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Show Uta h Pre s s s sociation 467 East Third South Lake City, Ut. 84111 3lt Vol. 2 No. 39 Thursday, Sept. 25, 1980 For news, advertising call 756-775- 768-969- 6, 785-311- 1 To Make Positive Education Contribution feS 2? 20 cents single copy Advisory Coyne i Formed Ii Itetn ' It.l'arker everyone expresses concern about the quality of the education their j children receive, everyone seems to expect someone ELSE to do something about 4 Although making any changes in the existing system. This new group will be called the Lehi Educational Advisory Council and will consist of a three member executive chariman; Russell Felt, committee and advisors from many areas of our community. It is the purpose of the council to become a liaison between the ; : ... These concerned parents and citizens of Lehi have been working on the organization of a local advisory council to attempt to identify and work out solutions to some of the problems confronting our local educational system. Mi WOLVES and son n i? I Gentle wolf cubs, Lupe and Shiloh pose with ownerbreeder Bernie Henderson Rick. Very few of us have seen a wolf in the whenever they sense he is near. has pushed these majestic Henderson has a great love and respect animals so far back in the wilderness that for his animals. He merely wants to protect only a few packs remain in the rugged and preserve the species. remote areas of northern Minnesota. As he puts it, "Man is ignorant of so Indeed, to actually see and touch a real many species of wildlife. What he doesn't wolf these days is a memorable experience. understand, he's afraid of. What he cannot Bernie Henderson, 5910 West 9600 control, he resents. North, Highland, raises and breeds wolves "Wolves have been wantonly destroyed and has done so for years. Unfortunately, for sport and their valuable pelts. I've had two small cubs escaped from their penned several cash offers for my wolves, but most enclosure recently and, with their mother of these people merely want to raise them in hot pursuit, ran down the highway. for their coats." A poodle, owned by a neighbor began Henderson has young children who often barking at the two cubs, and mother wolf, play with the wolves as if they were the acting on instinct, killed the poodle. Jamily jets, icK Jhej. jre" He takes the , " H Neighbors in the area are how afraid that young cubs away from their mothers at 10 another escape by one of Henderson's days old and bottle feeds them himself so wolves may result in a bitten or mauled they "may imprint on man." child. He has distinguished five different Henderson keeps four adult wolves on his sounds or tones which the wolves make property and two cubs, and is quick to when communicating, and has spent many point out that wolves seldom if ever, attack hours with his man; that they immediately retreat wild. Man (Continued on Page 2) Lehi Alumnus Mr. and Mrs. Ferd Evans have returned j instrumental council the organization of the currently serving on the committer are Merlin Wright, in Mr. Wright noted that so far the actions of the new council have been responsible and executive community members are the group. Those with specific problems in mind may contact Mr. The next meeting will Smith at be held Oct. 13 at 8 p.m. in the high Interested welcomed for two improvements, by 768-850- school library. first, the completion Fork City , Council buyers could be found or until a worker-ownecorporation could be established. ' 'r the possibility of closure, from whatever source, whether it's EPA, or whether it's U.S. Steel writing the plant off as being a d The initiator of the idea, Planning Commission member Jess Green, says that without such alternatives being studied school School now, the closing of Geneva would be and economically devastating. "You would have a depression of major proportions in the area. We are up against 5 In the fall of 1851, just one year after the arrival of the first settlers on Sulphur Springs, the people of Evansville (Lehi) ; when it is considered that his ranged from the learning of the alphabet to long division, hardly two of his 30 or 40 pupils being in the same stages of advancement. But in spite of all these somewhat school erected house. It was a little log structure, 18 x 24 feet,! and was situated a short distance west of handicaps, school was held, and sucthe present crossing of the D&RG railroad : cessfully. "and Dry Creek! The buildihgwas fitted Nor was the school house limited to use u.p. for school purposes in the best manner as a temple of learning. Being the first possible under the conditions. A large public building, it served alike as a school house, meeting house, city hall, ballroom, fireplace in one end served to keep the interior warm. For desks, the children used theatre, and a gathering place for Other backs. of all kinds. At its completion a slab benches without assemblies rough furniture in the room consisted of a long rousing picnic was held in it, and who can table at which the pupils practiced writing. doubt that the little place saw just as The equipment of the school otherwise enjoyable a time as any of our pretentious was a serious problem. Books were exmodern structures tremely scarce, and of those available a school . any were duplicates. Some Bibles and Books of Mormon and a very few readers and spellers - relics of other and THE FIRST SCHOOL ELECTION better days - were used. Two or more pupils had to content themselves with one book. Preston Thomas was the first school teacher, and his problem can be imagined On February 17, 1854, the city council passed an ordinance creating a school district which provided that the district should extend to the lines of the municipal corporation; that three trustees were to be elected who should proceed forthwith to ; assess and collect taxes with which to build a suitable school house; that the trustees should