THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 26, 1995 TAG: 9510260036
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 35 lines
Why does your paper continue to bash Virginia Beach schools?
Your latest headline criticizes the school system for being only 99.5 percent accurate in estimating its enrollment. Estimate is defined as ``approximate value,'' as opposed to perfection, which is defined as ``an unsurpassable degree of accuracy.'' Furthermore, if your writers are going to present numerical information, it would be a novelty if it was interpreted correctly. Based on the numbers presented, Norfolk was only 99.1 percent accurate and Portsmouth was only 97.61 percent accurate in their estimations. Congratulations to Chesapeake; it was 99.9 percent accurate and almost achieved your demand for perfection, but not quite.
School administrators, unlike your reporters, understand that these enrollment figures are approximations; that's why most systems ``freeze'' hiring until the final count is determined.
Please re-examine your tendency to report education information in the most derogatory means possible. Our schools are not perfect, but there are many dedicated teachers who are performing magnificently. Your negative attitude is disheartening to these educators and presents a distorted view of education to the public. All that I ask is for fair reporting of important information.
I commend the articles written by staff writer Jon Glass. His reports may not always be complimentary, but they are well-researched and accurate.
JOAN CAMPBELL
Norfolk, Oct. 12, 1995 by CNB