Let's hear it for modesty--and the outright outlawing of group showers and locker rooms in schools.

Many of us still have cringing memories of disrobing en masse after required physical-education classes in junior and senior high schools.

Pimples, acne and inpromptu sexual awakenings were tough enough without having to reveal perceived or actual undersized endowments in front of God and everybody.

Oh, sure, the displays were ego-building for some students with big boobs or tools. But chilly room temperatures could diminish even those attributes.

Most newly built secondary schools feature individual dressing and shower cubicles. But students in older schools still suffer because of insensitive taxpayers.

Install partitions for all present and future adolescents. Please.(8 OCTOBER 2000)

E-mail: higgens@aol.com