SCHOOLS SPEND LOTS, FAIL TO EDUCATE

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

DATE: MONDAY, February 3, 1992                   TAG: 9202030179
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short
SCHOOLS SPEND LOTS, FAIL TO EDUCATE
AN EDITORIAL Jan. 19 proposed an increase in the sales tax along with increased appropriations to education.
Administrators at the Roanoke and Roanoke County school boards advised me that both systems have an annual operating budget in excess of $61 million, with an average cost of about $4,600 to $4,900 per student. A local college-preparatory school informed me that its tuition costs were $3,700 to $5,200 per year.
Parents with children in private schools might use these data as an argument for privatization of the public schools. I certainly do not advocate that. However, the failure of a system to educate our children properly while spending vast amounts of money necessitates consideration of alternatives.
I believe the key is teachers who inspire students to learn and achieve. The very best teachers should be selected for the elementary schools. Every attempt should be made to identify the potential of each child regardless of background.
Further education commensurate with potential should be provided to each child. Some will say that this is an elitist system; I contend that it is simple pragmatism. Our society's limited resources require us to make difficult decisions. WILLARD H. SAWYER ROANOKE

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB