ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, February 12, 1997 TAG: 9702120079
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: A Cuppa Joe
SOURCE: JOE KENNEDY
Gov. George Allen's spending of nearly $8,000 to send a 25-minute audiotape of himself reading stories to Virginia schoolchildren won overwhelming support in the highly unscientific telephone survey commissioned last week by yours truly.
A Virginia Beach teacher had mailed Allen a blank tape and asked him to record some stories for her pupils. The governor's office sent taped stories, with a color photo of the governor and his family, a proclamation, a letter and an order form for additional copies, to all 1,311 public elementary schools in Virginia.
Allen also declared January "Reading Month in Virginia." He was the only one of 15 well-known figures to record stories for the teacher.
After I reported that a Roanoke teacher had questioned the value of his effort, 129 people called and registered their opinions (others wrote or e-mailed). More than 70 percent of those who voted supported the governor.
Fourth-graders were all ears
The respondents were thoughtful and articulate, feisty, political and sometimes unfair.
They took shots at the teacher who questioned the expenditure, teachers in general, the Virginia Education Association, the magnet aviation program at William Fleming High School, Ebonics and other familiar targets.
Most callers supported the governor, but some expressed dissatisfaction with him and his administration.
"I'm just curious," Gary Whiting of Blacksburg said. "I wonder if George Allen resorted to George Washington's '101 Rules for Civilized Behavior' when he was first elected governor and proclaimed, `Now we are going to knock their soft teeth down their whiny throats.'''
Some went against their instincts in evaluating the governor's action.
"I would not vote for this character if my life depended on it," wrote John W. Crump of Staunton. "I think he's a pompous jackass, but ... I think the money is well spent."
A few teachers phoned in from the trenches, with varying opinions.
"I teach fourth grade, and I let my class listen to [the stories]," said Maggie Angell of Mountain View Elementary in Roanoke County, "and they really enjoyed it."
When she tried to move on, "they just had an uproar."
People on both sides criticized the governor's reading ability. Rhea Hurt of Roanoke said the tape is a good thing, but mentioned the governor's flat tone, lack of inflection and stammering.
"You've got a poor salesman for a good product," he said.
Katie Owenby of Riner agreed, but said, "Anything, anything at all that gets a child interested in reading is worth the tax money."
"I think the governor provokes probably nap time more effectively than story time," said Matt Hart of Christiansburg, "and ... I think the Allen children are probably among the best-rested in the state of Virginia."
If kids read, it's worth money
We cannot know how many children the tape will inspire. But I'm all for reading, and I'm thankful that the governor didn't spend the money on something less benign.
Yvonne B. Lassiter of Blue Ridge won the drawing for the $20 gift certificate from Ram's Head Book Shop. Her opinion: "If it helps one child to read, I think that money is well spent."
What stays with me is the free-floating anger I heard in some responses.
How can we blame the ills of our society on teachers who work, under trying circumstances and for less than a kingly wage, to educate our kids? That's like criticizing the clergy for the existence of evil.
We can help them by getting involved, and we can start by reading to a child.
What's your story? Call me at 981-3256, send e-mail to joek@roanoke.com or write to P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke 24010.
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