THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, September 11, 1996 TAG: 9609110005
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 30 lines
When I opened the MetroNews section Sept. 3, I was both surprised and delighted to see an article about our children's school, St. Matthews. More importantly, I was glad to see reporting about the growth of parochial and private schools in the area.
My husband and I send our children to a parochial school not as part of a general flight from public school, but because basic values, morals and discipline are offered in a true learning environment.
Recently, your paper ran a story about the new policy of placing policemen in public high schools and many of the area middle schools. To me, this was a sad admission of how much things have changed. I don't mind paying taxes to support public schools, but having to use our taxes to pay for policemen in the schools, instead of teachers and books, is an unfortunate development.
We send our children to a place where not only our faith can be shared, but our patriotism and love for our country can be strengthened. Along with morning prayers, the pledge of allegiance is recited daily with pride and hope. In the past, public schools were a cornerstone for teaching our society's mores and values. With public schools now ``handcuffed'' as they are, it is obvious that many of us now feel that we must seek those qualities elsewhere.
CONNIE COFIELD
Virginia Beach, Sept. 5, 1996 by CNB