Comment Free Press - Wednesday, August 30, 1989 Page 2 Eliminate letter grades in elementary school Guest Editorial are segregated for such reasons. By the time third grade came, we were so concerned about his that we didn't think about trying to prepare him for letter grades. We refused to let him go to "resource" and opted for a private tutor (and the accompanying expense) instead. Halfway through third grade, he and all his classmates received their first report I've thought of publishing this opinion off and on for two or three years. It's one of those topics I had intended to do some research on. However, as I watch another child enter elementary school this year, I decided a more personal point of view might be a better illustration anyway. card. I'm sure virtually every child enters kindergarten with a great It's easy to imagine these young students eagerly comparing desire to learn. Ours is counting the days until she can finally go notes. Our son had two "D's" and one "F". to school with her brothers and sisters. As far as we know, the extra credit he should have received for It's a great adventure in growing up a milestone that says the work he did with his private tutor was never given any value. As far as he was concerned, the label he had first received from you are really somebody. Her older brothers entered the same way full of excitement his classmates was now unquestionably true. He was a failure at and anticipation. However, we soon discovered that to one brother reading. He was just too "dumb" to read and here was the proofright in reading and language would come easily, but to the other it would be a much slower process. his hand. At only eight years old the verdict was in. A mild learning disability and slower development soon set Within days, the teachers were instructed not to give TV (as him apart from many of his classmates. His oral vocabulary was if "D"s and "R's" were much better). Even if that would have above average, but when it came to translatingthat to the written helped, it was too late for our son. The rest of that year we had to persuade and push him to get language of reading and spelling, his peers seemed far ahead of him. to school almost on a daily basis. Fortunately, he had one of the He attended the "special" classes designed for him and found finest teachers in the district the next year someone who really other "slow" students with the same "problems." I don't think I took a personal interest in him. need to explain how easily students label one another when they She really made a difference in his life and, I'm sure, in the lives self-ima- ge . of hundreds of other students. His grades improved dramatically ' and he had earned them. A few years and thousands of hours of effort later, this son is doing even better, but it has been a hard road past that youthful, of our premature judgment that instantaneously contradicted allworth-whiand loved was know him he to efforts let intelligent, that le "advanced" Ironically, his brother is easily nominated for the or "gifted" programs. However, we find that the questionnaires we fill out for him often describe his brother just as well especially in terms of abstract thinking ability, creative problem solving and other "right brain" functions. As one counselor told us, "It's good we don't grade four and on their ability to tie their shoes. They all learn, but motor skill development is quite varied." So is language ability. And particularly in eleeither. than more far is school, important mentary I've read some studies that estimate that as many as 25 percent ofall students have some type of learning disability. Most of them either grow out of it (as their intellectualdevelopment catches up with their physical development) or they learn to compensate. I hope whoever makes these decisions for the district will prevent young students from making a premature judgment about themselves by eliminating letter grades in the formative A concerned father years of elementary school. talents to herself is a mystery to . me. She was such a wonderful writer. Her books provide an objective look right into the heart of the matter. Anyone can read them. She wrote in a simple, but informative way that anybody can understand. So, many parents like to make things. Some moms and dads like believe it "Has she had her book published yet ?" The friend was queried. "Book? What book? My momma hasn't written a book." That friend of Bill's is Juanita Brooks' son. A son who didn't even realize that his mother was a writer. It seems that Mrs. Brooks kept her typewriter hidden under a dish towel in her kitchen. And, she kept her other writing supplies in boxes under her bed. I v Now, Van Burgess is the director of plant industry for the Utah Department of Agriculture (UDA) and he used to live in Alpine, and Alpine is where many weeping Birch trees died, so I know that Van knows what happens in Alpine, so I guess 111 rest assured that the moth is hiding somewhere in the Mt. Olympus Cove Area, and not around here. I don't know how or why I changed bar-bequi- - swered. to paint, others enjoy photography, and the way Gary Lewis was steaks the other night at the CIA party, makes me think that Gary is probably a frustrated chef. He's missed his calling. Children check up on your parents. You should know what they do in their spare time. Too bad there isn't a curfew for parents. Anyway, if anyone comes up to your kids and asks how their parents are, I hope they really know. We've had quite a bit of comment on the story about Wanlass's dying tree. And today we received a letter from the Utah Department of Agriculture saying that the gypsy moth count shows Cove area nearly clean; Bountiful will need to spray. The