On Feb. 16, I was invited to Hampton Elementary to see a PTA production of "The Wiz." I must say I was amazed by everything I saw there.

First of all, it was wonderful to see the turnout. It was a packed house. Many times in today's world you don't see parents and neighborhoods coming out to see their kids do anything. There weren't a lot of costumes and lights; however, the students created one of the most enjoyable and believable productions I have ever seen. They made me believe they were the characters they were playing. This got me thinking. It's so important to give young people an opportunity to use their imaginations. I feel with TV, video and the streets, imaginations are coming in short supply.

To all the parents who are supporting these types of activities, keep up the good work. Also, thank those teachers and artists who take their time to work with our kids. Most of the time we have one or two children to take care of; imagine trying to costume and teach a song to 50 of them.

Finally, congratulations to the students at Hampton Elementary for a job well done. Hope to see more soon.

Alex Crawley
Greensboro