THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, April 20, 1996 TAG: 9604200013
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 38 lines
Somebody in the school system is trying to hold Connie Hindmarsh responsible for her students even when they are on their own time. Does this mean that every teacher will be held responsible for his/her students at all times? I thought that was parents' responsibility. The parents of Connie Hindmarsh's students are behind Connie, not the superintendent of Norfolk public schools (or the Norfolk School Board).
Connie Hindmarsh has taught these children so much more than just musical theater. She has taught them self-discipline and self-confidence. She has taught them how to organize their time and how to set their priorities. And the most-important thing that she has taught them is to believe in themselves and to reach for the stars.
Our judicial system guarantees that we are innocent until proved guilty. The Norfolk school superintendent has decided that Connie Hindmarsh is guilty until proved innocent, and the people he is hurting are our children.
We teach our children that they have rights protected by the U.S. Constitution. Where were our children's rights when they were questioned without parental consent? Where were their rights when they were asked inappropriate and sexually explicit questions about their private lives and the private lives of their friends?
The superintendent is teaching our children that the rights guaranteed in our Constitution do not apply to them. He is teaching them that our judicial system's guarantees are just words.
JUANITA URANSKY
Norfolk, April 11, 1996 by CNB