new taxes, services will lag
REGARDING THE Aug. 2 letter to the editor from Joan Wheeler concerning recreational facilities in Southwest Roanoke County (``County's parks are below par''):
As part of the 1992 bond referendum, the Parks and Recreation Department is making numerous improvements to park facilities throughout Roanoke County. Included in these projects are new athletic fields, playground and tennis-court upgrades, improved handicapped accessibility, community-center renovations and much more. Garst Mill Park is scheduled to receive a new playground, a new bridge and improved parking. This capital-improvement program indicates public support for quality parks in the county.
Southwest Roanoke County is experiencing rapid growth, and needed government services will always lag behind the population increases. As an example, we currently need a gymnasium for youth basketball in Southwest Roanoke County because we've not had any new game facilities in more than 20 years.
The Board of Supervisors approved the rezoning of property adjacent to the Blue Ridge Parkway that will bring us more than 600 new families in two developments alone. These new residents will need more services and recreation areas, but until the houses are built and taxes are collected on them, matching facilities will not be built.
As citizens, we should realize that government services aren't free. The current political sentiment holds that our tax burdens are too high, and to raise taxes for any purpose is political heresy. Until the public becomes aware of the link between services and revenues, we'll continue to have our need for facilities lagging behind the government's ability to provide the services.
MICHAEL D. MORRIS ROANOKE
Public education unfairly maligned
AS A teacher-to-be and a vehement supporter of public education, I take personal and professional offense to Al Trimpey's Aug. 23 letter to the editor (``Evolution plan sows seeds of destruction''), especially to his opening statement: ``Public-school students are taught that they're worthless descendants of slime.''
In my experience with public-school systems, I've never encountered one situation in which students are taught they're worthless. To the contrary, a primary educational goal is to build self-esteem by instilling pride in heritage.
As for allowing our children ``to be indoctrinated with ... nihilistic theology,'' I have two responses. First, parents shouldn't merely ``allow'' anything regarding their children's education. Parents should get more involved. I believe an absence of interest is more the problem than an absence of God.
Second, public schools don't advocate the concept of nihilism (defined: rejection of customary beliefs in morality, religion, etc.). The sad fact is that more and more topics became taboo in classrooms each year. Issues involving morality and religion top the list.
It's simplistic to lay blame for society's problems solely on the flaws of public education. Certainly the system has weaknesses. Unfortunately, poor-quality administrators and teachers do exist.
But I invite Trimpey to spend some time in the classrooms. He'll see educators who bend over backward to teach, guide, counsel, discipline and administer, despite overwhelming obstacles. He'll hear talk about self-confidence, diversity, acceptance and respect. And I hope he'll realize that the true purpose of public education is to encourage children to think for themselves, and discover their own truths.
SHELLEY L.E. CREASEY ROANOKE
No true winner, but a Robb victory
SINCE it's a four-man race for the U.S. Senate, there'll be no true winner for Virginia. In my opinion, if you took a few issues on which each candidate stands, and put them all together for a chosen or unchosen candidate, only then would Virginians have a fairly good representative in Congress.
In my view, Marshall Coleman and Douglas Wilder are two of the four lesser evils. Come November, I'll vote for Wilder because of his qualifications, and because I'm a Democrat. But after all the bad-mouthing is said and done between now and Election Day, I'll bet all my marbles on Robb winning.
DANIEL M. FLOWERS ROANOKE
County bureaucrats who tax and spend
ROANOKE COUNTY Supervisor Bob Johnson has struck again. At a time when the school population is headed for decline, he's decided the county spending spree should continue with a new high school in Cave Spring, once again tightening the tax screws.
Taxpayers deserve to see present facilities used to the fullest extent before building what could be excess capacity in the school system. And if it's determined Roanoke County does need a new high school, maybe we should trim the bloated county bureaucracy and apply the savings to the new school.
Our taxes are already high, too high in fact! Johnson is a real-estate agent, and should know there's a building boom in Botetourt County, fueled in no small part by taxpayers looking for well-deserved tax relief.
Wake up, county voters, before it's too late. Make our elected bureaucrats justify their constant raids on our collective bank accounts. A million dollars here, $30 million or so there, and before long we'll have Northern Virginia tax rates to pay with Southwest Virginia wages. We don't really have to move to Botetourt County to get tax-and-spend bureaucracy relief. Just make our elected officials (employees) spend our tax dollars like it was real money (because it is), instead of green paper with expired presidents' pictures printed on it.
STANLEY SUMNER SALEM
by CNB