DATE: Wednesday, July 16, 1997              TAG: 9707160007

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B12  EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Letters

                                            LENGTH:  127 lines

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

PUBLIC EDUCATION

State Board ignored pleas for school counselor

The Virginia State Board of Education solicited public comment concerning proposed changes in the Standards of Accreditation, with no changes being suggested for elementary school counselors.

Virginia residents at all hearings throughout the state spoke overwhelmingly in support of maintaining existing standards for school counselors.

More than 5,500 letters were sent in support of maintaining the Standards of Accreditation as they affect school counselors; only 265 letters advocated changes.

Research has shown that elementary school counselors play a fundamental role in enhancing academic success (working with parents on problems that impair students' learning; refining test-taking skills and overcoming anxiety that impairs test performance; teaching study and organizational skills; improving attendance).

On June 11, the Virginia State Board of Education voted unilaterally and without cause to modify the Standards of Accreditation affecting school counselors by permitting local school boards the option of hiring reading teachers instead of elementary school counselors.

By this action, the board blatantly disregarded the democratic process in general and the Administrative Process Act in particular and exhibited an insensitivity to the educational needs of children.

I hereby declare no confidence in the Virginia State Board of Education.

Gerald M. Sandler

Virginia Beach, July 7, 1997

Teach rather than counsel

Neither parents nor students were clamoring for school-based sex education before it was mandated 10 years ago. It was hawked by an organized group of elitists, most of whom were feeding at the public trough. And what did this expenditure of hundreds of thousands of dollars accomplish? Nothing, except for indoctrinating children in moral relativism, weakening academic achievement and intruding into the affairs of families.

And what about ``guidance counselors'' for elementary schools? Did parents and taxpayers clamor for psychological counseling for their children? No. Once again, the program was pushed by those who stood to gain financially from it.

As for public hearings, guess who's always first on the agenda (while the media are present)? It's the ``experts,'' i.e., those who feed from the public trough. How passionately they plead for ``our'' children. The fact that family-life education and guidance counseling might become optional is a threat to them.

I have nothing against counselors or sex educators. They can hang out their shingles and counsel all who seek their services. Just get their hands out of my pocket. And let the schools leave off their social tinkering and return to educating children.

Joseph L. Gwynn

Virginia Beach, July 10, 1997

Citizens' wishes ignored

I am writing to express my concern about Governor Allen's recent recommendation to the Virginia Board of Education to make elementary guidance counseling a local option instead of continuing the current state-mandated policy. Both the governor and the Board of Education should be questioned about the way they have handled this matter.

Having served in public education for more than 20 years, I am appalled that this is happening in our ``democratic'' state. I hope that our senators and delegates will look into this matter and do what they can to represent the students of this state who will be the biggest losers in this game that is being played out behind closed doors in Richmond.

The existing guidance program is working well. We are trying to tell them that this program is not part of the problem, it is part of the solution.

Mrs. Henry Fisher III

Virginia Beach, July 2, 1997

FATAL SHOOTING

Where is police support

for Bryan Dugan's mom?

In response to the letters from police officers' wives defending the jobs of their spouses: Where is the compassion of these ladies?

Bryan Dugan's mother is also a police officer's wife. Where has this ``tight-knit community'' of support been for this family?

As responsible citizens, we should be questioning the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of this youth. Why the K9 units were not used or why impact and pain-compliance techniques were not attempted is another question.

It is not unreasonable for the public to expect a high quality of performance and maturity from local police, and it is not unreasonable to question when that performance and maturity are lacking.

How would the officers wives' letters read had the person fatally shot by police been their child?

Cynthia Dorney

Virginia Beach, July 7, 1997

NAUTICUS

Diamond in our midst

Hampton Roads has a diamond in its midst: Nauticus.

We visited Nauticus on a recent Sunday and were amazed at what a state-of-the-art treasure we have. The hours were not long enough for the enjoyment Nauticus offered. Thank you, city of Norfolk. You can compete with the best of them.

Ethel Whiman

Norfolk, June 24, 1997

OUT-OF-STATE GARBAGE

Poisonous import

I am the past president of West Virginians Against Out-of-State Garbage, the first organization to oppose the dumping of out-of-state garbage and waste in our state.

Growing up in Portsmouth and working all over Hampton Roads for 20 years, I moved back to West Virginia in 1985. On a recent visit to relatives in Hampton Roads, I read your reports about the garbage-truck wreck on the bridge and the Chesapeake landfill accepting out-of-state waste.

I can't believe that after all of the years of development, success and planning, the city and state governments would stoop to taking other states' medical waste, asbestos waste, chemical waste and toxic materials.

Waste dumped in a landfill sometimes reaches 40-feet high. All of the liquid drains to or near the bottom. This leachate liquid is a murky brown stagnant poison that is a danger to any waterway, swamp, irrigation ditch, farming field and drinking water.

The liner (if there is one) will not hold this buildup of drainage for too long because of pressure. Sooner or later the runoff will escape to surrounding areas.

Some 90 tractor-trailer trucks per day came into a 96-acre site of which about 50 percent was solid waste. We were told that garbage would create new jobs and new industry for our state.

Donald E. McMillen

Reedsville, W.Va., July 1, 1997

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