appoint a clerk to keep a record of their proceedings; and that for the faithful performance of their duties they were compelled to furnish a bond in the sum ot $1,000 each to the city council. The courteH ordered the erection to be (Continued on Page 2) board would be in trouble. Alpine District relies heavily on Geneva dollars for a major source of their operating money. State income taxes would be lost. surplus, outdated plant, or foreign competition," he said. Green stated that closing Geneva would cause a great loss in taxes and revenue to many cities. Sales tax would be lost, property taxes would drop drastically, the felt be repercussions would Even state. entire the Lander, throughout Wyoming, would be hard hit, said Green. Lander supplies the ore. Carbon and Emery counties to the south would be affected; they supply a great deal of the coking material used in the furnaces. The Local Education In The 1850s In the State of Utah, U.S. Steel has an annual payroll of over $130 million a year. They buy over $160 million in goods and services, and they pay over $9 million a year in property and sales taxes. In Utah County, " Geneva Works has an annual payroll nearing $120 million; they purchase over $70 million yearly in goods and services; and they pay over $5 million a year in property and sales tax. So its clear, Closure would cause" a virtual depression for us, Green continued. Chamber To Sponsor Circus All the excitement of a coming to town! Lehi's Chamber sponsor Circus from 6-- 8 School. of real-lif- circus is e Commerce USA on Thursday, will October 9 p.m. at the Lehi Junior High Citizens can get their advance tickets now at reduced prices. Elephants, clowns, aerialists, jugglers, lions, zebras, camels, giant snakes, goats white rhino will visit Lehi, all and part of Circus USA. Kids from two to 92, can ride a n elephant. There will be music from the mighty circus organ and you are being invited to come to the circus grounds on the morning of the show and watch the big top be erected with the aid of the elephants. All funds earned will go to worthy community projects including more trash containers for Lehi streets and a new Christmas lighting display. Call Guy Casy Chamber of Commerce president for ticket information. Panel Of Experts To Review Scores Dance Seattle and all its activities. During the last four years, Evans has been honored as a recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship for choreography, and a Choreographic Fellowship and Production Grants for the creation of new works from the National Endowment for the Arts. His dances are in the active repertories of many professional ballet and modern dance companies throughout this country and Europe. Mr. Evans' teaching credentials are extensive. Evans has been on the dance faculties of the University of Utah, American Dance Festival, Jacob's Pillow Dance-Seattl- Dance Festival, Harvard University f American University-Wol- Dance Center, Trap Academy of Performing Arts, the American Dance Symposium, and Virginia Tanner's Studio of Creative Dance for Children. Evans is a Movement Specialist in the Arts Endowment's Artistsin-School- s program. Evans was a principal dancer, choreographer, and administrator of the Dance Theatre for seven Utah Repertory He also has years. performed with Ruth Page's Chicago Ballet and the Utah Civic Ballet (now Ballet West). Bill was born and raised in Lehi, Utah. He attended the University of Utah where he Bachelor degrees in English and Ballet, and an MFA in Modern Dance. He spent two years in Louisville, Kentucky in received the United States Army before pursuing his dance career in New York City, Chicago, Salt Lake City, and now Seattle. "Evans is a choreographer willing to try - BILL EVANS American resolution a unanimously passed authorizing Mayor Malcolm Beck to investigate the possibility of establishing an interim agency to take control of U.S. Steel's Geneva plant if the company decides to close down. The industrial redevelopment agency would keep the plant in operation until Bill Evans is artistic director of Bill Evans a b:4 of Alpine Board of Education member, Kenneth Whimpey and Lehi High School Principal Neal Christensen. Others the Arts. rewarding vacation in Seattle, Washington, where they visited with their son, Bill. While there they attended the Bill Evans e Summer Festival 1980. Bill Evans Dance is a chamber ensemble of featured dance soloists, and is the primary vehicle for the performance and teaching of the existing Evans dance repertory and technique, and for the creation of new dances choreographed by Bill Evans. The company is based at Dance Theatre Seattle located on Seattle's Capitol Hill, where the dance artists perform, teach and rehearse. The Company also tours nationally for approximately 25 weeks each year. Touring engagements through the Spring of 1980 will take Evans' company to 20 communities in 10 states. The company participates in both the Dance Touring Dance Program and the Artistsin-School- s for Endowment National of the Component from and Principals Carl Meltor, James Gray and Dale Burgess. Student representatives from the junior and senior high school will also be included. efforts hardly Dancing To Fame Lucero, Karl Zimmerman, Betty Girot, Stake Presidents Russell Hakes and Alvin Schow; Cities May Units To Save Geneva The Wolves In Highland and the community keeping parents informed about the positive as well as the problem areas in our schools. The council was formed through the t of the playground at the Sego Lily School which was accomplished through the combined efforts of Mr. Sampson and Lehi City and Mr. Whimpey and the school board, and secondly; a statute was added to the city defining pornography and enforcement has been enacted in an attempt to stop the sale and use of these materials by our student population. Sampson; Marilyn Nielsen, Robert Smith, JoAnn Smith, Kenneth