THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, December 21, 1995 TAG: 9512200165
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
After 28 years as a teacher, administrator and substitute teacher, I have come to some conclusions about schools, of which parents should be aware.
Smaller schools allow for a better education. Without doubt, the size of a school in today's educational environment is a determining factor in the quality of education.
When school enrollment is too large, there is a tendency for students to become ``lost.'' Classes tend to become larger because school districts attempt to ``save money'' by hiring fewer teachers. Cafeterias tend to become larger in order to handle the larger student body. By being larger, the cafeteria becomes less controllable and, therefore, less safe. Hallways tend to become more crowded, louder and also less safe.
Extracurricular activities tend to become more of a money-earning activity than an educational activity. In all these ways, a school tends to ``lose'' its students, its parents and its self-respect.
Many schools today are faced with growing vandalism and violence. To combat this, school systems have hired full-time detectives or police officers. Does increasing the size of school enrollment aid this process?
One argument for larger schools has always been that more can be offered to the student. This argument falls apart when it is argued that larger schools are larger mainly to save money. In this larger situation, the tendency becomes to have to concentrate on control and discipline rather than on subjects and content material.
Without a doubt, smaller schools favor today's young people. With the number of broken families and numerous adolescent problems, keeping solid teachers and administrators on top of school matters means not asking them to do the impossible day after day. Just doing what they are trained to do in a pleasant learning environment is a difficult enough task.
James B. Dailey
Suffolk Remember the reason for Christmas season
As another Christmas is here, the Christian world will honor a man called Jesus. Without him, no Christmas would be complete or even exist.
He is God's only Son. He came from the throne of his Father to the womb of a woman. He became Son of Man that we might become sons of God.
He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. He lived in poverty and was unknown outside of Nazareth. He had neither wealth nor fame.
He laid aside his purple robe for a peasant's gown. He was rich but for our sakes he became poor.
He slept in another's stable. He rode on another's donkey. He was buried in another's tomb.
He healed without medicine and fed thousands from a boy's lunch. Even demons obeyed him and he gave back life to some who were dead. He was despised of men and rejected by them. Though he was innocent, he was condemned by a civil judge and sentenced to death on the cross.
Herod could not kill him. Satan could not stop him. Death could not destroy him. The grave could not hold him.
One day he will return not as a suffering servant but with power and glory. It all began in a stable in Bethlehem a long time ago.
Clarence L. Jones
White Marsh Road
Suffolk by CNB