ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, June 2, 1996 TAG: 9606030011
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: 3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: STEVE MUNRO
LIBERALS! Liberals! Liberals! What a hypocritical lot.
Ronald Mason, principal of Montvale Elementary School in Bedford County, must think Montvale is Hillary Rodham Clinton's ``village.'' Basically, he told parent Thomas Gardner that he knew what was best for Gardner's son when he confiscated his Rush Limbaugh book.
This is typical liberalism, and the height of hypocrisy and arrogance. Heaven forbid that Gardner would oppose his son's reading ``Daddy's Roommate'' or ``Heather Has Two Mommies,'' which Mason might propose. Whoa! Then we'd really hear the principal's wailing and gnashing of teeth.
What could be the reason behind Mason's errant contempt for Limbaugh? Limbaugh's books and daily radio and television programs espouse excellence, competition, decency and morality - little of which is found in our public schools. (You see, our public educators don't want excellence or morality to offend anyone or damage anyone's self-esteem.)
Could it really be Limbaugh's way of lampooning that ridiculous (taxpayer-funded) condom-distribution program in the public schools?
Perhaps it's his criticism of Goals 2000 and outcome-based education programs, which encourage mediocrity instead of excellence. (Columnist Cal Thomas has described these programs as the ``dumbing down'' of America.)
Regardless, Mason sounds like one of those liberals who have traded excellence, morality and voluntary prayer in schools for teen pregnancy, abortion, gun-toting kids and an overall decline in education.
Steve Munro of Roanoke is a commercial banker with a local bank.
LENGTH: Short : 37 linesby CNB