THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 23, 1996 TAG: 9606210013
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: 31 lines
With fires, scandals and prosecutions, there has been precious little good news emerging from the Virginia Beach public schools this past year.
But suddenly good news is the only variety coming out of those schools. Earlier this month the Cox High School baseball team won its first state championship - the perfect ending to a stellar 27 and 1 season.
Then a quartet of delinquents were arrested in connection with the Windsor Oaks Elementary School arsons, proving that crimes against our most treasured institutions of learning are being vigorously investigated by authorities.
Finally, a group of fifth-graders from the elite Old Donation Gifted and Talented Center demonstrated that quality education continued in Virginia Beach last year despite administrators who created monumental budget and personnel problems that required a special grand jury to unravel. These smart students took top honors in a national WordMasters Challenge.
The competition was stiff. More than 175,000 students from around the country took the three written exams which make up the WordMasters Challenge. The tests measure vocabulary and language usage. At the fifth-grade level there were about 8,000 competitors. Only 26 scored perfect entries: Three were from Virginia Beach. They have every right to be proud.
Taking first place in such a prestigious competition is a tribute to the city's demanding program for gifted-and-talented students. These dedicated pupils, who are working hard to master our complicated language and sharpen their thinking skills, should be heartily congratulated for their feat. by CNB