OCR Text |
Show Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues, March 5-8, 2005 The Park Record B-10 Tuition credits got axed Hoops for Heart pie recognize the public education system is doing a very good j o b . " R o m e r o said. " I think that the leuislaTivc body in this instance was consistent will] i h e general p o p u l a t i o n s views thai luilion tax credits are not the way lo solve Ihe e d u c a t i o n concerns that ex is I." Only governor can overcome teachers' unions, expert says By JAREP WHITLEY Of the Record staff "1 d o n ' t s e e il h a v i n g t h e k i n d of i m p a c t t h a i p e o p l e w e r e n u k ing it l o o k like it w o u l d h a v e . " ^he continued. Of c o u r s e , p u b l i c e d u c a t o r s g e n e r a l l y sue t h e m a i l e r d i t ' l e r c n t iyPark < 'ily S u p e r n i l e i u i e nl D a v e A d a m s o n s a i d . "1 l l i m k i h e l e g i s l a t u r e wisely r e j e c t e d t u i l i c n lax c r e d i t s a n d 1 t h i n k ihe re a r e s o m e individual legislators w ho h a d l o s t a n d u p in a eiuir.iLiL-imsa c t i o n t o v o l e againM il. I a d m i r e t h e i r c o u r a g e in d o i n g thai. Teachers of the world unite If U t a h n s were going to get lax One reason tax credits tail is credits lor their children's private school luition. many fell il was because of teachers' unions, accordinu lo Dr. Hubert Mnrken. going to be tin's year. It wasn't. H o u s e Hill 39 would have granted a credit of It would have provided opportunity Politics and religion between %%){) and $3,750. depending on family for families to access private educa1 he l uilion l a \ income, for public school credit issue is g e n e r a students w h o transfer to tion services for their children who oth- s e e n J S more consenaprivate schools, 'ihe go.ts. e r m s e wouj(j not be able according t o hill sponsor by R e p . J i m Ferrin. RWesl J o r d a n , were l o I ) GRAYSON WESTV'PARKRECORD Olivia Garvey, 10, prepares for a shot while her friend Stephanie Rea, 10, watches. 'Ilic two and their classmates participated in the "Hoops for Henri" day at Parley's Park Elementary School on Thursday. Sponsored by the American Heart Association, Hoops for Heart aims lo teach kids the importance of physical fitness. Basketball is good "because it gives you exercise so your body can be healthy," Rea said. Oarvey said. "You have lo exercise." Thursday's activities all focused on teaching kids basic basketball skills, like shooting or passing. rather than actual games, said PE teacher Jen Wheelwright. Children asked parents or neighbors lo sponsor them for ihe hoops-a-thon. and raised more than $10,000 Thursday. Wheelwright said. No Child conflict concerning ing to a press release from the governor's office. No Child Left Behind. Adamson has been a longtime The plan aims lo increase stuadvocate of reforming NCLB, but dent performance with yearly he's concerned about how a federtesting, bridge the achievement al/state confrontation could affect gap between different student schools. groups, and offers punitive meas"I'm a little concerned about ures for schools that don't meet the position they put the school Adequate Yearly Progress (or system in though," Adamson said, AYP). because districts might have to "It's clearly not a partisan chose between following state or issue." Romero said. federal directives. 'Hie bill received a favorable "That is just ripe for a court second reading in the Utah Senate challenge. I'm hoping our district (vith'26 senators voting in favor is not the district that gets to test of it and none against), but the that out." Adamson said. state is going to sit on it until at least n special session in April or Home schooling May. One measure that passed the The extra time will allow Gov. Legislature makes it easier for Jon Huntsman Jr. and other state officials time to negotiate with the parents to home school their chilU.S. Department of Education on dren, removing school board NCLBs implementation, accord- requirements such as standard- • Continued from B-9 ized testing and home inspections. "Philosophically I would have to ask what are they (legislators) thinking?" Adamson said, also noting. "Home schoolers can do very well in school, and there are some anecdotes to that effect, but there are other home schoolers who don't do so well." Many home schooled children transition into public school after elementary grades, but if a child's education has been neglected in the time leading up to that, the public school system is still accountable for getting that child up to grade level, Adamson explained. Either way, Adamson doesn't think the measure will have a significant injpacl in Park City, where those who would choose home schooling have probably already chosen it. TO SOME.THIS IS APLACETO COOK ^MACARONI AND CHEESE. to access it." Iivc "\\\\ even t h o u g h U t a h ' s legislative a n d e x e c u t i v e I T . m e lies are very Republican. offer parents more choice Head of The Colby School I h e re h a s b e e n n o