THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 15, 1996 TAG: 9603140127
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 07 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
As a nursing student and resident of Virginia Beach, I am concerned about the lack of guidance in the Virginia Beach public school system regarding sexually transmitted disease prevention information. The city of Virginia Beach, like many cities, is plagued with a high incidence of adolescent STD.
After spending the morning with a Virginia Beach middle school nurse, I was amazed when she told me they were not permitted to disclose information to the students about facilities where they can receive confidential STD testing. Pamphlets about symptoms of STD were also not permitted at this middle school.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the use of pamphlets in schools regarding signs and symptoms and information on where confidential testing and treatment can be obtained. How can we as a community control the spread of STD's if our schools do not follow the CDCP's recommendations for STD prevention?
I am not advocating premarital sex or promoting information on birth control; nor, should the preventive information take the place of the parental responsibility to educate. Providing an informative pamphlet about the available resources (health department and Planned Parenthood) will not harm our youth. Whereas, ignoring the problem is damaging to our community.
Georgia Paloma
Virginia Beach Thanks for warm memories
Having spent several early years in the hills west of Mullen, Neb., I thoroughly enjoyed Ron Speer's Feb. 16 article on the ``warmth and sight of fire.''
Dr. Venner and I have a fire in our kitchen fireplace and watch it, and discover ``fascinating tableaus. . . '' Most of all I was nostalgic about Mr. Speer's stories of the rugged life he led without electricity, running water, central heating; the heated bricks, the hotwater bottles, and the snow on his blanket in the morning. Burning corn cobs gathering of which was the job of the ``little kids'' of which I was one, also touched my memory.
Thanks for the article. Now maybe my kids, ranging in age from 52 to 38, will believe what I have told them. It was a wonderful story. I hope Mr. Speer has a nice fire to watch every so often.
I could go on and philosophize on the pros and cons of adding more money to education as a cure when I think of the one room school houses and the results those teachers got. I'm not stupid enough to know that we have many calls for a broader education. Enuf.
Kathryn Hill Venner
Virginia Beach Watch teachers' role in election
At our last School Board election (our first ever) there were six positions open. One slate of candidates was supported by the Virginia Beach teachers association, which also provided significant financial contributions to their slate. All of their slate of candidates were elected.
At the time, it seemed to me we would have the foxes guarding the hen house. Do you suppose this might have anything to do with our school system's financial debacle? Maybe we should keep this in mind at our next election.
James T. Hayes
Virginia Beach by CNB