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Letter
Tossed
Around
To the editor: As a qualified voter and taxpayer, I feel the need and the right to defend myself about the tossing around I received during the nomination of the recent school board appointment. I am not a social climber or a seeker of public prestige. I am a taxpaying citizen. I am a Negro and proud of it, but 1 am not a “whatever.” I am a human being, a person, a creation of God’s love. I resent being characterized as a “Negro, black, or whatever.” All of these remarks simply because of Mrs. Bailey’s “suggestion” that I be nominated as a member of th Rappahannock County School BoardThat
should not have caused such a trauma. It is time a Negro becomes a representative on some of the boards in the County, but such is not my desire.
As for the qualification for the “School Board Member, Thurs., Nov. 5, 1981”-the only qualification is being a farmer, which I am not. This, however, disqualifies me - no offense intended to the farmer. Yet if being a taxpaying citizen and bona fide resident with 36 years of teaching experience and teaching education training constitute a part of the qualifications, then my disqualifications are being a member of the wrong ethnic group and having the wrong family name. This to me spells discrimination. I am sure that most of us in Rappahannock do not wish to be thus classified.
Now, while we are discussing the School Board qualifications, let us take a look at the duties and how they are met. I should think that the first and foremost consideration of all qualifications and duties should be the education, health and welfare of our children, ALL chidlren.
On my last visit to the Elementary School I noticed a damaged ceiling which has been that way for nearly three years. There was a leak in the roof for quite a while that might still be there. There are classrooms chopped in half, classes being held in rooms with little or no ventilation, and many other little things that could prove hazardous or dangerous to the health and welfare of the children. After all. the qualifications of the School Board members are not the most important issue. Plans for the education of our children is the most important issue. I believe this could be accomplished better by not putting me down, but by building the children up through a safe, creative and inspiring environment.
JULIA E. BODDIE
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