Rushton, Pauline schools But during the last few months some local community members have been doing and in a POSITIVE way. something and n Wanda Findlay, executive secretary. Also serving on the council in advisory capacities are Lehi City Councilman Gary his hand at a staggering variety of dance subjects and moods." NEW YORK TIMES, Jennifer Dunning. "Bill Evans . . . seems to have more all Holmes, disguises than Sherlock credible and wondrously diverting." WASHINGTON POST, Alan Kreigsman. How well do Alpine School District students perform on national achievement tests? What does student performance say about the quality of teaching in the district? These are the main questions a panel of experts will address on Friday evening, Sept. 26, at 8:00 p.m., at the American Fork Junior High School, 1100 North Center. The meeting has been arranged by Citizens for Better Schools, a group of parents who are trying to foster more citizen participation in public school issues. When challenged on the test scores, district officials have pointed out that the meaning of achievement test scores is not easily interpreted: test results are not necessarily a valid indicator of the quality of instruction going on in the schools; often many people exaggerate or test results. misinterpret Citizens for Better Schools have therefore challenged district administrators to make clear to the public what the test results do in fact mean. District administrators assert that local student performance on national tests is equal to, and often above, national Citizens for Better Schools, averages. questioning this conclusion, would like clarification on these points. Noel Reynolds, chairman for Citizens for Better Schools, will moderate the panel. Members of the panel will be Max Welcker, Alpine School District superintendent; John Wilkinson, a local expert on public school testing; and David Nelson, an administrator from the state school office. What Do The Test Scores Mean? This the is first '('Xiiiiiiititii; llw issue tlpine School of tico articles of test scores in lite District. hi'liceei citizens nnd educators nre largely the result of lack of information and comintiniciilion on hoth siiles. II c hope to tun loud the issues. liy Randall If rifihl lah Staff 11 riter Vl The Alpine School District this year tested students with a new scholastic skills test and got results which at first glance seem to contradict trends shown by the former test. The 1980 test shows a percentile increase from grade three through grade six. For the last six years the district has used the Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills (CTBS) to measure scholastic skills. But this year, the CTBS was discontinued in favor of the test designed by Science Research Associates (SRA). According to Stan Stubbs, test coordinator for the district, the change to the SRA was made because they felt, after careful study, that it was a better test. "We try to update our tests about once every five to six years," said Stubbs. "But we are not concerned about scores per se. We are interested in showing trends." The 1979-8composite results of the SRA for grades three through six show students in the Alpine district scoring 0 consistently above the majority of students nationally. While the CTBS has for years shown a consistent drop in percentile rank, the new SRA test shows a marked increase from the 53rd percentile in third grade to the 59th percentile in the sixth. The upper grades were given a "survival skills" test this year. The SRA test was given only to grades three through six. Stubbs said that as a result, the test should not be interpreted as representing long range trends; even in a declining overall trend, occasional slight jumps among grades should be expected. test score research Jaussi, August chairman for Citizens for Better Schools, said the SRA has not been administered long enough in this district to distinguish trends, and that sticking to the CTBS would give a basis of comparison with previous years. "The trend should show up in both places unless one of the tests isn't testing what it should," said Jaussi, adding that if one of the tests were too hard it would tend to cause variance. He said the two tests are "testing for somewhat different things in a different way." "But," he said, "there is a feeling that test scores are dropping throughout the nation. If this SRA is a more recent standardization, then that would account for some of the increase." If other schools in the nation are 'Everyone Is Invited to The1 Deseret Industries Thrift Store Ribbon Cutting 53 Merchant 'See Street, American Fork caSaturday, September 27, 9 a.m.i ad Page3c c dropping rapidly, the increasing percentile ranking for each higher grade as shown by SRA may not indicate any actual im- provement - Alpine might still be declining, but at a slower rate. On the other hand, the 1978 CTBS in showing a drop from the 85th percentile in the first grade to the 31st percentile in the eleventh grade, indicates that Alpine students begin higher and drop faster than students nationally. Jaussi said this year's SRA scores "look good" -- referring to the fact that they are above the 50th percentile, the national norm - but are not conclusive. "It looks good, but you'd have to go three or four years on it to know for sure," he said. "I frankly feel they ought to keep the CTBS so that they can tell if they're doing better. "If they go to the SRA with its higher percentile ranking and then say 'OK, we're above normal so let's not worry about it any more' - we're not going to make any headway." The CTBS norm was established in 1968 and is used every year. "This is good," said Jaussi, "because it lets you see whether you are improving or not. If you changed it every year, and every school went down, then you would never pick that up because the percentile ranking would remain the same." (Continued on Page 2) |