Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, April 8, 1995 TAG: 9504100001
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
With the first few years of school being so important for our children, they should receive the best. They need to have individual attention, and as much time as they need with the classroom teacher. However, when you put 27 children (in third grade) with one teacher, neither the children nor the teacher can do their best.
My child is in such a class. I worry about my child and others in this system. If they get burned out with their education at this early age, then what can we hope for in the future? Children should and must become our priority. No classroom should have a ratio of more than 20 children to one teacher.
Roanoke County must wake up and realize that it must put money into quality education or all county residents will lose.
CYNTHIA J. VAUGHT
ROANOKE
Long-range weather forecast: uncertain
NORMAN Macdonald and Joseph Sobel make an excellent case against the argument that our weather has gotten steadily worse in recent years due solely to the greenhouse effect (March 14 commentary, ``Wrong, doomsayers, the weather isn't getting worse'').
Most in the scientific community look at the data and try to discern what the information is telling them. The fringes fight their own battles. If one fanatic doomsayer gets a few column inches in print, the dogmatic naysayer feels obliged to revenge. All the while, Earth just keeps rolling along.
Data published in the March 4 issue of Science News report that the temperature of coastal water near Monterey, Calif., has risen an average of .75 degree Fahrenheit since 1930, and the summer average in the same area has risen by 2 degrees in the same period. The author just released the data; he handed down no verdict. It could be global warming, an effect of El Nino, or something undiscovered. There isn't enough information to go on.
Meanwhile, sea slugs and other lower forms of life, which had favored cool waters off the coast, have been replaced by more heat-tolerant species. No one knows whether the original inhabitants were killed by temperature change or moved away.
The Earth's climate doesn't slide smoothly from cool to warm and back again. There appear to be thresholds, and we don't know where they lie. As we drift to the unknown future, we should continue to gather all information we can, and we should all be as informed as possible to make sound decisions as to the health of our world.
The extremists may continue their fight, just as the centrists may advocate vacillation. The pragmatic among us are merely along for the ride. We hope Macdonald and Sobel are right and all is fine with the world. But what if they're wrong?
KERMIT W. SALYER JR.
ROANOKE
Maynard offers excellent plans
DOUG MAYNARD is a genuine resident of Bedford County. As for being a ``native,'' well, none of us are really native to this land. Being born in a place doesn't mean a person has the community at heart in his or her day-to-day activities. Maynard has lived in and worked for the Bedford community for the past 19 years. As sheriff, he'll bring our Sheriff's Department up to speed for the 21st century. He'll work to promote professional and efficient law enforcement.
Maynard is a farmer, and he knows what people in rural Bedford County are up against. He's also a crime investigator and understands the problems of the urban areas of the city and county. His plan for expanded patrol areas and faster response times, coupled with enhanced education programs in our schools, will attack crime at its roots.
In this age of balanced budgets, Maynard knows that all need to pull their share of the load. This not only applies to the office of sheriff, but to other areas of city and county government. His plans for inmate-labor programs - to offset food costs at the county jails, and save the city and county money in other areas - will help support this goal.
EDWARD J. KIRK
THAXTON
Still looking for the Bedford bonanza
IN RESPONSE to the March 14 article ``Bedford County trims budget, prevents deficit'':
``And they did it without raising taxes,'' according to the county's Board of Supervisors. And more good news: They lowered the real-estate tax rates.
I don't think my pocketbook can stand any more good news from the supervisors. They have created a real problem for me when I itemize on my 1040 tax form next year. You see, if my real-estate taxes didn't go up, how will I file the extra $300 that I have to send to the treasurer this year? Perhaps under contributions? I don't think so.
NITA LAM
MONETA
Providing a safe place for choice
AS AN active supporter of Planned Parenthood, I must respond to Jo Beth Viggiano's March 26 letter to the editor (``Agency reveals its true purpose'') criticizing this organization.
I support Planned Parenthood's work due to its strong emphasis on education and family planning. I also respect the organization because it offers women affordable health care. I believe its overall emphasis is to help women and men make proper decisions that will ultimately deter unwanted pregnancies.
In the event of an unplanned pregnancy, a woman may choose her legal right to have an abortion and, therefore, needs a safe environment in which to do so. I feel it's necessary for Planned Parenthood to provide this option, along with all other alternatives.
ROBERT CLARK
ROANOKE
by CNB