Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 3, 1993 TAG: 9302030226
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: GREG EDWARDS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
200 HEAR HOLIDAYS DEBATE
The passing of a month has not weakened the strength of opinions on the issue of school holiday names in Montgomery County but it did have a significant effect on the turnout for Tuesday night's School Board meeting.Roughly 200 people attended the board meeting at Christiansburg High School; probably three-fourths of them there to hear citizens talk about whether the school system should revert to the traditional Christian holiday names of "Christmas" and "Easter" for what is now "winter" and "spring" break on the school calendar.
At a Jan. 5 board meeting, about 900 citizens turned out to listen to a similar, but more animated, debate.
Supporters of the current board policy of using secular names argued that it is more sensitive to children of non-Christian backgrounds and better represents the intent of the U.S. Constitution to keep government out of the business of supporting religion. Religious instruction is better carried out at home or in one's church, they said.
Those who want the religious holiday names returned to the school calendar argued that problems such as teen-age AIDS, teen pregnancy and declining SAT scores are related to a decline in the influence of religion in the schools.
In its business session Tuesday night, board Chairman Roy Vickers announced that the finalists in the board's search to replace Superintendent Harold Dodge would be announced next Wednesday. Dodge will leave after five years in the job on June 30.
The finalists - probably three of them - will visit the county beginning Feb. 14 to meet with board members, school employees and residents, Vickers said. Meetings with citizens will be held on Feb. 15, 17 and 19, all at 7:30 p.m. at Christiansburg High School.
During the board's 30-minute public comment period, five people spoke against and five for the return to Christian names for school holidays. The board will decide the issue in April.
Bernard Jortner of Ellett Valley warned that the holiday issue was just the first step by a group of people bent on intruding its religious beliefs into the county schools. "The signal you send by your decision will be important," he said.
"No Christian and no group of Christians can speak for all Christians," the Rev. Cathryn Snyder of Blacksburg added.
Snyder, a supporter of the secular names, said her child learns about religion at home and at church. "That is how it should be."
Speaking in favor of the religious names, Eddie Booth asked the board to "look at what a mess our school system and country is in today." When the board allows anyone to take "God and his principles" out of the schools, it can expect problems, Booth said.
All seven people who spoke last month in favor of keeping the secular names were from Blacksburg, Revonda Walters noted. "This is Montgomery County, not just Blacksburg," she said, adding that she felt the sentiment in Blacksburg had been misrepresented by the speakers.
Many people in Blacksburg want morals back in the schools, she said.