ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, February 29, 1996 TAG: 9602290016
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-8 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
THANKFULLY, the recent flap over the desire of the Diocesan Office of the Episcopal Church to remove two old houses it owned has been resolved. But it did raise anew an ongoing issue about historic preservation.
There are architectural gems that must be preserved at all reasonable cost, but there are other structures that could go with no great loss. Simply because they're old doesn't in itself make them worthy of preservation.
A few years ago a national publication had a comment worth considering:
``If the historic-preservation movement had been as strong in the 10th century as it is now, the magnificent cathedrals of the Middle Ages might never have been built. The preservationists would have been outraged at the demolition of eighth-century block churches to make room for the new buildings and would probably have run to the nearest king for an injunction. Politicians must not be allowed to make the cult of preservation into America's official religion.''
WILLIAM R. KLEIN
ROANOKE
What are we trying to preserve?
DANIEL DEEDS, in his Jan. 27 letter to the editor (``Conservation, not preservation, should be the focus''), upheld the George Washington National Forest plan being appealed by conservation groups. He protests that the Sierra Club, Wilderness Society and other groups are calling for ``preservation,'' not ``conservation.''
In misquoting my own commentary (Jan. 5, ``Forest plan will be costly to wildlife and taxpayers''), he proves his point by saying that timbering in the George Washington National Forest can't possibly wipe out 10,000 species. Indeed. As I said, out of an estimated 10 million species, we're eradicating 10,000 each year from the Earth. Clear-cutting in the Americas and Canada has played a crucial role in this death of entire species we can never replace.
Deeds uses the term ``preservation'' to designate the protection of these wild species. It could just as handily apply, however, to the preservation of industrial forestry practices that harm the living Earth.
LIZA FIELD
WYTHEVILLE
Travel plans trump children's education
REGARDING the schools' spring break:
Since when did family vacation plans take precedence over the quality of our children's education? The plan to lengthen the present school day by 5 minutes and to take away Memorial Day doesn't equal the 12 days that Roanoke County students missed during the snowstorms.
It appalls me that members of the School Board, those we elected to run our schools, put teachers' and parents' travel plans over the need to make sure our children are educated to the best of our collective abilities. And they wonder what's wrong with our society in this day and age.
KERRY L. PRUITT
ROANOKE COUNTY
LENGTH: Medium: 60 linesby CNB