THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Sunday, April 14, 1996                 TAG: 9604140064
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT 
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY                     LENGTH: Short :   33 lines

ASSEMBLY TO FOCUS ON ORDER IN SCHOOLS, BASNIGHT SAYS DISCIPLINE IS A VITAL PART OF EDUCATION, HE TELLS DEMOCRATS

Restoring order in public schools is a major challenge facing legislators across the nation, state Sen. Marc Basnight, D-Dare, told a Democratic county convention here on Saturday.

``In a time of increasing technology, our young people must have the very best education they can get, and that won't happen unless we bring them a greater sense of discipline,'' Basnight said.

Basnight, president pro tem of the state Senate, assured the Democrats that the coming session of the General Assembly will focus strongly on school problems across the state.

About 50 Pasquotank County Democrats showed up at the courthouse for their annual county convention. Similar political meetings were held in nearly all of the state's 100 counties in anticipation of coming elections.

In Pasquotank County, Democratic party officers have another year to serve, so no new officials were named. Betty Meggs, the head of the Pasquotank Democrats, presided at the local convention.

Pasquotank County Commissioner W.C. Witherspoon got a standing ovation and a memorial plaque from the Democrats for his years of public service and party loyalty. District Attorney Frank Parrish read a resolution honoring Witherspoon. by CNB