THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, July 30, 1996 TAG: 9607300011
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 39 lines
Regarding the report ``Discipline or Abuse? Paddling 13-year-old lands man in court'' (MetroNews, July 19): What sort of disorder is this that infects our public-education and judicial systems? Are these highly degreed people actually unable to discern between an abusive father and a loving father who takes seriously his responsibility to discipline his children and teach them right from wrong?
Have these intellectual irrationals who have broken up yet another family come from disfunctional homes where morality and discipline are unknowns? Or have they come from sound, caring families only to be spoiled by higher education?
Responsible parents like Ashley and Felicia Holley must be steadfast and deliberate in their actions but increasingly creative in discipline.
We must keep an eye to long-term goals from our children and all of society. Families as the basic units of society must be protected. What practical approach can be taken to do away with or at least minimize the kind of culture destruction public-school officials now favor?
1. Communicating consistently real moral values and respect for the common laws of God and nature. (Building this solid foundation involves a presently uncommon commitment to our families - it takes time and attention.)
2. Masters of education have moms and dads, too. It is imperative that we parents teach our children critical thinking. By the time our children go to college, they need to be aware of the power that their professors, media and other experts have to shape their thinking processes. The conscience and logic necessary to uphold the truth must be instilled before the young, unexperienced student goes away to college.
Perhaps if we parents are diligent, the next generation of school principals and administrators and school board members will be truly reasonable people.
LUANNE M. BANGLEY
Windsor, July 19, 1996 by CNB