DATE: Wednesday, July 23, 1997              TAG: 9707230006

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B10  EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Letter 

                                            LENGTH:  120 lines

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - VIRGINIAN-PILOT

On July 15, there were several letters concerning the Virginia State Board of Education's decision to let the local school boards decide if they want a reading teacher or a counselor for elementary schools.

What I don't understand is why some of the letters are so emphatically against this policy. If, as they claim, the majority want guidance counselors, then that is what will be decided locally. Perhaps they think the local school boards would go against the majority; or maybe those who complain so loudly are really in the minority!

Could it be that the majority really want reading teachers? Maybe, just maybe, those who want guidance counselors in elementary school are in the minority and want to enforce their views on everyone else. Local control of schools is supposedly what everyone wants - until it goes against their desires.

Raymond V. Cicirelli

Portsmouth, July 16, 1997 CAMPAIGN Beyer was silent on sex-offender law

I take issue with Lt. Gov. Don Beyer's recent TV campaign ad touting his support for ``Megan's Law,'' or community notification of sexual offenders. The ad says: ``As governor, he'll fight to require public notification before a convicted sex offender tries to move into a neighborhood.'' .

In January 1995, the year following Megan Kanka's tragic murder at the hands of a paroled sexual predator, I introduced House Bill 2520, which mirrored the New Jersey legislation requiring community notification of such parolees. The bill was killed by House Democrats.

On Sept. 28, 1995, The Washington Post covered a news conference in which I specifically referred to Megan's Law.

``In making a case for a sex-offender notification law in Virginia,'' The Post said, ``O'Brien cited the case of Timothy K. Walsh, 23. Walsh, a convicted child molester, was arrested this month in Fairfax after complaints that he had been seen around children in a Chantilly neighborhood in violation of his probation.'' The Post concluded: ``Back to you, lieutenant governor?'' Mr. Beyer neve responded.

In January 1996, I reintroduced Megan's Law as House Bill 262. Mr. Beyer had every opportunity to suggest improvements or, more importantly, to weigh in as a leader of the Democrats to seek its passage. Not once did I hear from Mr. Beyer on the issue of community notification.

When the lieutenant governor's ad said: ``Don Beyer has led the fight to protect Virginia's children from sexual predators,'' I was surprised and disappointed. Of course I'm glad he's on board now, but he did not lead the fight in 1995 and 1996. I know. I was there.

Jay O'Brien (R-Fairfax)

40th District representative

Virginia House of Delegates

Richmond, July 9, 1997 NORFOLK Taylor students don't need dust, confusion

If you can stand one more letter about Taylor Elementary, I would like to put in my two cents' worth.

As a former student of Taylor, I vividly remember the scary basement bathrooms; the too-small, too-noisy cafeteria; walking outside to a mobile unit; and the sweltering classrooms on hot days.

I was also a student at Maury High School when it was renovated. I remember ninth-graders being sent to a separate building, the noise of construction, the confusion of a divided building and dust everywhere.

I imagine elementary-age children would find these conditions confusing and terrifying. As a teacher, I can appreciate a clean, well-lighted, air-conditioned building where students can focus on learning.

I am all for preserving historic landmarks, but not at the expense of students' education. How many business personnel would work in such chaotic and outdated conditions?

Lara Tedrow

Norfolk, July 14, 1997 ENTERTAINMENT Musical theater needs support of audiences

Recently we were privileged to see The Commonwealth Musical Theatre's original production of ``I'll Be Seeing You'' at the Virginia Beach Pavilion. The cast received a well-deserved standing ovation and many shouts and bravos. I was moved by the singing and clever staging. But where was the audience? There were quite a few empty seats. Hampton Roads missed a good one.

I have seen most of the Commonwealth productions and, as a more than 30-year veteran of professional stage and film, can attest to the fact that it is getting progressively better with each production. The new sound system is a vast improvement as are the lights, costumes and sets.

Commonwealth Musical Theatre certainly cannot support itself on the meager sums gathered at the box office, but a greater attendance would help. Please don't let this fine company go the way of so many other theaters nationwide.

Support Commonwealth Musical Theatre!

Sylvia Harman

President

The Actor's Place Inc.

Virginia Beach, July 11, 1997 HEROES To Stennis rescurers a dad's eternal thanks

On June 6, my son, Gary Hovey, and his two friends Lori and Joe Woodroffe-McLaughlin, were plucked from their battered and torn lifeboat by the HS-5/CAG-7 rescue team from the John C. Stennis aircraft carrier. But for these brave and good men, I would never have seen my son again, and our own lives would have been greatly darkened forever.

Since you've run several articles in your newspaper on the heroic rescue, I've no need to repeat the names of our American heroes to whom this family is eternally grateful. But I will anyway - AW3 Kevin Baker, rescue swimmer extraordinaire; AW2 Jeff Cooke, hoist operator; Lt. Tom Lagomarsino, pilot; Lt. Herb Hassell, co-pilot, CAG-7; Steve Mull, CAG-7 flight surgeon. Once more, and forever, thank you.

A special thank you to JSC commanding officer Capt. Doug Roulstone, and to Dr. Glen Merchant, LCDR Colleen McLarnon, ship's nurse, and other medical staff of the John C. Stennis for their wonderful care and many kindnesses.

Joan Hall Hovey

Rothesay, New Brunswick

Canada, July 10, 1997

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