THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 12, 1995 TAG: 9505150191
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Medium: 84 lines
The purpose of this letter is to praise and recognize the respectfully earned, but rarely given, praise and thanks to Social Services under the exemplary leadership of Daniel Stone for the contributions made to the homeless population of our city.
The Volunteers of America Winter Shelter program has had no intake site for two years. Through the generosity of Social Services, the back of their building accommodated homeless clients so they could be case-managed before being bused to the area churches and synagogues for sleeping. This often caused extra hardship and confusion for Social Services, along with the responsibility of so many people on the property after hours.
This service gave Volunteers of America the opportunity to professionally handle any potential difficulties before transporting individuals, making the program safe and secure for the clients as well as our area houses of worship.
When the money for the winter program ran dry and the shelter closed its doors in April for another year, we felt sure that Dan Stone breathed a sigh of relief, only to hear that temperatures were dropping into the low 30s again that week. The back doors of Social Services were reopened until the extremely cold weather passed.
Through innovative and creative programs - like the Homeless Mentorship Program, spearheaded by Eunice Whitehurst, in which homeless persons were given valuable one-on-one support in obtaining life skills, job resourcing, etc. - Social Services is engaging itself in the process of visioning our city out of a homeless crisis.
Virginia Beach Interfaith Advisory Board to Social Services
The Virginia Beach Interfaith Council for Social Services 'Teacher's investments have paid off well so far'
Editor's note: Last fall, we published a letter from Ms. Truitt (``Think of education as a wise investment,'' Sept. 9) on her hopes for the new school year. Here is her progress report, near this school year's end.)
This school year has been a personal challenge. I started off teaching third grade. I had previously taught first grade and was quite content. However, life doesn't always give you what you want. I made a great commitment to myself, my students and my students' parents to accept the change and modify my expectations and goals.
I recently read an article concerning a study by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. ``One of the largest studies ever undertaken of the nation's elementary schools'' concluded that ``too many of them use class time poorly, are isolated from their communities and do not teach language skills or promote civic virtues enough.'' Too bad they didn't study my classroom or, for that matter, my school.
Just in case the Carnegie Foundation is interested, my educational investments this year include: creating exceptionally strong ties to parents; daily emphasis on reading and language skills; flexible class days that promote creative learning and linking different subjects; and with much vigilance, affirmation of civic virtues such as honesty, compassion and respect for others.
There have been numerous successes to this end. Just a few include: Parents receiving a bimonthly classroom newsletter; two students (hopefully three) publishing short stories in the children's newsletter Just Write out of Baltimore, Md.; another student's desire to enter a national writing contest with a short story titled ``Rose Girl''; five students competing for academic placement at Old Donation Center; all students becoming highly proficient with computers; peer cooperative learning interactions with Mrs. Berrie's first-graders and with Mrs. Gloss' special-education students; learning to deal with peer pressures and peer relationships during their maturing adolescence; working together as a classroom and as an extended family; providing support and peer tutoring for each other; and never giving up even when it is the lesser of two evils.
As an educator, you look for the outcome of your investments. My investments have paid off well thus far. An added dividend is when parents desire and request you to teach their children. There is no Nobel Peace Prize, no Purple Heart, no Oscar that will ever hold a higher honor than the personal request of a parent or a child.
Carnegie Foundation, look a little harder next time!
Linda T. Truitt
Rosemont Elementary by CNB