Show PTA meeting Dear Editor I 1 have just returned from a meeting of the Ashley Elementary PTA I appeared on a panel with the two candidates candidates can can- for School Board District No 3 and my own opponent in District No 2 The obvious mood that developed by the end of the meeting was Throw the rascals out They haven't provided us with enough classrooms It seemed that tha t the situation was so desperate that one candidate drew an ovation for suggesting that we get the vocational students at the high school to begin building temporary classrooms Actually Actually Act Act- there are no students standing to get their lessons The first attendance report shows an increase of students in the districts eight schools The increase in the Ashley Elementary from last spring until this fall is approximately 20 students The growth is coming Its It's good to have the community concerned Im I'm concerned and also doing something about it on the Board level Only a handful of the people there had ever been inside the Board BoardRoom BoardRoom BoardRoom Room and not one of them has ever asked me what was being done I am a little miffed mUfed however that in a meeting supposedly to expose candidates for office that there was so little said about good education and educational philosophy Over the long haul a man of principle will vote according to his philosophy I dont don't think the moderators moderator's questions revealed much of the candidates' candidates philosophy so let me list some of the tenets of my own 1 Schools were crea created ted by the public to do a job for which the home was unprepared to teach reading spelling math and other skills on a level needed to succeed in the world today 2 Schools no matter mailer how good cannot replace the parents When they do its it's at best besta a poor substitute 3 Schools provide some of the social and recreational needs o othe of the the people but this is not th the primary function j 4 Schools are to harnes community resources for the purpose of serving the educational needs of the people of of all ages 5 The essential direction o of education should be decided bythe by bf the public by people participating in decisions anc electing representatives tives to t to carry out their wishes 6 Good teachers are the ke keto to good education What w we really want is the end result i children who can meet th thel th challenge of our world today 7 Building and equipment are helpful aids to good teachers and should be provided according according according ac ac- ac- ac cording to the ability of the district to pay for them 8 School should provide assistance for students with physical mental and emotional handicaps This in brief is what I believe It has been the basis formy formy for formy my making decision-making for four years The record is in the minutes It is very easy just to talk harder to implement A plan and experience help I have these Ashley PTA lets let's meet again again- and discuss our views on good education Sincerely THOMAS F. F HOWELLS Chairman Uintah School District Board of Education tion |