DATE: Sunday, October 26, 1997              TAG: 9710250140

SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS     PAGE: 04   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Letters 

                                            LENGTH:  230 lines

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - PORTSMOUTH

I am a senior at Wilson High School. I am writing this letter in light of the recent events that have taken place at my school.

Parents, a quick word to you. Please don't judge Wilson students by the actions of an ignorant few. I am white and can proudly say that I have several close black friends, as well as friends from many other nationalities, including Chinese, Brazilian and Vietnamese. We are all very close and are all equally appalled by what took place at our school.

Racism has never been a problem at Wilson. My friends and I are simply an example of the varied groups that go to school together, work together and hang out together.

Wilson administration believes that the seniors are to blame for sparking this ``race war.'' Though I'll be the first to admit I don't know the whole story behind the conflict, I know for a fact that there were in-school suspension students put into the Little Theatre during the senior class meeting and I also know that a few of these students were involved in the throwing of objects that initiated the conflict. Perhaps, if the administration had better organized both the senior class meeting and the placement of the ISS students, this would have never happened.

Please do not think I am placing blame on administrators, I am simply trying to show there is more to this story than Wilson or Portsmouth School Board has divulged to the community. Another issue that may have led to the ensuing chaos was a lack of appropriate organization of the underclassmen PSAT testing which led to confusion concerning the routine daily schedule.

If, in fact, racism is becoming a prevalent issue at Wilson, it will take more than a faculty meeting to solve it. Parents and students, please speak out and demand to be heard. Let everyone know that we will not harbor hatred in our schools. Please, help us save Wilson.

Hattie Willett

Kearney Way

Oct. 21, 1997 Education starts at home

Recent articles to The Virginian-Pilot have cited the large numbers of recent high school graduates in need of remedial course work upon their entry into Virginia state colleges and universities. The large numbers of students, particularly from Portsmouth, (I.C. Norcom High School) as well as other schools in the surrounding area forces us all to come together and seek real solutions to these kinds of problems.

Dr. Richard Trumble, superintendent, was recently quoted as saying, essentially, that everyone will have to work harder and parents will have to play more of a tutorial role in the lives of their children. He's right. These problems did not start at Norcom or Wilson or Churchland but long before that.

We can't have it both ways. We can't continue to cling to the memory of a school where the faculties under the leadership of the Orton's and the Edwards' demanded and received academic excellence and now stand by and allow it to languish in mediocrity and neglect. We cannot demand respect from the larger community yet fail to demonstrate self-respect. There was a standard set at Norcom and graduates were charged to always uphold that standard and pass it on to their children and grandchildren.

As a black community, we claim Norcom as a symbol of our heritage and strength. We can't bask in the glow of the good stuff yet ignore and deny the bad. These are our children and this is our school and our city. As parents we've got to face facts, dig in and do the tough work that needs to be done. All of us. With new standards being introduced by the state, we have little choice but to face reality.

We can't demand that teachers teach yet send them uninterested, unmotivated and uncaring students from our homes. We can't demand an ending of social promotion yet romp and stomp to make sure our children get socially promoted. We can't continue to make summer school a part of our budgets. We've got to come together and get down to real and serious educational business in our homes, churches and neighborhoods. Our current educational ``crisis'' impacts every home here as well as the surrounding area for all of the systems are having problems. We can't move our way out of this.

But, teachers and administrators can't have it both ways either. They cannot continue to phone, beep or page us on our jobs when a behavior problem exists thus demanding immediate attention, yet wait four, six and sometimes nine weeks before contacting a parent when an academic problem arises. Administrators can no longer encourage parents to join and attend the PTA yet not discuss any kind of issues of importance when parents make the effort to come out. You can't scream parental involvement but only want parental compliance. You can no longer work to put a communication tool in place at the elementary level (weekly papers) then totally eliminate it at the middle school level where things really start falling apart for too many of our children.

It's going to be rough and it won't happen overnight but we've got to get started and we can't quit. A new school building will not change this but everyone working together can. Too much is at stake for us to continue to act like the fault lies within someone else when all the while it lies within ourselves.

Once again, we call for a city wide educational summit where parents can come together and share ideas, strategies and ways of improving the educational futures of all of our children. If we can come together as a city and change the crime statistics as well as how our city is perceived by other communities, we can change the educational tide as well.

Billie M. Cook

Hobson Street

Oct. 15, 1997 Priority is education

In a few weeks, we are going to elect state executives and legislators who will lead us into the 21st century. Although the candidates are promoting their respective positions over a range of subjects, it seems to me the most important issue is the education of our children.

They are, after all, 100 percent of our future. Notwithstanding the rhetoric, there is a fundamental difference in the position of the two political parties and their candidates.

Recently, The College Board released a report indicating a directly proportional relationship between family income and SAT scores. The gap in achievement illustrates Virginia's compelling need to improve the educational opportunities for all children. We need to improve the reading programs in our elementary schools and have more students complete tough courses in high school.

In Portsmouth, we have undertaken to close the gap and improve the quality of education for our children. Last year we initiated new teaching techniques in our middle schools through the Equity 2000 program offered by The College Board. Our middle school students take the PSAT so we an evaluate their weaknesses and being to improve performance. These methods are now being expanded to the high schools.

