ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, May 30, 1996 TAG: 9605310001
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
Gardner's first response was to demand of the Montvale principal that the teacher be required to return the book to the child in the presence of his classmates, which suggests Gardner wanted to humiliate the teacher. The principal's response certainly was correct: ``The book may be recovered in my office.'' Gardner's further action in notifying a local radio station was a continuing effort to embarrass the school.
What presently is transpiring is a good example of one of the hazards under which our public schools must operate these days. What used to be settled man to man in the principal's office now must be exposed in the media and the courts.
It becomes quickly evident to students and their parents that, once students cross the threshold of a public school, certain of their constitutional rights are put on hold for as long as they are on school property. Obviously, students aren't allowed to bear arms, and are not permitted to stand up in class and sound off without permission. They're not allowed to lawfully assemble, except when scheduled, and the courts have ruled recently that whatever appears in any school publication is subject to approval by school authorities.
And it's just as evident that, with all the smutty and pornography material available, schools must retain authority to determine what's suitable for reading by students while under their charge.
Whenever this lawsuit reaches the courts, the judge should dismiss it out of hand as trivial and trite.
THOMAS C. FISHER JR.
ROANOKE
Grave is not at Jamestown
WHAT IN the world is being taught in schools today?
I read Beth Macy's column (April 30, ``Bus trip will open doors to the world'') about a little girl who couldn't wait to see Pocahontas' grave at Jamestown. That fourth-grade teacher will have to collect a lot more money and take her class to Gravesend, England, to see Pocahontas' burial place.
PAT RUTHERFORD
RADFORD
Scripture doesn't justify abortion
IN DAVID Nova's May 2 commentary (``Legal tampering with personhood''), he quoted Exodus 21:22-25, saying that the passage proved that a fetus wasn't a person. His interpretation of the passage is incorrect. The passage says: "If men who are fighting hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman's husband allows. But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise."
Nova assumes that any time a woman "gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury" it means that the baby was dead but the woman wasn't seriously injured. As we all know, a woman can give birth prematurely and her baby will be all right. What this passage says is that if there was serious injury to either the mother or the fetus, then drastic measures were taken.
Nova cannot pull two Scripture verses out of the Bible and try to use them in his quest to prove that a fetus isn't a person. Any serious student of the Bible knows the high value God places on human life.
As public-affairs director for Planned Parenthood, it's his job to try to justify abortion. He's going to have to find sources other than the Bible to try to do it.
KATHERINE GRIFFITH
ROCKY MOUNT
Boucher votes added to deficit
THE FOLLOWING study should be of great interest to people in the 9th District.
The Concord Coalition, a Washington-based group, rated lawmakers' votes last year on 21 issues the organization believes affect the federal budget deficit. Rep. Rick Boucher voted 99 percent and Sen. Chuck Robb voted 4 percent for programs raising the deficit.
If we hope to control the deficit, wouldn't you agree we need to vote for a change in the congressman representing the 9th District?
BECKY BECKNER
CHRISTIANSBURG
Blacks exercised a hard-won right
I AM appalled by the cheap blows directed at African-American citizens by Mac McCadden (May 8 article, ``Black vote mixed for Bowers''). Unfortunately, former candidate Jeff Artis also tends to blame political defeats on African-American voters.
When a public official unfairly attempts to degrade the image of a people because of their choice at the polls, and further implies they don't read, watch television, attend forums, analyze issues, evaluate officials' performances and interpret local, state and national trends before making up their minds, that person reveals how close he is to his people and the difficult choices they must make.
McCadden's verbal attacks on a constituency he hopes to attract to his party place him in the company of the intolerant, politically naive and immature politicians who are unprepared for leadership in public service.
If McCadden and Artis would refresh their memories, they'd find that African-Americans have shown political flexibility, and have switched party affiliation when overwhelming and convincing evidence indicated that their priority needs, concerns and principles didn't stand a chance of being respected, much less supported.
On May 7, perhaps some Roanoke African-Americans voted with an unsettling knowledge that they were voting for the lesser of two evils. Nevertheless, they exercised a hard-won right to vote for what they viewed as being in their best interest.
Now that the mayoral and councilmanic elections are over, African-Americans and all citizens have the responsibility to see that elected officials, the city manager and other civil servants serve the city and its people with fairness, astuteness, integrity and dignity. Officialdom must be reminded, lest it forgets, that African-Americans are taxpayers and revenue generators who expect appropriate participation in policy formation, the growing economy, etc.
In this beautiful and potentially great city, there's ample work for persons of all political persuasions. There isn't time for divisive rhetoric.
BARBARA C. PATTERSON
ROANOKE
Single parents do it without whining
IN HER April 26 letter to the editor, "Mothers shoulder all responsibility," it seems that Martina Carrie Fudge had voiced her opinion in the wrong section of The Roanoke Times. It should have started "Dear Abby."
She complains about the day-to-day struggle all parents face, whether single or married. Sure, it would be nice to have a helpmate. But when you're single, you still must do what has to be done.
In 1988, I became a single parent with a 2-year-old and a 6-year-old. It has never been easy, but I do it with pride and pleasure, knowing it's for my children.
Welfare reform? Besides myself, others who signed this letter are single parents. We work 40 hours a week on all different shifts. We receive no child support or welfare, but our tax dollars pay for you and your friends to sit at home. You could say ``thank you,'' but instead, you scream for more.
Advice: Don't quit your job; we can't afford you. But stop crying. All those little things you do today will be wonderful memories in years to come.
ROBERT HOWLETT
ROANOKE
Editor's note: This letter was signed by four other single parents.
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