THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 5, 1997 TAG: 9701030011
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 25 lines
Hooray! We are getting a $300 million shopping mall. I can hardly wait for the $150 million hockey facility. Think of how luxurious it will be to travel to the Beach (or Norfolk) by rail instead of that long 20-minute drive on a nonstop highway. And I just love the multimillion dollar amphitheater. Doesn't Atlantic Avenue look gorgeous? So will Shore Drive!
Who cares if our students do not have enough textbooks in the public-school system? And the temporary added classrooms are good enough for them. It doesn't matter that we don't pick up the tabs for the children who can't afford to go on field trips to Nauticus, the Marine Science Museum, the Mariner's Museum, etc. They don't mind staying behind, while most others are having a wonderful learning experience.
And the teachers earn plenty, teaching, guiding and caring for our children - 25-30 in a classroom for seven-plus hours a day.
I am really looking forward to a racetrack next, and then, Who knows? maybe a huge adult playground. Forget the children!
HELEN JANE FRIEDMAN
Virginia Beach, Dec. 28, 1996