THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 31, 1996 TAG: 9603290235
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines
The show must go on. We hear the saying so often in show business. But oh how beautifully those words apply to the daily backstage performances of the Virginia Beach schoolteachers. While the spotlights shine on the melodrama of a major financial crisis and the School Board, finance director, and ex-superintendent who directed that tragedy, those of us whose job it is to teach your children stand ready in the wings.
Like understudies or stuntmen, we are often overlooked when the credits roll at the end of the show. Yet we continue to raise the curtains in our classrooms each and every day ready to perform and give our audience, the children, the best education possible.
I know I don't speak for myself alone when I say that, in light of the poor reviews, we've all felt the need to burn our midnight oil, study our lines and rehearse our parts even more than usual in an attempt to ward off any stage fright that this situation might have caused.
We the teachers of Virginia Beach will continue to bring down the house. And just because the science room is no longer well stocked with seeds and soil and little plastic pots, does not mean that your child won't feel the joy of watching his or her very own plant grow. We'll go out and buy those supplies and many others. It's what we do.
Please rest assured that we, the backstage helpers, will not let you down. The question is, when all is said and done, the script is long forgotten, and the accolades (if there are any) are awarded, will we once again be overlooked? Will the critics give any credit where credit is due?
I am asking you to take a part and give us your support. Help us turn this charade into a class act.
Marie Grindle
Virginia Beach Volunteer at your school
It takes a whole village to raise a child. . . !
And so it takes input and engagement from all parents to form and enrich our children's education. Here at our Luxford Elementary School we are extremely proud of our parents who devote their time and special knowledge to be a ``Volunteer-in-education.''
We were able to set up a wonderful after school program, which includes a foreign-language program, where I have the pleasure to teach the German class. We also have parents who teach the kids country-line-dancing, cookie baking and many more things.
The kids love all these activities and classes are fully booked! I encourage all parents: Go to your local school, offer your time and talent, because it is everybody's business to shape our education, to teach our children.
Gabriele Pagenhardt
Virginia Beach It's time to show support
I have watched the events of the Virginia Beach school system with much interest. I have watched the majority of School Board meetings over the past two years. We have great schools in Virginia Beach which everyone would like to see get better. We as citizens changed the system to elected boards. This event now pushes aside many who would like to serve and who would do a good job because they do not want to get into the politics of an election and campaigning.
Next, the grand jury at the direction of Commonwealth's Attorney Humphries indicts members of the School Board. How ridiculous. The icing on the cake is now the grand jury recommends a fine for a conviction of malfeasence of $100,000.
We as citizens need to support our School Board and new superintendent.
Bonlee Spruill
Virginia Beach by CNB