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Show c THE SAMPLER Hews Friday, Sept. 4, 1981 0 w Local, education system at cry ial crossroad would be formed to evaluate what changes should be made in the schools by Clarke N. Johnsen Superintendent of Schools and how those changes would be Education in Tooele County schools is at a point where a careful analysis should be made by local res- idents, the district says superintendent. Superintendent Clarke N. Johnsen says there is great potential for progress in the local education system, but it will only come with painful changes on the part of educators and taxpayers. THIS ROAD is lined with asses- financed. HARD QUESTIONS will have to be asked in terms of perpetuating the present system, slight modifications or complete reform, Mr. Johnsen says. Quality education should be the paramount objective, but respectable salaries for teachers within a reasonable tax assessment should be 'equally sought. The superintendent and the teachers believe salary settlemei s cannot continue as they have the past two years. This year teachers agreed to a three percent raise, plus increases sment, evaluation, reform, involve- ment of many and dedication of resources to achieving the will of thg in insurance coverage, lane changes and increment raises. I agree with the teachers. They deserved a much larger raise,. Mr. Johnsen said. Nobody can appreciate the workload of a teacher unless Superintendent Johnsen people, says. Tooele School District through the years has served well the boys and girls who have attended its schools, the superintendent points out. This is particularly true for those who have been serious in their desire to learn. Mr. Johnson has envisioned a plan that will involve all segments of the educational family. Committees he has been in the classroom himself . ALTHOUGH teachers were incensed at the three percent increase they recognize the financial plight of the board of education, Mr. Johnsen adds. . - The superintendent says teachers a trend developing toward less and less salary for them in face of higher and higher costs of living. Also they see or hear little appreciation for their teaching efforts and feel that the public as a whole could care less about their welfare', he adds. Superintendent Johnsen says this attitude demoralizes teachers, and many depart from the teaching profession. The net effect is a decline in the quality of education for the boys and girls erf this county. MR. JOHNSEN says the public has not grasped the gravity of the situation and are adverse to an increase in their taxes. They too, feel the bite of inflation and see their financial situation eroding, he adds. The superintendent says the public often views the national problems of education and point fingers at the local school district. They become incensed when they read national statistics regarding declining test scores, lack of discipline, the use of drugs, alcohol and tobacco, number of high school preg nancies, lack of student and teacher motivations, accusations of unnecessary programs and excessive administrators, short working days and years for teachers, etc., the superintendent . says. IN THE middle of the teachers requesting respectable salaries and accusations of low quality education from the public sits the board of education, Mr. Johnsen says. The board of education, being caught in the middle and recognizing responsibility to both groups, has the impossible task of satisfying both TO ALLEVIATE the threat and yet they feel they have been fair to both publics, Mr. Johnsen adds. anxiety this notion brings, to em-- . The members of the board see ployees, assurance should be given that in the change process they will education in the district at a crucial crossroads, Mr. Johnson believes. not lose their jobs except for incompeDown one road is regression and detency or the usual reasons for which terioration of a good school system. . . people are dismissed, he said. On the other road there is a great poMr. Johnsen explained that pertential for progress ... sonnel, cutbacks can be reached ALTHOUGH he plans to retire in through retirement, quitting and February, Mr. Johnsen says he will change of .positions. This year 15 teaching positions were eliminated in pursue the plan of volunteer committees evaluating the school system and the district by this manner. There is potential for increased recommending changes as a personal if we in the education productivity project. are willing to submit ourselves system 'Committees will be established to assessment by our colleagues, the to look into the curriculum, pro- students and the community, and grams, staffing, administration, needs then and Cooperatively willingly of minorities, graduation requiremake the changes that would be nements, attendance, discipline, facilicessary, Mr. Johnsen says. ties, year-roun- d schools, double, sesHe concludes, It is believed that sions, philosophy, goals, objectives, this may be the only avenue left in dress codes retention, handicapped public education whereby teachers programs, vocational education,, alsalaries and benefits can be raised to a ternative schools, finances, salaries, respectable level without losing the etc., Mr. Johnsen says. of education expected by the And the superintendent feels this quality will lead to drastic changes from the public. current education system jn Tooele (Courtesy of the Transcript-Bulletin- ) , expectations. Their efforts in negotiating thfa year have been done with both points of view in mind, Superintendent Johnsen feels. ?Their efforts in negotiations this year have been done with both points of view.in mind. HE SAYS the board does not feel good about a three percent increase for teachers salaries when the cost of living rose 13 percent. But in order to get the three percent, taxes were raised. They do not feel good about this, schools. ' Motorcycle accidents prove over and over the same thing , preventable - t . old soldier was riding his motorcycle The on a city street whfen an oncoming car suddenly made a left tum into his path. The bike crashed into the right rear of the car, and the soldier was slammed to the pavement. He was not wearing a helmet and died of head injuries. soldier had been drinking with The his buddies. Just before midnight, he was riding his ; motorcycle fast down a mountain road. The cycle swerved onto the soft shoulder of the road and overturned. The soldier was not wearing a helmet and onto the blacktop. He lapsed was thrown head-firinto a coma and died 3 weeks later. 