ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, May 22, 1996 TAG: 9605220002
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
IN RESPONSE to George Hicks' April 11 letter to the editor, ``Education should be No. 1 priority'':
Quoting from his letter: ``Roanoke city schools were nothing less than a nightmare of lethargic teachers and an inept, uncaring School Board.''
I'm a teacher in the city's school system at Preston Park Primary School. I find his statement insulting and misinformed. I challenge Hicks to drive by Preston Park any evening of the week and see these lethargic teachers working until 6 p.m. or later.
The city school system is committed to excellence in education. Attendance, citizenship and test scores throughout the system have dramatically improved through the continuing hard work of all administrators, teachers, students and parents, with unconditional support of the School Board and central-office administration and staff. I'm proud to teach in the city school system.
If Hicks spent half the time and energy helping and supporting education rather than condemning it, his children would benefit much more.
MICHELLE MURRAY
ROANOKE
Symphony's fare: tried (tired?) 'n' true
GET READY for the big parade. The stable for the Roanoke Symphony's 1996-'97 season is crowded with war horses, included perhaps the biggest of them all - Beethoven's Symphony No. 9. It's like having Lawrence Welk back with us. The only missing item is "Stars and Stripes Forever." With these audience-pleasers, standing ovations will be cheap and easy.
Symphony-goers during recent years have had a balance between past and present. They've been paid the high compliment of not being patronized. They didn't like everything they heard, but their musical imagination was stretched.
I support the Roanoke Symphony, and will be pleased to have my reservations set aside.
BILL WINN
MARTINSVILLE
Victims don't trust this jail trustee
NOT TOO long ago, Stephen P. Gilmer was convicted of several sex offenses against two minors. He was sentenced to time in a state facility. Imagine the horror when one of the victims saw Gilmer, who is supposed to be in jail, walking alone on a street in Pearisburg! A quick trip to the county jail confirmed what she had seen.
Apparently, Gilmer was a trustee and had been given permission to walk alone to a nearby building to do some work. Further investigation revealed that after sentencing he was sent to a state prison, but wrote the local sheriff in Giles County and was given permission to return to the county jail to serve his time. A man who was convicted of sex offenses against two minors! I've lost faith in the legal system!
The good news is that after a few phone calls by the victim, Gilmer is now back in the state facility.
EDWARD C. COLEMAN JR.
BLACKSBURG
Coverage served candidates, voters
I WOULD like to thank The Roanoke Times for the comprehensive coverage of the recent City Council elections in the Roanoke Valley. The format gave every candidate an opportunity to answer questions from voters in a fair, concise way.
I've been involved in the political process for a number of years, and have sometimes been critical of media coverage in local elections. If you continue this process in future elections, I don't see how any candidate or reader can complain about not knowing what the issues and answers are.
I was a candidate in the Salem election, and it was gratifying to participate in the process of letting voters know where I stood on the issues. Local candidates don't usually have a lot of money to spend to inform citizens on critical issues facing a municipality. Your newspaper gave all of us that format on an equal basis.
It's an outstanding public service, and one that I hope you will continue in future elections.
HOWARD PACKETT
SALEM
Clinton will win by spreading fear
MY CONVICTION is that when the election is over, President Clinton will have been re-elected. Not on his merits, because he's bankrupt in that category, but because he has devised a strategy that frightens the elderly by intimating that they'll lose their Social Security and Medicare.
And knowing the voters won't pay the price to balance the budget, he can't lose.
MURRAY P. CARVER SR.
SALEM
LENGTH: Medium: 91 linesby CNB