Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, August 31, 1993 TAG: 9310280303
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
As the subject of some of those editorials, I can honestly say that I've read some that were pretty dumb and tasteless!
There are many reasons why I support George Allen for governor, but three of the main reasons are his wife and two children.
The father of three children myself - two have already made their way through a Virginia school system, and one will be in the Class of 2010 in Roanoke County if all goes well - I place a very high premium on the perspective of a married elected official, man or woman, especially if she or he has (or plans to have) children.
In all of our tireless preparations for the future in government, business and our private lives, the focus is, after all, on our children, grandchildren, etc., and not on ourselves.
This is not a "regurgitation" of family values on my part, and I'm extremely proud to say that I have never watched "Murphy Brown" and couldn't care less.
The fact that I value Allen's perspective as a family man is just that: a mere statement of fact. Further, I see nothing wrong at all with him using his familial status to his best advantage in his campaign for governor, which is taking place against the backdrop of a pretty grim social scenario in Virginia and around the nation.
ED KOHINKE
SALEM
But can't recall the name
HISTORY tells us there was once a man elected to the public office of a political entity who, after a year or so of consolidating his power, decided on the need to expand his territory for the benefit of its citizens.
Along the way to his ultimate goal, he decided that there was also a need to take over certain services provided by private industry for the good of the political entity. Utilities seemed to be the logical first step.
Certain leaders have always sought personal political glory and the imposition of their will over others who wish to have nothing to do with them or their political goals. I seem to have difficulty remembering the name of this man, and whether he was elected in Roanoke in 1992 or Germany in 1933?
GARY E. DOGAN
ROANOKE
Let VMI be VMI
THE FEDERAL government is trying to force Virginia Military Institute to go co-ed for a very few in number, but when renovation costs to house women at VMI are totaled, the figures will be costly to taxpayers. The issues represent, as some say, unfair use of state money, due to women being denied the opportunity to go to VMI. But what about the dollars that support the many all-female colleges of Virginia? These monies would also have to be cut or the government would have to force all of those schools to go co-ed.
People claim that women should have an opportunity to experience the VMI education. The mere entrance of one female will totally change the true VMI education, so that not only the woman will miss the chance but also the thousands of men that VMI was originally started for.
The government says that the state should offer a plan that allows women a similar education to that of VMI. Yet it is VMI that must produce this well- devised plan. Why is the state exempted from this burden and VMI forced to defend itself against a system that is overwhelmingly accepted by the public?
The true discrimination comes when the male no longer has his chance for the VMI education, and it's solely to satisfy the needs of a few women. When admitted, would the female be required to get a traditional rat haircut? No, and that is just one of the many changes that would be created with a co-ed system.
Our government has become so concerned about minority discrimination that it forgets the many reverse discriminations that are created by the system.
Open your eyes, taxpayers and voters. Stand out and be counted, and don't let the government destroy proved systems that work. As the old saying goes, "If it ain't broke, then don't fix it."
KEN COLEMAN
BUENA VISTA
To educators, all's well with education
"ARE COLLEGE profs really overpaid, underworked?" was the headline for Donald Dedmon's remarks from his annual convocating address at Radford University on Aug. 20 as it appeared on the Commentary page of the Roanoke Times & World-News on Aug. 24. He was replying to a number of writers who are critical of the short hours required of many professors, and the lack of contact the professors have with the students.
Dedmon is satisfied that this condition does not exist at Radford University. He is pleased with the university's productivity as compared to other state universities. This is in spite of the fact, and these figures are his own, that 29.5 percent of the faculty teach 12 hours a week or less, and 22 percent teach 10 hours a week or less. This compares with the 25 hours a week taught by the public-school faculty who, in addition to the hours in the classroom, also have duties in study hall, cafeteria, hall monitoring and on the school bus.
If his figures were produced by a survey by his own staff, it may be charged that the survey was self-serving, as was his entire address. This is unfortunate, for it's difficult to ascertain the true state of education when the information is of a self-serving nature.
About two to four years ago, the Roanoke Times & World-News carried reports on the condition of schools in Roanoke city, Roanoke County and Salem, based on interviews with the three superintendents. They reported that their programs were proceeding as they would have them. Of course!
The figures released by Dedmon, of the minimum hours taught by his faculty, suggest that this may contribute to the increasing cost of a college education, which is becoming increasingly burdensome to parents and students.
Business is struggling mightily to increase productivity to survive and prosper. Are colleges and universities making the same effort to make their product more available to more people?
THOMAS C. FISHER JR.
ROANOKE
by CNB