final paragraph in the letter warns: In Utah, gypsy moths could devastate the area's forests and damage the watershed severely. They might also cause millions of dollars of losses to homeowners by killing expensivie landscaping plants and fruit trees. Now, that's scary, and it makes me wonder if the gypsy moth was the culprit who attacked Wanlass's tree and not a borer. She wrote while her kids were at school or out to play. She didn't try to write around the confusion of family life and yet she was one of Utah's most prolific writers of family --r;, life. . . v-- .;. She died recently, and her children are still finding bits and pieces of her writing around the house. They're uncovering manuscripts that she's kept under wraps. Juanita Brooks was a wonder. That's why I brought up the subject: Children, do you know where your parents are? I'll bet a lot of kids would be surprised at what their parents are up to in their spare time. But, why Juanita wanted to keep her i Minn t ' self-estee- Drug abuse reviewed Children, do you know where parents are? you better By BETTY FOWLER Everybody was looking for me this morning. said that they My called and called and I didn't answer my phone. I swear I didn't hear the phone. It's one of the portable kind, and I can never remember where I put it last. Sometimes we have to go over to the neighbors and call our own number, then run like mad back home so we can hear it ring and then find where it's been hidden. Anyway, I didn't hear my phone. Their concern made me feel very secure. I realized that people missed me and that's a nice feeling. When I heard the new police order to round up curfew offenders, I remember that old TV adage: It's now 10 p.m. parents, do you know where your children are? Let's paraphrase that: It's 10 p.m. Children, do you know where your parents are? Bill told me a story about a friend of his who was asked how his mother was. "Mother's fine," friend an- five-year-ol- ds the subject from parents and children and Juanita Brooks to gypsy moths. But, that's howparents are. They're kinda crazy. And, we never know what crazy people will do, do we? That's why I cooked a turkey dinner for the office lunch today. We haven't even had the first frost, and it isn't even turkey time. See, what I mean. I guess I've gotta be crazy. Now, back to Jaunita Brooks. She wrote because she loved writing. She didn't expect to become famous (just the opposite), and she didn't expect to get paid for doing it. The last sentence in her book Quicksand and Cactus goes like this: "Heaven is doing what you would be glad to do for nothing and getting paid for it." I still think that is true. Another statement HI always love came from Willy Mays when he signed his first contract to play major league baseball. "You mean I get paid for playingbaseball. I don't believe it." 'fmmmmMmJ M , who become involved with substance abuse. The policy says school administration, faculty, and students shall cooperate fully in reasonable and appropriate law enforcement investigations relative to the use, possession, sale, or distribution of alcohol, controlled substance, imitation controlled substance, or drug paraphernalia in school facilities or during school activities. Use or possession of tobacco or any tobacco product, including smokeless tobacco, by students under 19 is against the state law, the policy on tobacco use and possession states, and violators are referred to the Juvenile Court as "status offenders under the criminal code" and not under the Controlled Substance Act. Violators in schools, at school sponsored activities, or on school grounds, or within 1,000 feet of school property will be given citations by the school administration, staff, andor law enforcement Andrews appeal emotional issue I 4"t of alcohol and drug prevention programs designed to provide students with the opportunity to build social skills, enhance self concepts and are designed to have a positive effect on students and values, and to aid in the prevention of misuse and abuse of these substances. The board also supports the concept that parents share a responsibility with the school in attempting to prevent or intervene with problems of substance abuse and to seek help from the public ' and private agencies for students Members of the Alpine School District Board of Education are considering a revised policy on alcohol and drug use. The policy, presented at the August business meeting of the board, is expected to be an action item on the September agenda. In introducing the policy, Dr. Steven Baugh, district superintendent, said the original policy was approved two years ago. "Now we are concerned with steroids, roach clips, etc. "We already have a good program one that has been a model for the state but now we need to refine it." Baugh said the wording in the new policy looks "radically different" from the original policy but the "intent is very much the same. The structure, the wording is different." Under the policy, the district recognizes the use, possession, distribution (giving away or selling), of "alcohol, any controlled substance" (including marijuana, cocaine, steroids, or other drugs listed in the law); or any "imitation controlled substance" (something that looks like a controlled substance, even though it isn't) or any "drug paraphernalia" (things like hypodermic needles, bongs, roach clips, has pipes, etc. which may be used to produce, package, distribute or use drugs) constitutes a hazard to the welfare of students, faculty, and to educational programs, and is illegal under the state laws. Board members encourage the development and implementation browsina I realize that I should never sit down to write when I am emotionally upset, yet