DATE: Saturday, July 12, 1997               TAG: 9707120005

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B6   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Letter 

                                            LENGTH:  211 lines

LETTERS TO EDITOR -- THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

JOURNALISM

Charles Kurault was

an American hero

As I sat gawking up at the fireworks that celebrated another year of free living this July 4, I thought deeply about Charles Kurault.

He would have loved this spectacle; not the multitudes of colors bursting into the sky, but the people. African Americans, Asians, Caucasians, Jews, Christians, Muslims - all were lying out on blankets or dancing with their children or being kind to one another on a hot crowded night.

That's what Charles Kurault loved - the man who finally learned to read at middle age, then went on to collect and read a library's worth of books; the communities that celebrated their ethnic pride with unusual and ancient cultural rituals; the man who decided to build a great sailing vessel by himself and accomplished the feat.

Unlike most journalistic endeavors, Charles Kurault reported on great American successes. Not the kind that demand cash and glory, but the kind born of the freedom to try and the desire to quietly achieve something.

I met him twice: once when I was a small-market reporter covering the `88 GOP convention in New Orleans. He was the only celebrity my partner and I dared approach because we believed he would take a moment to talk with us. He did. He was kind and appreciative. He said, ``You all make me feel like a big shot,'' with a voice I will never forget.

It is fitting that Charles Kurault passed away on the same day as Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. For I believe he reported on the success of their great experiment in democracy better than anybody.

America will miss him. I will miss him.

Eric Allan Futterman

Richmond, July 7, 1997

America mourns the loss

of a family member

Charles Kuralt, who died on the 4th of July, often said of himself, ``I'm not a real reporter.''

On the contrary, he was masterful at documenting the human condition missed by most ``real'' reporters.

For 20-plus years, Charles Kuralt was ``On The Road'' for CBS News, and for almost that long he spent Sunday mornings with us on ``CBS Sunday Morning.'' He showed us to ourselves.

Those of us in the business of communicating to listeners and viewers and readers appreciate - perhaps better than most - the uniqueness of his talent. We sense even more keenly the void left by his passing. News of his unexpected death hit home as it would have had Kuralt been a member of the family. He was a member of our family and probably yours.

In his ``On The Road'' series, just before introducing us to some new and wonderous person or out-of-the-way corner of America, he would say something like, ``Don't worry about getting lost, for I've gone ahead of you, and I know the way.''

How true. Goodbye, Charles. . . .

Neal Murray

WHRV-FM

Norfolk, July 4, 1997

PUBLIC EDUCATION

Teachers who spoke out

are being pushed out

I write to express concern about what has been happening in the Virginia Beach School system at Pembroke Elementary.

Last fall a new principal was assigned, and it soon became apparent that he was either unwilling or unable to work with the faculty in several important educational and administrative areas.

Pembroke, a site-based management participating school, attempted to resolve the problems in-house but could not. So a group of 31 teachers, faculty and staff met with two assistant superintendents and the Virginia Beach Educational Association (VBEA) in late February to air their concerns. At this meeting, five teachers acted as spokesmen for 61 faculty and staff members. This meeting resulted in a remedial day of ``team-building counseling sessions.''

The situation worsened, so the VBEA was again contacted. This time, they arranged for a fact-finding discussion/meeting, to include two School Board members. As a result, in June the principal was reassigned to another school as assistant principal.

But just at the start of the 4th of July holiday weekend, eight faculty members, including four of the five who represented the faculty and staff earlier, were consequentially advised by phone that they had to either find new employment at another school within one week or, if they could not, they would be transferred to another school of the city's choosing by July 15. No reason given, no counseling offered, no chance for written rebuttals or explanations.

How could any school system ``reward'' a group of highly educated, motivated, hard-working teachers with unblemished records in this manner?

Surely this was not a well-conceived action. And it certainly could not be good for free speech and education in Virginia Beach.

Paul A. Stamas

Norfolk, July 8, 1997

Beach School Board

should heed voters

I was pleased to read that the Norfolk Public School Board responded in such a positive manner to the requests of its citizens. The decision to allow the Taylor Elementary principal to remain in the school was an example of board members' outstanding judgment and demonstrated a commitment shared with the parents of the community.

Now if only we could get the Virginia Beach public school board to respond in a similar manner.

I learned in The Virginian-Pilot that the Beach School Board was ready to vote to reassign a principal to Kempsville Elementary School as assistant principal. I phoned each of the School Board members and both of the school system's coordinators for elementary education to object to this personnel decision.

