OCR Text |
Show Editorial It's tough to play for first Fee waiver decision If you think taking piano lessons is a scary experience, listen to this. I was honored to be asked to play at an 80th birthday open house for Evelyn Slater, my first piano teacher. Although I can't recall being nervous at my lessons when I was a child, I really understood what some young people might experience at a lesson. This dear friend means a great deal to me, and I wanted to do my best for the occasion. So I found myself paying more attention to my hand position, rhythm and use of expression. Glen Smith, just before he went on stage in a community function, told me that a sense of nervousness was natural and that it led to a better performance. Like the conflicting emotions involved with wanting to perform and yet being nervous about the performance, these bittersweet experiences seem to give our lives an interesting twist. During my employment with the Federal government in the Washington, D.C. area, I came to the conclusion that civil service was not my idea of a memorable will require leadership Members of the Alpine School District Board of Education will earn their pay over the next few months as they wrestle with one of the toughest education decisions in many years - the fee waiver dilemma. And the board is going to have to demonstrate some strong leadership if it is to resolve the problems created by a court ruling that requires schools to pick up participation fees for students who can't afford them. The problem has been growing for some time, as schools have expanded extracurricular programs and as the programs have become more expensive. The solution to the increasing costs was to increase participation fees so that the students involved in the extracurricular activities were the students paying for them. That made it possible for the schools to offer more exotic trips for musical groups and drill teams and others. It also made it very expensive for students to participate in these groups. Last year's court ruling decreed that schools couldn't deny participation in these activities to students simply because they couldn't pay; the school would have to pick up the cost of participation for those kids. It opened the floodgates. This school year, fees waived by the Alpine School district soared 377 percent, as the district picked up the bill for participation fees totalling $176, 841 as school of Dec. 11. During the 1991-9totaled waived fees $46,851. year, That's only going to get worse unless something is done to cut costs or raise funds for such elective programs. -- 2 The alternatives are all grim . Raising taxes to cover the fee waivers will spread around the costs to all patrons of the district, which is patently unfair. These are programs that may add to a student's development, but which are not necessarily parts of the education process. In e addition, the last thing our families need is higher taxes. Increasing the fees to cover all the costs of a program would mean that families that don't meet the income guidelines to qualify for fee waivers will pick up the costs for the families that do meet the guidelines. That is not fair. The only real solution is to cut back on these extracurricular programs, and no cutback is likely to find strong support - because each program is fervently embraced by the students and the families of students who participate in them. It is impossible to weigh the merits of football with those ofdebate and those of marchingband. Each has its place in the lives of a vocal group of students. The decision can't be resolved by opinion poll or popular vote. It will require a lot more leadership than has been exhibited in recent less important decisions, such as the namingof the new Highland-are- a lower-incom- -- career. In addition to the desire to move back to Utah to be with family, I was also looking forward to developing my own business. With those dreams and plans in mind, I wasn't prepared for the feeling of loss at a "going away" party that the office staff organized. They gave me a gift, one symbolic of the It's hard to be junior high school. committee is meeting on the problem. Their report should take some of the heat offof local school boards, but not all. There is no easy answer to the dilemma created by the fee waiver ruling. Any decision will be unpopular with one group or another. But a decision will have to be made. A legislative A meeting of minds for Mormons and a Jew Fowsing never forget that day in my native Wales when a knock came at our front door. Mam sent me to answer it. There stood Sergeant Smith, the local Bobby. He was quite an im posin gsightinhisblue uniform . By his side stood a young man with a small suitcase in his hands. "I'd like to see your Mam," said Sergeant Smith, Mam being Welsh for mother. So Mam guided him and the young man into our living room. Sergeant Smith spoke up. "Elizabeth, this youngman is lookingfor a place to stay. We have been all over town but I haven't been able to find a place." Then after a moment's pause, he added, "He is Jewish." Mam looked attheyoungman and asked him his name. By TOM GRIFFITHS "It is Simon," he said. "Well," said Mam. "We are Mormons, we called a special meeting and invited my are not wanted either. I think we can find a father to speak. I went with him to the meeting where a couple of hundred women place for you." of the family, had a were congregated. Ivor, the youngest Now, my father was not an educated small bedroom of his own, so Mam moved him in with me and prepared the room for man. I doubt that he ever completed grade school, yet when he spoke to