DON'T ARGUE OVER ORPHANAGES; DO SOMETHING.(MAIN)

Byline: William Raspberry

WASHINGTON Kent Amos, having finished his remarks, had a question for the school principals in his audience.

``How many of you have children in your schools who really shouldn't go home? Stand up, please.'' Every principal in the room stood up.

Amos already knew what the principals were acknowledging that most schools have at least a few students whose homes are not fit places for children. But he wanted to drive the point home.

``If you have as many as 10 percent of your kids who shouldn't go home, keep standing,'' he said.

Nobody sat down.

As he raised the ante to 20 percent, and then 30 and 40, more and more of the principals took their seats. …