22-ve- ar 19-year-- . st . Two soldiers left friends house to go vfor a motorcycle ride. The driver was drunk, but the passenger had not been drinking. Doing about 65 driver lost in a 25 mph speed zone, the control of the bike when it hit a dip in an S curve. The bike swerved across the centerline and hit a car head on. Both the driver and his passenk 21-year-- 20-year-o- ld ger were killed. These are typical of the 443 motorcycle accidents period last year. involving soldiers during a These accidents killed 43 soldiers, produced 464 disabling injuries, and cost the Army more than $3 million in injury costs. A review of these accidents shows that the great majority of them particularly the fatal accidents had three common causes; driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs; speeding or going too fast for road and traffic conditions; andor lack of driver training. The same three causes were also cited in a investigation and study of motorcycle accidents at the University of Southern California Traffic Safety Center. A team of researchers studied 900 motorcycle accidents, reviewed 3,600 police reports, and interviewed more than 2,300 motorcyclists. Their study showed that: Motorcyclists who get into accidents when under the influence of alcohol or drugs are four times as likely to be killed in those accidents. Riders who dont wear helmets are more likely to have accidents than those who do wear them and are far more likely to be killed, in those accidents. Seventy-on- e percent of the riders who were killed were not wearing helmets. Speed is a critical factor. The greater the speed, the less time the cyclist has to react. Typically, the motorcyclist had less than 2 seconds to try to avoid th 3-ye-ar . the collision percent of the accidents happened roads on that were clear of. watermd and gravel; 98 percent happened during good weather; 80 percent were on straight, level raids; and in 69 percent of the daylight accidents, the motorcycles headlight Ninety-tw- o was off. These study results dont speak for every accident situation, but 900 accdients provide a good sample. The study results, together with Army experience, clearly point out the key areas unit prevention programs should focus on. Alcohol and drugs Most soldiers who ride motorcyles are acutely aware that it takes a great deal of skill to safely operate a motorcycle. What they are not aware of is the deadly effect alcohol and drugs have on those skills. The extent to which motorcyclists must use their hands and feet to control their vehicles is unique. Few bikers realize that alcohol affects the extremities the hands and feet. first. After drinking only a small amount of alcohol, cyclists lose the fine motor control that enables them to safely operate the controls. The use of alcohol and drugs causes other factors to come into play. Two that play an extremely important role in motorcycling are loss of judgment and slowed response time. Riders lose their perception of how East the bike is traveling and whether there is enough room to maneuver. They become more reckless. They make more errors. After only a few drinks, their ability to recognize hazards and control the bike are greatly reduced. Given these facts, its easy to see why almost half of all fatal motorcycle accidents involve alcohol or drug use by the rider. Speeding Because the motorcycle requires a special type of handling skill and traffic strategy, speed is a critical factor in accidents. Riders should be made aware of the fact that higb speed greatly increases their chances of being involved in an accident and also their chances oi being killed if they do iiave an accident. High speed reduces rider reaction time to accident sitautions and virtually guarantees severe injuries usually fatal in the event of a crash. Driver training Accident data shows that riders cant rely solely on quick reflexes to avoid an accident. Experience shows that riders who dont know how to perform evasive maneuvers are practically accidents waiting to happen. With usually 2 seconds or less to see and react to a potential accident-causin- g event, riders must instinctively know what to do, and carry out the maneuver. Theres no margin for error. The rider must be both quick and right the first time. The bottom line is training. Driver training makes safer riders by teaching them what to look for and the correct techniques for handling emergencies. Other points to cover ' Motorcycles offer riders no protection in a crash. Riders cannot avoid being thrown from thebike onto the ground or pavement. The helmet is the only thing riders have going for them in an accident. Because more than half of all motorcycle accidents are caused by who dont see the avoid the to in time collision, all riders motorcycle should wear high visibility orange or yellow jackets. Riders should never lend their bikes to inexperienced, untrained riders. According to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, 20 percent of all riders in accidents are riding for the first or second time. a Intersections are the most likely place for a motorcycle accident. The most common type of accident involves the driver of another vehicle turning left in front of the oncOming motorcycle. 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