Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 5, 1995 TAG: 9503080015
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Secondly, I feel the school administration's over-reaction and mishandling of this case is going to cost the taxpayers thousands of dollars in legal fees ... over a few doughnuts! How many classroom computers, teacher pay raises or free school lunches could be had with this large sum of money?
And third, I would hope that there are more newsworthy events than this in the New River Valley. Not only should this story not be in print, but it is WRONG that she had to have nearly one-half of the front page of the Current devoted to her picture! I am truly sorry that your newspaper did not show her any more respect than this. You should be ashamed.
Donna and Galaspa Duck
Dublin
Bias works against boys, too
This is in response to the Feb. 19 article "Is it Boys Who Are Making Our Hallways Hostile?" We wrote the petition on gender bias circulated in Blacksburg Middle School. We want to clarify some elements of the petition. First, the criticism of gender-specific language was a minor aspect. We put more emphasis on comments made by teachers that support a stereotypical view of women. These comments can often make girls uncomfortable in the classroom.
Moreover, Mr. McKissack misunderstood the segment about girls not being called on in class. Yes, we raise our hands as "aggressively" as boys if we have a question. No, this problem does not exist in every classroom. On the whole, the teachers do a pretty good job of keeping their classes basically free of gender bias.
We included no names of teachers in the petition. It was meant to raise the awareness of bias in the classrooms, not to attack men. As writers of the petition we believe that gender-bias works against boys as well, and we don't think any of it should occur in the classroom.
Joanna Burch-Brown and Abby Mckee
Blacksburg
Reader will buy doughnuts
It was trip No. 2 for the Pulaski County High School Players, better known as the doughnut troupe. The high school administration set the itinerary and named an "administrator in charge." Rumor has it he traveled to Fredericksburg Friday to secure the area prior to arrival of the troupe at Stafford Senior High School on Saturday, Feb. 18.
To avoid anymore of the breakfast incidents that Dr. William Asbury described as "inexcusable," the school paid for a 45-minute breakfast buffet at Shoney's of Waynesboro at 8:30 a.m. I was told there were doughnuts offered at the bar, and Shoney's had no objection to the students having two apiece.
The troupe arrived in time to see two other plays and perform "The Serpent." The students were allowed to stay for the awards. Since there have been no hearings at the School Board office, I assume that Rhonda Welsh did not raise her voice at Stafford High School.
The students boarded the bus and arrived at Western Sizzlin' of Waynesboro at 9 p.m. (closing time). Welsh reportedly spoke to the management, who agreed to remain open.
As a parent, I am impressed with the administration's outstanding efforts. But according to what I understand, I must admit I have a few suggestions before competition in Charlottesville:
1) Maybe the "administrator in charge" could have ridden the charter bus or the county could have hired a security guard to ride the bus.
2) Maybe the "administrator in charge" could have eaten his meals with the troupe.
3) It might have promoted a better "Cougar Image" if the "administrator in charge" had sat with the students during the performances at Stafford High.
4) Since the students were instructed to bring $8 for the 8:30 p.m. meal, the "administrator in charge" could have allowed them to eat at Western Sizzlin' in Stafford at 5:30 p.m.
5) Next trip I'll pay for three dozen glazed doughnuts and the "administrator in charge" can distribute one to each of the 36 students for a "continental lunch" so that the students don't have to go 12 hours without food.
Susan McCoy
Snowville
Agenda is for everyone
I want to thank Mr. McKissack for pointing out in his Feb. 19 column that gender bias and sexual harassment were confused in the article, "Teen-age Girls Fight Harassment in Classroom." The implications for learning of gender bias, society's different expectations of girls and boys simply because of sex, and sexual harassment, unwelcome sexual behavior, are addressed in separate reports by the American Association of University Women.
He was also correct in saying the AAUW has an agenda: It is an agenda to help promote education and equity for women and girls. However, it is important to note that when these issues are addressed in our schools, the learning environment improves for everyone.
Are sexual harassment policies necessary? Elyzabeth Holford, director of affirmative action at Virginia Tech, answered this at the AAUW's 1995 Education Equity Conference. First, the data: According to the AAUW report, "Hostile Hallways," 80 percent of male and female secondary school students reported some form of sexual harassment. That is an astounding figure! We have only begun to assess the medical, psychological and educational damage. Second, legal implications: Sexual harassment violates a student's right to equal access to education. In 70 percent of sexual harassment cases, the Office of Civil Rights has found the school districts had inadequate procedures. Existence of a policy is not enough: Does a formal sexual harassment grievance procedure exist? Is information regarding sexual harassment regularly communicated to students, parents and employees?
I believe that if McKissack truly understood the purpose of the 1995 Educational Equity Conference he would whole-heartedly embrace the content - it outlined steps for taking personal responsibility on the issue of sexual harassment. In that spirit of personal responsibility and rigorous intellectual scrutiny, I will ensure that he receives an invitation to the 1996 Educational Equity Conference.
Lisa Green Connelly,
AAUW, Educational Equity
Committee Co-Chair
Blacksburg
Discrimination against the short
The U.S. Supreme Court discriminates against short people.
It does this when it rules that it is OK to kill a person less than 2 feet in length, if a woman wants it done; but it is murder if the child is 3 or 4 feet long, even if the woman wants it done.
This height discrimination is clearly unconstitutional. Yet today it is a federally protected right using federal marshals to enforce the protection.
Anti-abortion people who prevent the death of the short ones are bootlegging life. That is not permissible.
People who interfere with the death wish of mothers are branded murderers if they destroy one of the destroyers.
Penalties are high if you interfere with the designated executioners of the short ones.
All of this, despite the fact that our charters of freedom ensure life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness to everyone.
Howard R. Johnson
Blacksburg
Animal abuse incident here
By now we've all heard the story of the Rottweiler pups buried alive in Florida. Here in Montgomery County we had a similar incident recently.
Two months ago a hiker found live puppies sealed in plastic bags in an icy, isolated creek bed. This good samaritan rescued the pups and cared for them for two months until there was room at the Humane Society Shelter to house them. One pup had managed to chew his way through the plastic. His sister was not so lucky and consequently suffered neurological damage from lack of oxygen.
Unfortunately, the Humane Society of Montgomery County hears horror stories like this all too often. Suffocating youngs dogs and cats is not the answer to the pet overpopulation problem. You can help alleviate some of this sorrow by spaying or neutering your own pet and making donations to our spay/neuter fund. Cruelty to helpless animals must stop.
Two 4-month-old chow mix puppies are now at the HSMC Shelter awaiting loving homes.
Ron Brown, President;
Connie Ratner, Shelter Manager;
Laura Vangunten, HSMC board member
Christiansburg
CROP Walk says thanks
We would like to thank all those people who helped make the 1994 CROP Walk sponsored by the Radford-Fairlawn Ministerial Association such a great success. CROP is an arm of Church World Service that provides funds to help alleviate world hunger. There were 250 walkers who helped raise $2,800 toward this cause.
Those who helped organize the event include: Linda McMillan, treasurer; Pati Roane, arrangements chairman; Debbie Northern and Linda Parah, recruitment co-chairmen; Brenda King and the Radford High School girls' basketball team; Sigma Nu fraternity, crossing guards; Dennis and Dwayne Martin, crossing guards; and the Radford Police Department for helping to ensure the safety of walkers.
These Radford businesses also contributed to the walk: DeVilbiss Funeral Home, Dedmon Center, Kroger, Hardee's, Burger King, Eleven West.
Gine Rhea and Polly Jackson
Radford
by CNB