real in their children's educa- ^ i H H H H ^ ^ H H H H H ^ ^ ^ i H i i H a i^ i ^^^^H^ p r o g r e s s b e c a u s e " i h e middle-class Republican lion and 2) reduce Utah's public school sliktenl population. a Park City Academy board mem- is m o s t a s l e e p o n I h i s i s s u e . " which is expected lo see a boom ber and co-author of education M o r k c n s a i d . "Frankly most Re p u b l i c a n s of about 140.000 in ihe next 10 books including "The Politics of School Choice." live in r e l a i i v i l y a f l l uenl neighyears. The Utah Education b o r h o o d s w h e r e i h e a l a r m bell Ferrm's bill tailed lasl week in the House of Representatives by a Association is the iargesl union in h a s not g o n e off y e l " M I t h e r e isn't 40 lo 34 vole. The representatives Utah, and many legislators are t h e d e m a n d for s c h o o l c h o i c e fell in p o o r e r a r e a s . M o r k e n c o n t i n whose areas include Park ("ily afraid lo stand up to thum. ued. "With that heavy kind of lobSchool District voted on both C u l l lira Ily. I h e re a N o jusl inii:lii sides. Rep. Ross Romero. D-Sall bying, it typically takes a polilieal Lake, voted against credits. Rep. counterweight" such as a popular n o t b e e n o u g h p r i v a t e s c h o o l i n g m o m e n t u m in I H a h . Dave Ure. R-Kamas. voted lor governor. Morkcn said. To uet luilion tax credits R e l i g i o n is a n i m p o r t a n t l a c t o r them. "It was disappointing." said passed, proponents need more for m a n y in d e c i d i n g t o s e n d t h e n Amy Davies, head of the Colby parent involvement lo lobby the c h i l d r e n l o p r i v a t e s c h o o l , s p c c i l i School. "Il would have provided Legislature, Davies said. They e a l l y C a t h o l i c i s m . M o r k c n s a i d . opportunity for families lo and many private access private educa linn schools across the connservices for their children trv Were e s t a b l i s h e d - Amy Davies u who otherwise would not ...tuition tax credits are not the way provide'^ caihniicTi'icrbe able to access it." Proponents were partic- to solve the education concerns that Protestant areas ularly excited I his year Because I lah because oi (iov. Jonexist." has an " L D S p r e p o n d e r Huntsman. who camance." Mnrken said, - Ross Romero there hasn't been a sigpaigned on the issue. "The whole concept oi Representative, D-Salt Lake nificant drive a m o n g choice is so overwhelming- m^^m Latter-day Saints lo crely powerful for parents and ate their o w n private for students that-we ought to try also need to clarify ihe issue bet- schools. Only about 3 percent of an experimental model," he told ter It) the public to combal the U t a h s t u d e n t s a r c in private '/'//f Park /wvwv/last July. "scare tactics" used by (he opposi- schools, c o m p a r e d l o a national average of about 1 2. The tax credits were also con- tion, she continued. "'lliere was this big perception figured so that families making liui - as with a n y legislative more than $100,000 wouldn't get that it was somehow going to real- measure o n e doesn't like - there's any. and only the poorest families ly damage public education in always next year. currently in private schools Utah." Davies said. Utah has a "In no way is this issue going to public school population of about fade away." Morkcn said. would. .SOO.000, and the current private school system could handle 6.000 Carson Smith So why didn't it pass? "I'm not quite sure why the more students at most. Davies B u t f r i e n d s o f t u i t i o n t a x c r e d i t s effort failed this year, except peo- said. Please see Carson Smith, B-11 il Picnic Math Contest Homework Backto School Night • PTA Meetings Baki _ , _ t ) he Library Black History Month Celebration -School .Play. * Scnoorvolunleer *.. „ . Book D i ' " Science F Are you p r e s e n t i n y o u c h i l d ' s classroom? ^ W h e t h e r or time In P R E V E N T I N G C H I L D A B U S E A N D N E G L E C T i t ' s Back Just p o k i n g t ot i m e . t oS c h o o l y o u r h e a d There Into a r e p l e n t y y o u r child's make t h e difference. a l w a y s Night, school a s e a t a spelling t h e c l a s s r o o m o fw a y s a n d e d u c a t i o n . Come o p e n b e e contes; y o u r i& t o participator Your p r e s e n c e c a r i na n d s i t d o w n , with from n a m e t h e r e ' i > f | o nit! ":'¥cW doesn't just mean reporting it. Instead, you can help stop it before it ever starts. With everything from simply helping -Xi* o f s COVER H O W : a parent with errands or babysitting CALL: to supporting parenting programs in your community. Find out VISIT: 1.800.281.1313 www.schoolsuccessinfo.org the many ways you can help at www.preventchtldabuse.org or call 1-800-children. A C H I L D I SH E L P L E S S . Y O U A R E N O T . PARTNERS FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION Prevent Child Abuse America PFAWF A P a r t h c r t h l p o f t h e MAACfsand People f o rt h eAmerican Way Foundation SUCCESS I N SCHOOL SUCCESS I N v ^ LIFE |