it is difficult to keep could have done it, and why? Our relationship with youngsters has always been good, and I have not written anything derogatory in my column about kids, so why this special attention? One of my neighbors said we should feel honored because kids only do this to people they like. Kids, please like someone else. My aging back can't stand picking toilet paper by the yards from my trees and shrubs. By the way kids, you left a full roll of toilet paper on top of my shrubs. If you stop by, I will be happy to give it to you. I would like to give a personal thank you to Betsy and David Tolton who saw my predicament and came over to help me clean up the mess. your emotions pent up inside of you. ' What caused this emotional upset? It was the report of the William Andrews repeal from the death sentence. Don't get me wrong, it was not the sparing of Andrews life that bothered me, it was the whole judicial system. I sense the failure of the trial by jury. Take the case of f this man Andrews. He was tried by a jury of the people, found guilty and received the death sentence. That was 15 years ago. The trial by jury went for naught. The lawyers for' defense took over and for 15 years they have made a mockery of the trial by jury. There is one thing I am going to Students visit class so they're 'in the know' on the first day of school. do. I am going to write to our governor and as a citizen of this state I am going to demand a financial report of how much this Andrews case has cost the taxpayers. I What is happening to our judicial system? The layman is puzzled and insecure. He has seen the guilty and stress that often accompany a be the safest days for children. School started today and hunfree because some crafty lawyer homedo school. to Parents should go their trek child's first to be will of children dreds walking found a loophole in the law. In be work in for would to order insure a safe pasa good idea It parschool for the first time. chilfor route ones to their and ents to the their walk kinpaper there was an arSunday's children are sage precious Many of these lock your doors while said ticle that to school will with their from that travel first day dergarteners and firstgraders, and dren out in your garden are those first few school. ones little working of you been Help never days. away many of them have to discourage thieves who break in. instill confidence by making sure Teenagers too should be refrom home alone before. These What kind of a society do we those five and six year' olds are minded of the importance of watchchildren are not only unsure of the streets they'll be using to walk to familiar with the streets and houses ing out for children. Many teens have when we can't work in our have spent the summer working to gardens without locking our doors? along the way to their school. school, they're unaware of the Much thought has gone into ytrr t After reading the Andrews case -amount of traffic that usually pay for a car. Hopefully, the teen in the Sunday papers, my good wife childrens' wardrdCf, be school to his who'll on rush. driving pan ies the what school supplies and how much own for the first time, will be just said to me, "If it were not for our It is important for every motorlunch money they'll need. You've as aware of the little people, as family and loved ones we would be ist to watch out for these unsusto pack up and leave for worried who about their Drive little people. your probably they were when, not so long ago, tempted pecting island where there some distant will teachers motorists were watching out for be, but have you cars as though all these children and was tranquility." when about peace first that children. them. own thought day wire your Anticipate But we know there is no such their actions, then govern your they'll be walking to school alone? Make that first week of school a place available now. If there was, What should they know? driving habits accordingly. the developers would soon find it memorable time, an exciting, reHave you told your little ones Even though there are crossing Have a not about to hazards? to children you possible catastrophic, and there would be no peace. warding time, walking guards help Let me change the subject. explained to them about meeting sad time. It's up to you as motorists school, there are some streets that f Last Saturday morning I arose Do someto make understand that a and do not have the courteous crossing pedestrians they strangers? usual time and made my way at A rules wonderful for should traffic children little my pedestrians plus happen. by obey thing guards. Help to who too? are all the little ones my front door and, as it is my waiting observingtheir actions, and always I looked out to the west to see Back letters school of those habit, some nine to for are traffic meaningful days obey signs. of a day it was going to kind what Please observe speed limits, and the most exciting days a child will that spell EDUCATION to happen be. Then something caught my eye. t Unln nliminoto tV fpAf fnf(MM I nf ' Vinna they'll ftlftfl in a nnsitive wav. U, ( First Day of School . (1 By TOM GRIFFITHS B Mv lawn And aVimika wava ered with a white substance. On closer inspection, it turned out to be toilet paper. My wife and I wondered who - Motorists cautioned as school begins Sept. 7 Deadline Taes Because of the Labor Day holiday, the newspaper office will be closed Monday. Deadline for advertising and news will be Tuesday, Sept. 5, however, your paper will not be delivered until Thursday, Sept. 7. ac-co- m back-to-scho- ol back-to-scho- ol : 4 fewitalliiews 11 HrtLUJLV cnr.KN H I HKIK KST,tU. I'KKSS Kill NO. KKKK U AH CO. SIIOI'PKH P.O. Can 7, 59 V&t M:in, fcasricin Fork 75S-7CS- 3