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

DATE: SUNDAY, September 4, 1994                   TAG: 9410190016
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: D2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

IN MONTGOMERY

OK, YOU people, no more excuses. When the first-in-the-nation countywide homework hot line begins operating this fall, Montgomery County's teachers will no longer put up with incomplete, overdue, ignored assignments or your flimsy alibis.

All you have to do is call the Montgomery County Homework Communications System, using a personal I.D. number for each student, to hear what homework has been assigned.

Such a hot line was among the recommendations of the citizens' Focus 2006 task force that studied ways to improve county schools. Developed by the Blacksburg-based Tele-works Inc., and financially supported by local businesses and organizations, the hot line will allow parents to hear messages specifically intended for them, including reminders to parents about upcoming events, such as PTA meetings. That should be helpful to parents.

And, of course, to students. It may be especially helpful to those kids who now have a devil of a time getting their parents to do their homework for them. Parents can make such outrageous claims about not knowing what is expected of them.

by CNB