CALIFANO'S PLEA SHOULD BE HEEDED

FORMER HEW Secretary Joseph Califano's plea (July 17, "Both campaigns
are copping out on kids") to presidential candidates Al Gore and
George W. Bush for their attention to underage drug addiction is
typical of this man. My brother worked for Califano back in 1977-79
when he was advocating expansion of Medicare.

Califano also had prophetic words for a school system's preoccupation
with testing: "Academic achievement is but one objective of our
schools. Few of us would be happy to see high school graduates who ...
lacked maturity, self-discipline, honesty and judgment."

Califano is a compassionate and dedicated person. I would suggest
strong statements of support for his plea from community groups, from
private citizens via their response to campaign-solicitation mailings,
and from the political parties at their monthly meetings and at
upcoming conventions. If the candidates hear from enough people, they
will listen. Surely they must know that today's children are our future!

JACK E. BYRD,
ROANOKE