Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, August 5, 1995 TAG: 9508080009
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
However, in your editorial, it was mentioned that ``in Southwest Virginia, some districts have better results than wealthier districts in other parts of the state.'' This went without saying that the No. 1 Literacy Passport-achieving district in Virginia hails from our Southwest region.
The widely acclaimed schools of Northern Virginia aside, 91.3 percent of Patrick County public school's sixth-graders passed all parts of the standardized test. Furthermore, it was the only district in the state to exceed 90 percent. And these are things to cheer about. For Patrick County's students and teachers, this wasn't a fluke. Over the past five years, Patrick County has always fared well, and was in the top five in 1993-'94.
The Roanoke Times should point out the successes, along with the shortcomings. Your readers, including students at most of the Patrick County school libraries and public library, appreciate recognition for positive actions. Patrick County students, parents and teachers are to be commended for a job well done!
|DAVID M. RATLIFF |Economic Development Coordinator |Patrick County |STUART
Another vote for|
a Salem pool|
I AGREE with Kathy Newcomb (July 25 letter to the editor, ``Getting Salemites into the swim''). I arrived in the Salem area 15 years ago, and have watched over the years as the possibility of a public pool in Salem was discussed. Like her, I cannot afford to belong to a club, and have the same problems of distance to locate a place to swim.
When my children were little, I drove to Claytor Lake, which is a long way to travel just to swim. Smith Mountain Lake is also a considerable distance when you just want to take a little dip.
For all of us who love to swim, could we please have a pool ready for use soon?
And while I'm writing, a big thank-you to Salem and the horticulturist for the lovely flowers at the entrances to Salem and in various other places, and for the beauty of the Bradford pear trees on Thompson Memorial Highway. Great job!
JOYCE M. TANNER
SALEM
Too much ado for a piece of cloth
IN RESPONSE to Rep. Robert Goodlatte's July 29 letter to the editor (``Don't confuse flag-desecration with freedom of speech'') on why he voted for the flag-burning constitutional amendment:
When I first heard of the proposed constitutional amendment to prohibit flag burning, I thought it was a Republican joke to see how far they could swing the Christian Coalition. Surely, no one would mess with the Constitution for such a trivial act as burning a piece of cloth. Adding an amendment to the Constitution to ban flag burning is like hanging a piece of scrap metal on a pure gold sculpture. It's the type of law you expect to find in Iran or in the 15th century, not the free American 20th century. It's so trivial and ridiculous as to boggle the brain.
Chief Justice William Rehnquist states: ``The government has a right to legislate against conduct that is regarded as evil and profoundly offensive to the majority of people whether it be murder, embezzlement, pollution or flag burning.'' Well, he fails the simple IQ test as to what belongs in a certain group. Flag burning doesn't belong in the group of other crimes listed. If every person in America burned a flag, no one would be harmed. You cannot say the same for the other crimes.
Goodlatte says it's despicable to burn a flag in front of a veteran who has fought for his country. Why? The veteran fought for the country, not for a piece of cloth. No one should confuse the two.
If you want to arrest someone for burning a flag, do it for the right reason - that it pollutes the air.
WAYNE FINCH
DALEVILLE
The rationale for city-county merger
PAUL G. St. Clair asked what advantage will it be to make Bedford County a city (July 29 letter to the editor, ``Vote for country living'').
I say it isn't a matter of believing or disbelieving a politician. Anybody should know that if Lynchburg does annex a large part of Bedford County's tax base, someone will have to make up those taxes. Who do you think it will be? Think! If Bedford County becomes a city, Lynchburg cannot annex Bedford city. Bedford has my vote to become a city.
JAMES T. PECK
VINTON
Bedford merger is a grass-roots effort
BEDFORD MERGER? Why not? Citizens of Bedford city and county are very fortunate to have the chance of putting to rest an issue that has troubled many for a long time. It has taken years to get this close to a solution to potential annexation of either end of Bedford County.
Government, at any level, works very slowly. I would personally be very upset if citizens were influenced by fear tactics used by some to get them to vote against this positive measure. It's refreshing to see at the grass-roots level that citizens, by using existing rules and regulations of Virginia law, can express their will!
I hope that each of us talks to one another and learns about the advantages of consolidation. The referendum this fall is one where every citizen's vote counts.
JANET F. BIEHL
FOREST
by CNB