THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 21, 1995 TAG: 9507200144
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Long : 129 lines
I read with great interest about the recent news conference called by groups representing Virginia Beach police. Why is it that when the latest crime statistics come out, the city is quick to announce them to the press? Yet when the officers who ensure our low crime rate ask to be treated fairly for doing an excellent job, they have to call their own news conference? No one from City Council wants to be seen then, having headed for the tall grass.
I'm sure we'll see them around again, however, especially when the next election rolls around. In fact, I'm sure they'll jump to the front of the parade, beat their chests and proclaim themselves ``for'' low crime and law and order in our fair city. This will continue through the campaign; then after Election Day they'll go back to their posture of ignoring the problem until there is a crisis.
This ``song-and-dance'' is starting to make me sick.
Carol Jennings
Navarre Way
I attended the Virginia Beach Police Benevolence Association news conference on May 31 to become better informed and to show support for our city police officers. I saw the videotape of a City Council budget meeting and was quite upset and confused by the snide remarks and actions by members of the council.
I realize that meetings can be long, boring and laborious; however, members are elected and are compensated for their work. I'm sure Virginia Beach citizens would appreciate their individual attention and earnest work for the salary they receive.
We owe our police officers a decent salary and benefits. Seldom do they work only eight hours a day and often must work a second job to supplement their city pay.
Virginia Beach has a low crime rate, especially compared to other cities. This is not by chance but due to the efficiency of our police department. Virginia Beach enjoys the reputation of being among the top 10 cities to live in and to raise a family. Both categories take into consideration the crime rate. Who prevents and solves crimes other than the police department?
We would like to think only good, law-abiding people live in Virginia Beach. Unfortunately, we know this is not true. The truth is our police officers are underpaid and treated as second-class citizens.
Bill Harrison and other members of City Council should not make promises to the police department to bolster their political campaigns and then refer to these promises as pork after the election. Virginia Beach police officers should be paid more and the take-home-car program is an excellent idea that should be implemented. Follow through with promises or don't make them!
Sharon G. Alderman
Price Circle A different route for the pipeline, plus desalination
In light of what has happened to the Lake Gaston project, there seem to be two options:
1. If North Carolina will agree, run the pipeline through North Carolina and connect it to Virginia Beach from the south.
2. The Israelis have been using passive desalination for decades. This would simply be a series of greenhouses with reflective material on the floor and troughs halfway down the sides of the building. The salt water would enter at one side, evaporate, collect on a steep roof and be collected in a trough slanted at a 3- to 5-degree angle.
Every few days the residue would be cleaned up. This has proved to be a cost-effective way to desalinate water in Israel for the past few decades.
Donald W. Davis
Chesapeake Does Gaston partisanship extend to City Council?
Concerning Governor Allen's decision on the Gaston pipeline agreement: Why did a would-be state senator for Virginia Beach come by my home asking for my vote in November and tell me that the Virginia Beach City Council sent a letter to Allen asking him not to call the special session? How many Republicans and how many Democrats are on this council? The people may like to know.
It makes no difference to me. I may vote for the wrong one, but it's my vote.
Katherine Miltier
Virginia Beach Philosophy behind School Board's new attendance policy `terribly inappropriate'
We would like to voice concern over the School Board's recent decision concerning school attendance. While there is no argument that regular school attendance promotes greater continuity of learning and increases chances of academic success for students, the basic School Board philosophy behind this ruling seems misguided and terribly inappropriate with regard to instilling in children respect for education.
The notion that any student's earned academic achievement should be placed at risk due to an attendance problem carries with it an implied belief that the efforts to gain such achievement or grades can, or even should, be negated as punishment. We do not believe that a child's grades, which may indeed be very good, should be the price to pay.
What message are we sending children about how we as adults value their efforts when we propose to fail them if they have a viable excuse for absences of 12 or more days in a semester as well as their parent's consent for such absences?
Mrs. Kernutt's comparison of school and the workplace is so indicative of the board's inability to understand education as a process with input from many areas outside the classroom as well. This is not a job or employment situation. This is an educational process where intellectual growth occurs in many ways. Many children in our system are involved in sports or other activities that may well lead to life-time achievements, and they sometimes require time spent away from school. Often these students are high achievers in all areas. To group them with truants is an insult.
To require their parents, who pay taxes to run this system, to request special waivers when they have already sanctioned an absence is questioning their integrity and accountability. If a student is doing well in school and has excused absences, he should be left alone, and any decisions should be at the discretion of the individual school administration.
As members of the Tidewater Figure Skating Club Board of Directors, we feel that the tight controls the Virginia Beach School Board seems to be imposing on its schools renders its teachers and administrators powerless to make decisions appropriate to individual situations, and can only result in resentment and loss of respect for this system by parents and students alike. We urge any other concerned parents to voice their opinions on this matter before any students are unfairly punished by this measure.
Denise Higgins
Secretary, Board of Directors,
Tidewater Figure Skating Club
U.S. Figure Skating Association by CNB