DATE: Wednesday, April 9, 1997              TAG: 9704090010

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B10  EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Letter 

                                            LENGTH:   96 lines

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR -THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

EDUCATION

Let's separate school and state

I would like to challenge the basic premise of your March 31 editorial, that ``the state should provide sufficient funds to provide the minimum level of education . . . for every child in the state.''

There is a body of belief in our country, to which I subscribe, that it is not the duty of the state to provide education or educational funding to any child in the state. Rather, it is the duty of parents to provide education and the duty of children to become educated.

Instead of the state trying to find ways to equalize funding for all school districts, let the state get out of the business of funding schools altogether. Let all school taxes be abolished and all multipurpose taxes be reduced by the amount that now goes to education. Allow parents to keep their money and provide for the education of their children as they see fit.

Such a separation of school and state would relieve the state of a tremendous burden. The freedom given to the people would release astounding creative energies in education that are now stifled by our top-heavy bureaucratic establishment.

Daniel P. Talbot

Virginia Beach, April 3, 1997

BASKETBALL

Kudos for covering

Lady Monarchs

I commend The Virginian-Pilot on its coverage of the Lady Monarchs this season and, particularly, during the NCAA Regionals and Finals. We were on the road supporting the team during the last four games and didn't see The Pilot's coverage until we returned home. As I went through the papers since March 22, I was delighted to see the Lady Monarchs receiving the recognition they earned - including front-page banner after banner, front-page story after story.

In the stands at Riverfront Coliseum on Sunday night, I watched the literal sea of orange-clad Tennessee supporters belt out ``Rocky Top.'' The dedicated and hoarse Lady Monarchs fans, though smaller in number, were no less supportive or devoted. But it did make me think about the differences in team support, about how the entire state of Tennessee supports the Lady Vols and how Lady Monarchs support tends to be much more regional.

How wonderful, then, to come home and see how this region and The Virginian-Pilot supported and continue to support a phenomenal basketball team.

Laura Adams

Norfolk, April 1, 1997

VIRGINIA BEACH

Ferry Plantation neglect shameful

Recently, I have been involved in a college research project concerning the Ferry Plantation House in Old Donation Farm subdivision. My fellow students and I have read numerous articles, many from your paper, covering the bickering going on about who owns it and what to do with it. Or even if anything should be done with it.

It is my opinion that older, life-long Virginia Beach residents, and all former and current City Council members should hang their heads in shame. They have all, obviously, let developers run the roost on this one, as the city so often does. For the sake of the millions of dollars represented by the surrounding property, this historical building has been ignored and left to fall into gross disrepair.

I bet a golf course would have gotten better attention.

Richard Bishop

Virginia Beach, April 3, 1997

EXERCISE

Do-si-do

for fitness

In his April 3 piece ``When exercise is play. . . ,'' Patrick Lackey fails to mention square dancing. Square dancing is exercise that provides health benefits and is fun. It is joyful exercise.

Many of us dance as often as we can; often three times a week. Local square dances are listed in The Pilot's Preview section on Fridays and in the Beacon.

William L. Hickey

Virginia Beach, April 4, 1997

TOBACCO

Help youths

fight addiction

With stricter tobacco laws limiting the age at which a person can purchase cigarettes, I forsee one problem. Has anyone considered the addiction of underage smokers?

Everyone seems to agree that nicotine is addictive. And any addicted smoker will tell you that it is next to impossible to quit ``cold turkey.''

So, is the problem solved? No, I think there needs to be a solution. If the government is going to cut off the availability of cigarettes, then it also needs to provide the help to wean these youths off their addiction.

If help is not provided, I am most certain they will find any way to serve their addictions.

John Stofka

Norfolk, April 4, 1997

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