THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Sunday, January 1, 1995                TAG: 9412300010
SECTION: COMMENTARY               PAGE: J4   EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   36 lines

THERE'S STILL HOPE FOR SCHOOLS

Two recently published events should be refreshing to those of us in Norfolk and Virginia Beach who are concerned with the directions of public education.

First, Virginia Beach School Board member, Charles Vincent, has finally been challenged by the legal system. Previously, the common knowledge of his adamant insistence that he be addressed as ``doctor,'' even after the cognizant officials of California indicated it had no legal foundation, concerned many, but seemingly not his sponsor, the Virginia Beach Education Association, the Virginia Beach School Board and the local legal system. We can now hope that those responsible for education will do better to promote an exemplary image in the eyes of teachers and students, as well as the community.

Second, the principal and teachers of Norfolk's Ruffner Middle School are deserving of public appreciation for their courage and persistence in promoting their teachers' dress code.

The local VEA, as usual, fought it from a liberal stance. To deny that a teacher's appearance, including attire, has no influence on the students' behavior (including learning) is absolutely ludicrous and self-serving. The adage, ``If a teacher wants the respect of students, then he/she should not dress or act as a student,'' is still true. Let more schools emulate Ruffner!

HARRISON G. DUDLEY SR.

Virginia Beach, Dec. 22, 1994 by CNB