
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 30, 1990                   TAG: 9005300400
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL HELPS A GOOD SCHOOL

IF I were not a student at Community School, which I am; and if I wrote for a newspaper, which I do not; and if I heard about a Strawberry Festival for a little school, which I have, I'd find out if it is a good school.

In case nobody noticed, this is sort of the way Ed Shamy made fun of us at the beginning of his May 4 article, "Golden State strawberries for Star City."

For months and the past 10 years, this little school has tried to make money by selling strawberry shortcake. Everybody bakes cakes, stems berries, and gives time and effort. Why? So we can get a good education. The teachers and parents really care about us. There are scholarships for people who cannot pay for a private school. We learn at our own rate. Teachers aren't paid much, but the Strawberry Festival helps.

Shamy said if we waited for two weeks, we could use Virginia strawberries. One Virginia farmer told my mother his berries would not be in until June.

I realize everybody has a right to his own opinion, and there is freedom of speech in this country. I just wish Shamy would think about the festival as a fund-raiser for a small school. That's as important as one farmer having a good crop, isn't it?

If I were a newspaper writer, which I'm not, I wouldn't miss the chance to visit Community School and find out just how much farming experience and good teaching we get.

\ TAYLOR JONES\ ROANOKE

by CNB