The Virginian-Pilot
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thursday, September 29, 1994           TAG: 9409290016
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A18  EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   33 lines

REASONS TO APPLAUD REMEDIAL CLASSES

If the writer of the editorial ``Remedial resistance'' (Sept. 19) were a member of one of my ``remedial'' reading classes at Tidewater Community College, he would learn that one does not properly reach a conclusion until all information has been gathered.

If he were in one of my classes, he would find that of these incoming freshmen, only about 10 percent of are just out of high school (and not all of those from public schools).

The remaining 90 percent are adults who have been out of school for years. They are returning veterans, people getting off welfare, workers who are upgrading their occupational skills, and others who are generally improving their quality of life. They are intelligent, motivated, hard-working and a joy to teach.

After the preparation they receive in developmental classes, they are prepared for success in their college careers and in the workplace.

These members of society are improving their lot and should be applauded. To roundly condemn the money spent in developmental areas is to demonstrate a lack of reading and research skills.

Why not pay us a visit? You could learn something.

BEVERLEY B. McGHEE

Chesapeake, Sept. 20, 1994 by CNB