Letters to the Editor

By: | Times-Dispatch
Published: February 28, 2009

Schools for Gifted Face Cuts, Too

While completely understanding guest Op/Ed columnist Arthur Almore's frustration with Chesterfield Public Schools' proposed budget reductions, I take issue with three points he raised.

Center-based gifted schools and Governor's Schools are not exempt from cuts and public scrutiny. As the parent of two Maggie L. Walker Governor's School alumni, I can attest that the 12 public school districts sending students to Maggie Walker are intimately involved in budget approval and priorities. Until this year's state public school budget is finalized, the level of financial support the districts will provide next year is unknown.

Maggie Walker draws gifted students from every socio-economic group and background -- urban, suburban, and rural.

While a common misperception is that "cream will rise to the top," research shows that unchallenged gifted students are at great risk for underachievement and high drop-out rates. No Child Left Behind recognizes the need to provide appropriate special education to gifted students as well as those struggling to meet minimum grade standards.

For our local community and the nation to thrive, students of all abilities must be challenged and nurtured to achieve their maximum capabilities.

Maggie Walker neither offers nor funds special PSAT or SAT preparation, relying instead upon the rigor and breadth of its curriculum and the seriousness of its pupils. Students pay to take the PSAT exam in 9th, 10th, and 11th grades. They also pay for any AP exams they choose to take. For students unable to afford this cost, parent donations to school support groups are used as needed.

Mary Jo Sisson-Vaughan. Richmond.

Don't Cut County's Strong School System

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

Chesterfield, a state leader in public education, has always provided for a strong school system. The schools are one of the positive aspects that draw new people to our community.

In return, the school division has helped bolster the community's reputation. It is the largest school division in Virginia with all of its schools fully accredited, and produces students with strong core values who return to Chesterfield to be police officers, emergency responders, doctors, senior care providers, businessmen, etc.

The school division has been transparent in its decision-making process for cutting its budget. We would hope the Board of Supervisors is equally transparent in showing the citizens the benefits of balancing the budget on the backs of educating our future work force.

Everyone in Chesterfield benefits from strong schools. In fact, some in the community have described the school division as the economic engine that drives the county. Why then are we taking away steam from our hard-charging locomotive?

Surely there are other areas to cut -- perhaps areas such as the $50,000 that funds the adult flag football league.

Stella Edwards, And four others.

Colonial Heights.

Unions Improve Workers' Lives and Communities

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

Once again the newspaper is bashing unions ["New Virginia?"]. Several editorials in the past few months have demonized union members and characterized them as bullies bent on destroying democracy and the cause of our economic problems.

Do you realize whom you are talking about? You are talking about thousands of hard-working citizens around Virginia. You are describing our teachers and firefighters, the workers at Verizon and Philip Morris, the 18-year-old grocery clerk, and your electrician. You are describing me -- a letter-carrier. Union members in Virginia simply have chosen to bargain collectively for a better life.

With our economy in a tailspin, it's time to rebuild our economy so that it works for everyone again. People who have unions earn 30 percent more than people who don't, and are much more likely to have health care and pensions.

Beyond being good for workers, unions are good for communities. Better wages and benefits mean that families can make it on their own. Our country needs unions now more than ever. It was so nice to hear that the three Democratic candidates for governor (Creigh Deeds, Terry McAuliffe, and Brian Moran), as well as lieutenant gubernatorial candidate Jody Wagner, decided to stand up for working people in Crystal City.

Thelma Hunt, National Association of Letter Carriers,

Branch 496. Richmond.