Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 28, 1995 TAG: 9503280032
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
First, he asserted that we're ``closing ranks, eliminating private-school employees'' because these individuals ``might have an interest in any of the alternative education proposals currently at issue.'' Of VEA's 52,000 members, less than a dozen are private-school teachers. Two reasons why we're eliminating this membership category are:
We cannot, in good conscience, continue to take dues money from individuals to whom we offer no service.
Our primary purpose is to obtain an equitable and high-quality educational opportunity for all children of Virginia within the public-school system. Despite the change in membership categories, no member will be forced to leave our organization.
Poe's assertion that ``approximately 40 percent of NEA members send their children to private schools'' is without basis. George F. Will has made similar fallacious assertions, and I suspect Will is Poe's source of misinformation. What polling information I have (Gallup survey) indicates that between 8 percent and 10 percent of public-school teachers send their children to private and parochial schools. This is a lower percentage than among the public at large. In some cases, it may be reflective of religious convictions, and the difficulties teachers have when confronted with problems that can arise when one teaches one's own children.
One positive aspect of his letter is that he calls attention to the democratic nature of our organization. The issue Poe addressed will be decided by the 1,400 delegates representing every public-school system in Virginia. Our 1996 convention will be in Roanoke, and Poe is welcome to visit. He will discover the difference between the VEA and the fishing club he thinks us to be.
ROBLEY S. JONES
President
Virginia Education Association
RICHMOND
Family is proud of contributions
WHEN I spoke with Sandra Brown Kelly on the phone concerning my family, I had no idea the article she wrote would be titled ``The fall of the Krisches,'' and merit black headlines on the front page of the March 19 newspaper. I don't feel that an article telling of one business failure in 38 years of business can be titled ``the fall.''
These men came up from a small business to be leaders in a young industry, and stayed that way until times and illness took over. I feel something should have been said of the contributions the Krisch family has made to the Roanoke Valley.
I'm proud to be a member of a family who kept trying to the end - a proud and certainly not fallen family.
ROSALIE KRISCH SHAFTMAN
ROANOKE
Aunt Jemima and other great ladies
I THINK we've beaten Aunt Jemima enough, and I don't mean with a whisk. It's frightening when an advertisement for a box of pancake mix can cause such turmoil in a person's life (Feb. 27 letter to the editor by Gloria Jean Coan, ``Aunt Jemima image still disturbs many'').
Has anyone ever thought that Quakers could be hostile to Quaker Oats, and have they taken Uncle Ben off the rice box?
When I see Aunt Jemima, I'm reminded of a dear black lady who assisted in my birth in 1946. She wore long dresses, an apron, and tied a scarf around her head. To me, she was the epitome of Hattie McDaniels (Mammy) in ``Gone With the Wind.'' She was loving, caring, giving and one of the most special people in my life. She was ordinary, and without the hatred, prejudice, or any of the other evils that have cropped up over the years in both races. This lady instilled in me a sense of value for others, and never taught me any differences in black and white. She was my guardian angel for 13 years. Even until the day she died, I was her ``white baby boy.'' Should I now be offended? I think not.
If Coan has children, especially girls, I wonder if she's offended by black dolls in department stores? Does she purchase them, or does she let her children do without? It's apparent she wouldn't buy a Shirley Temple doll.
I'm thankful for Aunt Jemima, for Mammy, and for the memories of wonderful black ladies such as they portray, and one I used to know.
By the way, I'm also for Big Boy on top of the building. But they'd better take the ``boy'' out of it and make it Big Man!
WARREN HOLDREN
ROANOKE
The spat between GOP and Warner
WITH PARTISANSHIP and polarization leading our country on an ever-downward spiral, I must comment on the condemnation of Sen. John Warner by his own party members.
If he's to be condemned for speaking out against Oliver North, are not Ronald and Nancy Reagan, Norman Schwartzkopf and Colin Powell as well? I've yet to hear of any of Republicans doing so. Warner, like North in Iran-Contra, was just standing up for what he believed.
I must concede that being a liar is a good qualification for political office. However, the party fielded a poor candidate in most respects, campaign fund-raising being the exception. Warner had good foresight, and voters proved it on Election Day.
ROBERT E. PAYNE
ROANOKE
by CNB