THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 12, 1995 TAG: 9511100144
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Opinion
SOURCE: BY RANDALL TRIVETT
LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines
When we were children, many of our mothers told us to be careful of what we asked for because we might get it. Well, a majority of voters in Chesapeake asked for elected school boards and, despite a delay, we now have our first election coming up Dec. 19.
There are many good reasons for elected school boards. In fact, Virginia was the last state in the nation in which school board members were not elected.
Elected school boards promote democracy. Elected school boards carry school issues into the community as candidates wage their campaigns. Elected school boards provide the opportunity for citizens to feel greater ownership in the education of our future citizens.
Elected school boards give us board members accountable to the broad range of citizens rather than to the political elite who appointed board members in the past. Elected school boards give us the potential to have schools that reflect the academic standards and the ethical values of our community.
Why do I say ``potential?'' Given the voting records of Americans in general, and Chesapeake in particular - especially without the draw of other contests - there is the potential, indeed the likelihood, that our elected school board will be elected by a small fraction of our citizens.
It is my hope that the potential for excellence we now have before us is not thwarted by the potential danger of a low voter turnout electing narrow-cast or ideological candidates whose concerns are other than our children and improving their education.
The school board members elected this December and next May will set educational policy into the next millennium. Voters have a chance that comes but once in a thousand years.
My yardstick to measure candidates' vision would include the following:
Safe schools - Other than their own homes and places of worship, schools should be the safest places on earth for all of our children, for the first grader who may fear the bully to the older student who may fear the bullet. The violent student must not be tolerated in regular classrooms. Discipline must be consistent in its application, and students must know what is expected of them and what the consequences of their actions will be.
Basic skills - Reading, writing and arithmetic are not less essential to success in work or success in life because of the advent of the computer and the calculator. As the world speeds up its pace, clarity in communication and accuracy in math are more, not less, important. And they must be learned well at the appropriate grade levels.
Jobs for the future - There are no longer very many ditches to be dug or dishes to be washed by hand. Even the most menial jobs of the future will require skills. Willingness, without skill, is no longer sufficient. Computer literacy and computer availability are the slate and chalk of the good old days we remember. And we must provide for our students today to prepare them for tomorrow.
Sound values - One of schools' seven cardinal purposes used to be teaching of democracy, citizenship and values. In today's society these continue to be just as important. Hard work, respect for law and order and for others, personal responsibility, courtesy and good manners are values we can all agree on. We owe our students example and instruction in these shared community values.
Inasmuch as candidates pursue these goals, they successfully pursue my support. You may have your own yardstick. I urge you to measure the candidates carefully. I urge you to take the effort required to vote for those you choose.
There will not be the attraction of elections for president or governor or senator or delegate to remind you to vote on Dec. 19. The future of our children and our city will have to be enough. MEMO: Mr. Trivett, a teacher of physics at Western Branch High School, is
president of the Chesapeake Education Association. by CNB