THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 11, 1996 TAG: 9610100144
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letters
LENGTH: 139 lines
It was refreshing to open the Sept. 29 Beacon and read Kevin Armstrong's column in support of middle school teachers and teachers in general. As principals of two schools in Virginia Beach, we would like to personally thank Mr. Armstrong for taking the time to support our hard-working and dedicated teachers in the city.
Teachers and school personnel give many hours working diligently to make a difference in children's lives, and they do make a difference! However, every day educators are constantly subjected to the bashing of public schools by talk radio hosts and others who have instant remedies for school and societal problems. As is human nature, the things in life which are problems get the most attention, while good ideas often go unnoticed.
It is, therefore, deeply appreciated that the Beacon editor encouraged and supported teachers in his column. It is time to recognize the important contributions of teachers and the public schools toward the needs of our children. Whether we admit it or not, public schools and the teachers within those buildings are and will continue to be, the cornerstone of everything we hold dear in our country. Education will continue to be a primary key to unlock the doors to freedom, knowledge and success for every child.
Teachers are ``funny.'' They don't measure success based on the amount of praise they get. However, a few crumbs of praise every now and then go a long way. While teachers see successes and ``thank you'' on their children's faces every day, every individual has a basic need to know his work is appreciated. This Beacon column is worth at least three months of ``gas'' to keep our great teachers motivated and enthusiastic. As Dr. Ralph Tyler said, ``Teaching is not just a job. It is a human service, and it must be thought of as a mission.'' Virginia Beach teachers work hard to accomplish that ``mission.''
We, as well as other educators in the city, thank you for your kind words on behalf of our teachers.
Donald L. Harvey
Principal,
Virginia Beach Middle
Rebecca S. Harvey
Principal,
Thoroughgood Elementary
Oct. 2 Duck targets: How could people be so cruel?
On Sept. 23, three ducks were discovered wounded in the King's Grant area, struck by darts fired from a blowgun. Then, just three days later, another duck, a Muscovy, is wounded with a crossbow arrow.
Residents of Hampton Roads, do you own a blowgun with darts or a crossbow with arrows? If you do, do your children or teenagers have unsupervised access to these weapons? If you do own a weapon and have children or teenagers, please take five minutes one day to discipline and instill in your kids that darts and arrows are only to be fired at dartboards and targetboards and never ever at living things.
A defenseless, living creature, a duck, is not a dartboard or targetboard. Unsupervised access to these weapons is a big mistake. Parents must teach their kids that animal cruelty is a sin and a crime. Raise your children to love all animals dearly and to never, ever hurt wildlife with darts and arrows.
It's the mind behind the weapon that is dangerous, not the weapon. One thing is certain, anyone with a conscience could never do what has been done to these ducks. Whoever did these unforgivable crimes has no conscience, and that's frightening.
People can be cruel to people and people can be cruel to animals, but people need to remember that animals were here on the face of this Earth long before the two-legged man showed up. Animals deserve our love and respect.
Something is seriously wrong around here with all the cruelty to ducks going on.
Kimberly A. Oates
Sept. 30 Bay fisherman's efforts deserve praise
The Oct. 6 Beacon contained a ``Seven Days'' item from Paul Clancy regarding a local commercial fisherman. Mr. Clancy told how Robert Hollowell, who fishes a haul seine off Virginia Beach, had released four bottle-nosed dolphins unharmed from his net, despite losing much of his catch.
Mr. Clancy might be interested to know that over the last four years, Mr. Hollowell has helped marine biologists to tag and release more than 1,000 black drum, red drum, speckled trout, striped bass and spadefish from his net.
Red drum have been recaptured from as far away as Charleston, S.C., and black drum from Myrtle Beach, S.C., providing us with information on what happens to these fish, which live to be 50-60 years old, once they leave the Chesapeake Bay.
Mr. Hollowell is to be commended on his efforts to preserve the resource which he loves and which provides him with his livelihood.
David Boyd
Oct. 7 Retirement plan isn't all it's cracked up to be
With regard to the proposed Coastal Green senior community that would be built along the North Landing River, I cannot imagine where they would find all those seniors who want to live miles from shops, restaurants, churches, theaters, the ocean, the Bay, city recreation centers and even more importantly doctors, dentists and hospitals. No seniors I know, including my husband and myself, would consider burying ourselves out in the boondocks miles from all the wonderful amenities which make life in Virginia Beach so rich and interesting. Nor do golfers have to go any distance to golf.
I suspect this development would only lure unsuspecting souls from up north who would be very unhappy once they realized all that they would be missing and that they had bought into isolation and inconvenience.
I also suspect that this is a thinly disguised effort to breech the Green Line under the guise of ``providing a community for seniors.'' Well, thank you, but we already have a full life right here in urban Virginia Beach and we enjoy it very much. We also enjoy having the beautiful farm land in the southern part of the city uncluttered by developments.
Doreen T. Steuteville
Oct. 2 Save Farmer's Market
It's a tradition. It's a Virginia Beach landmark. It's a part of our heritage. It's the Virginia Beach Farmer's Market.
We are for rebuilding our Farmer's Market on the familiar same site. This is what I have been hearing over and over again in the past few weeks in putting petition drives together. What really impressed me was the concern of the young people. A lot of them have grown up going to the Farmer's Market with their parents and grandparents.
We need to get a hold on this current teen-age rise into the year 2000 before it's too late. Recapturing and maintaining our spiritual, family and community values, I feel, is so important.
The Key Club of Salem High School assisted me at the designated shopping centers. The club's motto is ``Caring - Our Way of Life.'' They were wonderful. I would like to thank them, the property manager and managers of the various spots, the civic leagues in the surrounding neighborhoods and all of you ``petition signers.''
We need to help and love our young people all we can. I believe preserving our Virginia Beach Farmer's Market at Princess Anne and Dam Neck (Landstown) roads, as well as, Princess Anne Park, across the road, would help a lot in this effort.
I hope and pray our Virginia Beach City Council will consider, values other than material in their decision.
June Pool
Oct. 7 by CNB