My phone calls were received with words of support and encouragement from the members of the board but, alas, when the vote was taken on July 2, Kempsville Elementary was still going to receive the demoted official. The Norfolk School Board has shown superior commitment to the children of Norfolk, and for that its members can be proud.

As for the Virginia Beach School Board, there is always next election!

William Paul Bailey Sr.

Virginia Beach, July 3, 1997

BILL CLINTON

Right thing to do,

wrong president did it

The tragedy of Bill Clinton's incidental presidency is clearly illustrated by the official White House statement on James Stewart's death.

Even when Clinton ``does the proper thing'' and recognizes Mr. Stewart's patriotism, bravery under fire and moral rectitude, it draws attention to what many Americans consider Clinton's failings in these very areas.

No matter how ``presidential'' he attempts to appear, Clinton simply isn't measuring up to his predecessors.

Tom Filkins

Manns Harbor, N.C., July 4, 1997

WASTE DISPOSAL

Let private sector bid

USA Waste is pleased that the Southeastern Public Service Authority agreed on June 25 to allow the private sector to bid on disposal of our region's solid waste.

The SPSA board did so despite your editorial that same morning urging the authority to instead expand its existing landfill in Suffolk.

Indeed, we hope that SPSA will also permit companies like mine to bid on transportation of that trash. Coupling transportation and disposal will be a truer test of our stated claim that the private sector, through robust competition and free enterprise, can provide the services our citizens need at well below what it costs government to do them itself.

One of the rationales in your editorial against outsourcing was that localities would be liable if private landfills ever became Superfund cites. Not true. Major private solid-waste companies indemnify their largest customers, such as municipalities, against this kind of risk. I dare say that Hampton Roads municipalities would be better protected with our liability protection than SPSA's.

Across the country, cities and counties are using private companies to collect and dispose of their solid waste with no negative impact on safety and security but with a positive impact on cost. Given the chance to bid on all services, firms like USA Waste can do the same here in Hampton Roads.

Scott Hecht

General manager

USA Waste of South Hampton Roads

Norfolk, June 27, 1997

OCEAN VIEW

Nostalgia for one of a kind

Larry Bonko's piece (July 1) about ``The Death of Ocean View Park'' was an interesting bit of nostalgic reverie. It was loads of fun at the time, after years of rumors about how unsafe that rickety old wooden Southern Belle roller coaster was, to see it take repeated attempts with explosives, chain saws and, finally, a bulldozer to knock the old girl over.

Mr. Bonko mentioned an ``official souvenir'' of the destruction of the Southern Belle . . . a pin offered by the Ocean View Lions Club proclaiming the old coaster's birthday in 1933. I submit, however, that ownership of one of these pins - as official as they may be - pales in comparison with the possession of a truly one-of-a-kind icon.

When they finally did manage to coax the Belle to the ground, a certain item was plucked from the ensuing lumber yard as the special effects smoke drifted away down the beach and out over the Bay. It was the very last thing that Southern Belle aficionados saw before the terror began. As the cars left the loading platform and made the sharp bend to hook on to the chain that jerked them up that first big hill, they doubtless noticed an orange placard nailed to one of the lower trestles under which they passed. It bore the disclaimer: NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ARTICLES OR MONEY LOST ON THIS RIDE.

A friend of mine, present at the movie's crescendo 18 years ago, had the presence of mind to save the placard from the landfill and gave it to me.

Fred Donour Jr.

Norfolk, July 1, 1997

AMPHITHEATER

Sticking it to us

Regarding Colleen Bromley's letter regarding the parking surcharge on GTE Virginia Beach Amphitheater tickets: Yes, it is nice not having motorists waiting in long lines to pay to park. But what about the people who walk to the amphitheater?

What about the vehicles that have two or more people in them? The parking surcharge is a lot of extra money coming in from people who aren't even driving.

Also, if the box office is now a Ticketron, how come it's not open later in the afternoon like the other ones? I've driven by at 3 p.m., and the box office is closed already.

Not only is City Council sticking it to us, but GTE, Ticketron and Ticketmaster are too.

Walt Ellis

Virginia Beach, July 9, 1997

POSTAL SERVICE

Uncaring employees

undermine deliveries

A friend in Virginia Beach mailed me a birthday card on June 8. As of July 2, I have not received my card.

Having worked for the Postal Service for 29 years, I can easily understand the delay.

On my last day of work (June 3), I overheard one employee say to another ``I get a paycheck whether I work or not.''

Get the picture?

Mrs. H. C. Jackson

Chesapeake, July 2, 1997

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