ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Saturday, February 1, 1997             TAG: 9702030013
SECTION: EDITORIAL                PAGE: A-7  EDITION: METRO 
                                             TYPE: LETTERS 

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Shunning parental rights

THE DEFEAT of the proposed parental-rights amendment reveals that parents cannot rely on the commonwealth to be their advocate. Since the state Senate has decided to go the way (or perhaps wayward) of our brave new world, I propose the following changes to the proposed amendment (additions shown in brackets):

The right of parents to direct the upbringing and education of their children shall [not] be a fundamental right. [(fill in the blank) shall have the fundamental right to direct the upbringing and education of children.]

These changes will help legislators spell out their beliefs as to who has the fundamental rights over our children. Then we will know their mind-set and can vote accordingly.

JANICE BRACKENRICH

RICH CREEK

Don't chase off the best teachers

THERE HAS been a somewhat heated dialogue among readers regarding public-school teachers. Some espouse teachers' diligence, dedication and tremendous contributions to society. They argue that teachers deserve more money and more respect. Others attack teachers as underworked, possibly overpaid, and undeserving of sympathy for their plight.

The first group is correct in that good teachers deserve more money and respect. Those who do their jobs well work more than 40 hours per week, and devote tremendous emotional and psychological energy to ensuring that students are properly educated.

The second group is correct in that those who become teachers are aware they are consigning themselves to a lifetime of low wages, and thus have no right to whine about injustices of the pay scale. However, if critics believe the teaching profession is like any other business, they need to apply business guidelines to all aspects of that profession.

Business guidelines include major incentives for good performers, including high salaries, bonuses and other perks. The business model can work only if society is willing to commit the considerable financial resources that the model demands.

The existing model, which gives a lower salary with compensatory high-job security, has the advantage of being relatively affordable. But it only works if teachers continue to feel that society values what they do for our children.

Treating teachers with disrespect is foolish and dangerous. If we treat them like business professionals, saying ``if you don't like it, leave,'' but at the same time give them none of the other benefits enjoyed by business professionals, the best teachers will leave. And if they leave, where does that leave society?

FRED SINGER

RADFORD

NAACP leader did not do homework

THE QUOTE by Paul Gillis in your Jan. 21 Associated Press news article (``Lee-Jackson-King Day stirs up controversy among some'') quite frankly surprised me.

I would assume that a man intelligent enough to be the president of the Virginia Chapter, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, would have enough wisdom to do some research before calling Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson "treacherous Confederate generals.''

If he would take the time to study his history and step off his soapbox for a minute, he would learn that Lee, Jackson and Dr. Martin Luther King were all dedicated to the education of youth, as well as the preservation of God and country.

The fact that the two Confederate generals were once slaveowners is not the issue, for both men released their slaves prior to leaving for war. Ulysses S. Grant waited until after the war to grant his servants their freedom.

Yes, I feel that such a grand and influential organization as the NAACP should have a leader who thinks and learns before he speaks so as to not end up with his honorable foot in his mouth!

JON A. SHANKLIN

RADFORD

Mountain's integrity must be preserved

KUDOS TO Joe Kennedy on his Jan. 22 column, ``Let's not tarnish our shining star: Mill Mountain.''

This mountain within our city is a treasure to be protected. Proper protection would not seem to include more concrete and steel. The city should fulfill its stewardship responsibility by preserving the integrity of the mountain for future generations.

GENE A. HYLTON

ROANOKE

LENGTH: Medium:   89 lines