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

DATE: FRIDAY, June 18, 1993                   TAG: 9306180401
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

GETTING TROUBLED KIDS BACK ON COURSE

I WAS pleased with Mary Bishop's recent series entitled "The kids nobody else wants." The news stories were well written and showed positive things about Roanoke's Alternative Education Center.

Negative things are said about this program, because many don't know what goes on behind closed doors. They think it's a place where drug dealers and worthless kids learn nothing. Here, students who have fallen onto the wrong path get a second chance at trying to make something of themselves. They learn about respect, self-esteem, how to get jobs and visit many colleges.

Many children feel unwanted in society and have no one to encourage them. The staff at Alternative Ed gives students a loving environment and lets them know there are people who care. Because of this, the students look to the staff as role models or second parents.

Stop criticizing the program and start giving credit, especially to the staff members who take time to lead the children in the right direction.

Keep up the good work, Alternative Ed! KIM CHAMBERS ROANOKE

by CNB