DATE: Thursday, May 15, 1997                TAG: 9705150007

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B10  EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Letter 

                                            LENGTH:  136 lines

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR -THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

EDUCATION

ACLJ took no part

in school guidelines

Associate editor Glenn Allen Scott's column on religion in public schools (``God, prayer and relgion have not been expelled from schools,'' April 30) raised some valid points. Objective study about religion is permissible in public schools. Students also have various avenues for personal religious expression.

But Scott errs in crediting the work of the American Center for Law and Justice. The ACLJ had nothing to do with the religion-in-public-school guidelines endorsed by President Bill Clinton and Education Secretary Richard Riley two years ago.

I found it interesting that Sekulow told Scott that he supports the 1962 and 1963 Supreme Court rulings banning school-sponsored prayer and Bible reading. Sekulow's boss, ACLJ founder and president Pat Robertson, certainly does not. Robertson has repeatedly denounced the decisions barring school-sponsored worship. He once compared them to rape and has alleged that they spawned a parade of societal horribles, including the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the Iran hostage crisis, the escalating divorce rate and the national debt.

Scott is correct in saying the nation could at least partly defuse the controversial issue of religion in public schools by educating teachers, principals and others who work in public education. But it is naive to expect such education to come from the ACLJ, a group founded by a TV preacher who has a track record of making reckless charges against our public schools.

Barry W. Lynn

Executive director

Americans United for

Separation of Church and State

Washington, D.C., May 6, 1997

OPPORTUNITY

Quit excusing crybabies

unwilling to work

Molly Ivins says in her May 1 column: ``Tens of millions of people don't have the right education or skills to participate in a high-technology global economy, and no one is doing anything about it.''

I say particularly not the ones in a position to do the most about it, those same tens of millions. Education has never been so available. There are programs and funds for darn near anyone who wants more. To excuse the nut-cases of the Republic of Texas on the grounds that they haven't the opportunity that ``others'' have is to beg the question.

Every immigrant who saves money and opens a small business and makes a go of it through thrift, grit and determination gives the lie to Ms. Ivins' premise. The Republic of Texas standoff is just more of the same temper tantrum many of us have been throwing since the '60's (myself included until I finally grew up). ``If it feels good, do it,'' is a recipe for a nation of crybabies.

If you want to learn something bad enough, you can. If you can't read, you can get someone to teach you. If you have a disability in one area, compensate in another. If you go through life dreaming of greatness but do nothing to achieve it, don't come crying to me. I'll be at work.

David Simmons

Virginia Beach, May 3, 1997

SMART ROADS

Open HOV to ease

congestion now

In ``Paving the way to safe, smooth driving'' (May 4) about how ``smart'' roads work, the following quote appears: ``The system will deliver instant information to motorists about road conditions and will ease congestion by improving emergency response time. . . . While informing drivers is one goal, smart road systems are also designed to reduce travel delays.''

Sounds too good to be true. Let's settle for basic day-to-day traffic. Every day Monday through Friday, from home to work and vice versa, I-64 West and I-64 East are solid traffic, other than on the HOV. With those video cameras monitoring the traffic, let's not wait for an accident. Let monitor operators open the HOV to reduce the congestion and close it when the congestion is cleared.

Ernie G. Pancho

Virginia Beach, May 6, 1997

EDUCATION

Save Taylor School

for the benefit of all

From the publicity that Norfolk's Taylor Elementary School has been getting, one would expect the structure to be falling in upon the heads of the children. Instead, this graceful structure has fallen victim to age, changing education requirements and, sadly, a pervasive lack of respect for Norfolk's cultural resources.

Yes, there are bathrooms only on the basement level, the roof and windows leak, the air-conditioning system is not state-of-the-art and the classrooms are smaller than current sizes.

What has not been publicized is that the building is virtually unaltered from when it was built in 1917. The interior finishes, natural-wood doors with transoms, terrazzo floors and plaster walls are all intact.

Add the monumentality of the interior spaces, the hallways and the auditorium and you have a quality unavailable in today's building market.

Taylor School was built in an era where education of children and public schools as a focus for neighborhoods were celebrated with lasting architecture. They leave an impression on anyone who attends them. They were designed to do so.

Taylor's physical problems can be overcome with sensitive renovation. The accessibility issues, inadequate rest-room facilities, small cafeteria and lack of an indoor physical-education room can be conquered within a compatible addition. All that is needed is vision and the willingness to honor Taylor School by extending its life, not demolishing it.

All of us are stewards of our city's public buildings. Let's not discard them without thorough understanding of what we will be losing.

Gregory L. Rutledge

Norfolk, May 7, 1997

VIRGINIA SYMPHONY

Musicians grateful

for support

The musicians of the Virginia Symphony were privileged to perform at Carnegie Hall last month. The great reviews are in, but we couldn't have done it without the citizens of Hampton Roads.

The Virginia Symphony has long recognized the need for regional cooperation. Our concert in New York provided a powerful way for area ambassadors to promote Hampton Roads. We commend the Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance and the team of Hampton Roads mayors, council members, business leaders and corporate sponsors for their unified effort.

We are grateful for the vision and leadership of JoAnn Falletta, Dan Hart and the Virginia Symphony staff, board of directors, Carnegie Committee and the tireless support of the league volunteers. The enthusiasm of our loyal fans was thrilling and, thanks to the local media, those who didn't travel to New York were able to share the excitement.

Virginia Symphony musicians were gratified by the great response to the Carnegie Hall concert from our ever-growing family of Virginia Symphony supporters and fans.

Sherie Aguirre

Chair

Orchestra musicians' committee

Virginia Symphony

Norfolk, May 1, 1997 MEMO: Editor's note: This letter was also signed by 54 others.

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