LETTERS

Opposition Party

Rowland Stiteler’s article on Dallas/ Fort Worth legislators (June) was most unobjective. What criteria were used to designate Representative Reby Cary as a “Promising Rookie”? He had no legislation passed. Or Representative Ted Lyons (no legislation passed)? Or Representative Lanell Co fer as one who has “under-represented” her district?

Ms. Cofer supported, authored, and co-sponsored legislation which not only represented her district but all other districts as well. She is an articulate attorney who does an excellent job of representing her district and women in the professional arena.

Richard Townsend, Janice Beck, James Penny, Diane Carrington

Dallas

Mr. Stiteler replies: The article was based on the judgment made of legislative delegates by their peers, inside and outside the Dallas-Tarrant delegations; by key members of the capital media corps; and, not least, by me.



Gary Adams

Jim Atkinson’s article on the death of Gary Adams at Terrell State Hospital (June) points out painful psychological and social dilemmas. What can be done with a Chris Nalley? Because he is a minor, he falls under the juvenile justice system, whose aim is rehabilitation. But Chris Nalley is probably beyond the reach of any known educational or treatment program, and basically needs confinement.

What about Gary Adams? Even in the absence of diagnosed mental illness, one fact stands out: Gary Adams’ foster parents and his community were unable to deal effectively with his behavior. His running away made some kind of confinement mandatory.

But where in Texas is a public institution for children with sufficient security to prevent escape and sufficient freedom to allow rehabilitation? The Adolescent Unit at Terrell sounds ideal, except that it is understaffed, overburdened, and not able to control its admissions so that it can make the proper therapeutic mix of patients.

We face a sad fact. In a free society, where people can choose to build football stadiums, art museums, theaters, hotels, and ice-skating rinks, they will do so before dealing with those who cannot cope and with those whose behavior endangers society. People will pursue their individual gains and pleasures until they are faced with a murderer or a rapist. And then they will blame the inefficient bureaucracy which they themselves have created.

Please continue to write about Chris Nalley, Gary Adams, their parents, Terrell State Hospital, the courts, and the State of Texas. But do not fail to remind us that we, the people, are the state.

Myron F. Weiner, M.D.

Chairman, Media Relations Committee

North Texas Chapter

American Psychiatric Association



I was impressed and saddened by your recent article about Gary Adams. I would like to quote a paragraph: “Who will take care of my child? Your child will never be left uncared for. Personnel are on duty 24 hours a day. Your child is assigned an individual therapist, a group therapist, a social worker, teachers, nurses, ward staff and a physician.” Is this enough? Who is going to give love, understanding, and attention?

Deanna W. Small

Dallas



I read your article and was most impressed by the way you handled such an inflammatory issue. Perhaps soon we can reach answers to the questions you have raised.

Tom S. McCorkle

(Court-appointed attorney

for Chris Nalley)

McCorkle, Westerburg & Felton

Dallas



The Midnight Movie



I read your article “Village Idiocy” in the June issue. May I suggest that Ms. Brans see Rocky Horror Picture Show a few more times – at least until she gets the story straight? In her article she had the events out of sequence twice and four scenes completely wrong.

If she took a poll of the audience I am sure she would find that the average age is more likely to be between twenty and twenty-five than sixteen and twenty. (Sixteen-year-olds are not even supposed to be at this movie without their parent or legal guardian.)

One more point. I wonder why with the exception of one, all of the people interviewed for the article are SMU students? Why not interview the people pictured in the photograph used? She could have had an entirely different perspective on the “cult.” (I am not one of those people pictured, just for the record.)

Karen M. Buckheit

Dallas



Voicing an Opinion

Your commendation of our “Voices” special on abortion (“Publisher’s Page,” June) meant a great deal to me.

When Channel 13 can focus on a critical issue-in this case, make a special program acquisition, shape a local production to pair with it, and strategically place it in the schedule – then we have used our resources well. I’m glad this effort had an impact on you and thank you for saying so.

Martha Stuart, by the way, is currently producing a series of programs dealing with all aspects of family life, from widows to day care to epilepsy. Over the next year, I plan to acquire a selection of these and present them in a like manner.

To return the praise, in these last two issues (May and June) D has risen to a superior caliber of journalism and impact. Congratulations.

Pat Perini

Vice President, Broadcasting

Public Communication Foundation

for North Texas

Dallas



What the Schools Are Doing

The article “What the Schools Are Doing to Your Kid’s Mind” (April) brought back memories, many of them unpleasant. I remembered several school board meetings in the Garland Independent School District that several parents and myself attended in the spring of ’78. We pleaded with them to pass clear policy prohibiting the use of sensitivity training on children in our district without the parents’ knowledge or consent.

We went to teachers, principals, counselors, administrators, and school board members. We told them that we felt that our children’s right to privacy was being invaded, that they were being taught to distrust their parents and authority in general, that they were being taught to question our values and that there was no right or wrong. They told us to come to the school board meetings in large numbers with our requests.

We managed to have quite a few people at the first meeting in spite of the fact that the meetings are held at 5:30 in the evening. When we arrived, we were received with coldness and unconcern. I still haven’t figured out what the administration does to pull the school boards over to their way of thinking. They let us speak, but they gave no indication that they would act on our requests. They tabled the discussion saying they would have to review the materials before they could make a decision.

Two weeks later, at another meeting, we were told that they had too many other things to do and didn’t have time to even look at the material.

My husband and I have since moved from the GISD and are still trying to make parents aware of the dangers of trusting their children to educators who think it is necessary to put normal healthy children in therapy classes to prevent mental or emotional problems.

Mrs. Donald R. Taylor

Wylie

Pardon Our French

Your comment on the play Mr. Klebs and Rosalie (“Previews,” April) is in error. Jack Clay did not do the translation from the French. Mrs. Russell Dewees Jr. did the translation.

Arledge L. Hodges

Dallas