Letters to the Editor

Charging $ Has Diminished Falls Church’s ESL Program

Additionally, the number of classes being offered has been cut. There have been three teachers/classes in the evening program, which meets at George Mason High School, and one teacher/class in the morning program at the senior center.

Due to budget constraints, one of the teaching positions has just been eliminated. Unfortunately, the eliminated class was an evening one. During the March-June term two students regularly attended my class in the morning program and sixteen regularly attended my evening class.

Because the three evening classes have now been consolidated into two, beginner through intermediate students will be grouped together with the possibility of low beginners entering the ongoing class every ten weeks.

I felt I could not adequately meet such a wide range of students' needs and resigned from a job I love. It doesn't make sense that the school board has made a decision to lower the quality of education for a larger group to keep open a class for only two students.

Jill Strickland; Falls Church

Broad Spectrum Approach to Gangs Needed

Law enforcement officials in local jurisdictions are critically aware of the operational structure of gangs, their capabilities, and the far-reaching influence they have on vulnerable youth. Consequently, it has become a necessity, and not an option, to fully engage all resources to deal with this critical problem that plague communities.

Local task forces have been established in multiple jurisdictions. Virginia has been very proactive in its efforts. Attorney General Jerry Kilgore (R) established a statewide task force comprised of various experts to discuss the problem and develop ideas for implementation of strategies to deal with the gang problem.

In Maryland, State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey (D-Prince Georges) has also been a leader in the fight against gang violence. He has been a strong promoter of cross boarders initiatives in which he has proactively engaged in dialogue and combined efforts to deal with the problem. In June, he was awarded the Public Service Award by the Northern Virginia Chapter of the American Society of Public Administration for his regional approach to gang violence. Most recently, Ivey was involved in the Metropolitan Regional School Safety and Security Conference that addressed gang issues. This conference included school personnel, administrators, school security and law enforcement officers.

Ivey, like Kilgore in Virginia, recognizes the importance of a broad-spectrum approach in which leaders must look beyond their own jurisdictional boarders and must involve a variety of professionals from all sectors of the criminal justice system, the school system, and the community at large. Both Ivey and Kilgore are also keenly aware of the fact that combating gang violence is a non-partisan issue, and they recognize that everyone everywhere must work together to find integrative solutions to this increasingly problematic issue.

Karen L. Bune; Arlington

Crime Report Belies Serious F.C. Problem

Meanwhile, Falls Church Police officers are diligently stopping anyone who drives even a few miles per hour over the speed limit.

I live in Arlington. I and my neighbors would be extremely unhappy if the types of crimes that are committed in Falls Church were committed in my neighborhood.

I recently bought a steering wheel locking device for my car and plan on using it whenever I park in Falls Church. Falls Church residents should consider doing the same.

Michael Johnston; Arlington