This year Portsmouth increased the standards for promotion and graduation before the State Board of Education. Currently, we are engaged in an effort to improve the reading program in our elementary schools. Portsmouth led the area's recent implementation of the requirement that students maintain at least a 2.0 grade point average to participate in athletics and other extracurricular activities. Experience has proved that students rise to the challenge and do what has to be done.

We have to maintain support systems such as after-school study halls, tutoring and mandatory summer school, but our children will do what the have to do.

To keep moving forward, we need elected leaders who will support our system of public education.

We need people like Don Beyer and Johnny Joannou who are committed to providing a safe environment in our public schools where all of our children can learn. We need leaders who will make a commitment to improve our public schools and provide a quality education for all of our children.

Byron P. Kloeppel

Elizabeth Place

Oct. 7, 1997 Peeved pedestrian

For several months I have called the Traffic Engineer's office about the new traffic lights at Crawford and Effingham. The pedestrian is definitely a second-class citizen there.

While the old lights were hung straight, thus easy to see, and gave enough time to cross the street at a reasonable pace, the new ones are at a bad angle, hard to see at the corner and change much too quickly.

That is, walking toward Portsmouth General. Walking in the opposite direction, one has to watch for side lights to change. Nor, is it satisfactory to be caught midway while the Effingham Street traffic begins to more.

Surely, the lights can be set straight and the time adjusted for safe crossing on foot. Hey, pedestrians, pay the same taxes as motorists or shouldn't they be adjusted, too?

Eleanor Kanter

Harbor Court

Oct. 10, 1997 Class act

On Thursday, Oct. 2, Portside was rocking with the sound of country music. Nat Chavis, and the Wooden Nickel Band, of Suffolk, played on stage. Their reputation on the country scene has soared over the past few years. Nat Chavis has gone to Nashville, Tenn., where he released his first CD, ``Since You've Been Gone.'' It's been called ``endless reservoir of laid back country with mood and style. He's a man of many talents, from playing instruments to writing songs, as well as singing them.

Not only with country on his lips, but he also has gospel music in his heart. He was inspired to write and sing for his mother, ``Mama,'' which tells of his life with great feeling and devotion to his family and God. The Wooden Nickel Band, that frequently plays in festivals and events throughout Virginia and the Carolinas, as well as in surrounding cities.

They are truly good home grown country entertainment for the young and old alike. We were so happy to have had them play at Portside's, one of the Farewell performances to take place before the closing. I guess Waterside will get them next year.

Anna T. Twisdale

Davis Street

Oct. 7, 1997 Focus on issues

As this year's campaign season devolves into mudslinging and name-calling, it is refreshing to see that at least one candidate continues to focus on real issues in a mature and balanced manner, and he is Johnny Joannou. Johnny's leadership is sorely missed by those of us who recall bygone days when our elected representatives worked together as a team to promote citizens rather than themselves, and who worked to tear down the walls that divide us rather than to tear down the good names and reputations to each other. Johnny returns as a candidate with the same spirit and leadership he has always provided for us, with one important difference from the rest: he focuses on building up our community, not tearing down his opponent.

Johnny's solid, longstanding support of law enforcement, his ernest desire to raise the quality of education for our children and to impose control and safety in our schools, and his intention to defeat the senseless automobile tax, are issues we can all support. It's time that other political candidates get the other message that Johnny delivers: focus on the issues, not the name calling. If true leaders govern by example, then we can do not better for Portsmouth, for Hampton Roads, and for Virginia, than Johnny Joannou. If integrity, maturity, and true leadership still matter, we need to send Johnny Joannou back to Richmond on Nov. 4.

Stephen E. Heretick

London Boulevard

Oct. 20, 1997 In support of Joannou

As a lifelong resident of Portsmouth and longtime friend of Johnny and Chris Joannou, I have been proud to work for his campaigns since the early 80's. Johnny is both a former state senator and delegate who has dedicated his life to serving the needs of Portsmouth families.

Johnny's experience as a practicing lawyer and past legislator will serve us well in Richmond. I encourage all residents of the 79th District to vote for Johnny Joannou for the House of Delegates.

Bobbi Meiring

Barclay Avenue

Oct. 20, 1997 Thanks for waking up

For more than 10 years, many boating enthusiasts and maritime safety advocates, including Portsmouth's Sheriff Waters, had lobbied for a ``No Wake Zone'' along the Elizabeth River between Portsmouth and Norfolk. This worthwhile goal was finally achieved last month with the placement of no wake buoys and markers stretching from Buoy No. 34 to the Jordan Highway Bridge.

Now with an ever increasing traffic in both commercial and pleasure boating, the no wake zone enforcement has become critical.

As the owner of Tidewater Yacht my staff and I make every attempt to warn passing vessels of this no wake zone, but it was Sheriff Waters' concern for safety issues that authorized the DARE marine patrol to assist in the enforcement. I can attest to the fact that in just a short period of time your marine patrol has had a very positive impact thus ensuring public safety. Many thanks are deserved to you and your courteous crew. My only hope is that you may continue the patrol on a regular basis.

Gordon W. Shelton III

Owner, Tidewater Yacht Marina

Oct. 20, 1997

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