those women Simon. words flowed from his mouth that could Mam surprised us all with her knowlhave been inspired by God. and customs and only of Jewish religion, edge As he told the story of Joseph Smith, a talked it over with Simon. They came to an boy who claimed to have had a understanding about the food. He was no trouble. He spent most of his time in his vision in which he saw the Godhead, I room. At mealtimes he bowed his head looked around the room at the women, many were dabbing their eyes with their when the blessing was asked. handkerchiefs. Once a week he took the train to NewAt the conclusion ofhis talk there was no attended he Here the 10 port miles away. his renewed and just a reverent silence. The lady applause, religion. synagogue stood on her feet, her voice was in for about charge three with us Simon lived months, then one day he came to Mam and touched with emotion. "I m ake a motion that we members of the said he was leaving. He had accepted a British few in would a leave and Legion petition our City Council to Cardiff at position its change decision preventing the Griffiths days. The day ofhis leaving was a bit touching. family from holding religious services in He and Mam embraced and both had tears their home and grant them this privilege. About a week later, our father received a in their eyes. It was a sad parting for a Mormon and a Jew. Persecution against the letter signed by the mayor giving him perMormons was strong in our town that mission to hold religious meetings in his brought an edict from the City Council that home. The Mormon religion never did become the Griffiths family would not be allowed to popular in our town. As far as I know, only hold religious services in their home. one family has embraced the church since I A women's organization, the British Women's Legion, who knew our family well, left there. I shall I Is Uncle I pulled up to the little league field just in time to see number 6 step up to the plate for the pitch. A quick look at the scoreboard told me the situation, sort of. It was the second inning and one team was ahead 10 to 1. 1 didn't know which team, but I hoped it was the team my son was playing for. Any parent would. Seth's team was up to bat, I could tell by the uniform. But it was the first game, and the uniforms were new. And I didn't know who number 6 was. I was runningmy usual 10 to 20 minutes late - a bad habit which my wife attributes to immaturity, but which I attribute to a busy schedule, my refusal to wear a watch and a general desire to demonstrate a certain disdain for the authority of time - that isn't immature, is it? I had hoped to get to this year's opening game on time for several reasons - a main one being the fact that last year I just couldn't get to all of the games all of the times and, as a result, missed some of the "decisive moments" of my son's life. Like his first home run, or thafcimehe slid into home and was safe, or thebigcatch in center field. (I pick the term "decisive moment" with some trepidation. It's a photojournalist's term used to describe the instant at which a photograph tells the whole story better than any writer ever could. And maybe these moments I'm describing aren't all that decisive. But they are the moments that define a childhood for parents and children alike.) There was a time, when my schedule was -- - us k 1991 Los Angeles Times Syndicate ternational neighbors of some other hue often to the neglect of or creed or clan home folks. - Editor: I am with happiness and joy looking forward to sunshine and warmer weather, after what seems to me a humdinger of a winter. Of course to the older residents of winter has been nothing thisfair town-th- is special. warm But now my complaint-wi- th weather and hot days come the use of air conditioning in our cars. I am already filling my little car with gas and within three days, my tank is half full. Now I do travel locally d, -- , area where we lived, and then asked me to say a few words. Li ttle did I know that those . , , words would be so difficult to say. Showing emotions in public is difficult. According to those who promote the "men's movement," have been trying to tell people, especially the male of the species, that having feelings and showing them is now acceptable. "Steel Magnolias" aired recently on television. We able to see it performed live by Payson Community Theater. What a profound experience it was to laugh at the almost ridiculous actionsofthe ladies in the beauty shop, and then to suddenly find myself crying in an emotional ' - . , -- . part. If that wasn't enough, the mother of the central character delivers a deeply moving soliloquy after the death of her daughter, but manages to 'throw in' some quips along the way. Not understanding enough about emo there for 'decisive moment' there, but not always. And those who never showed. I didn't get it. Until circumstances changed and life" became oh so much more hectic. And then-- , you have to pick and choose which events are most important, which ones are most" likely to result in the decisive moments, . which ones can be dropped. Then I knew where many of those other parents were. In all likelihood, they were at ; s$ By MARC HADDOCK some other kid's game, or concert, or what-- ; ever. Or they were at work, or at a meeting or doing any of the countless other things less hectic and my kids were younger and that clutter our lives the older we get. So in this past year I missed the home fewer, when it was possible to be to everynot did event each that run, and the band concert, and the sophothing knowing create a decisive moment, but that each more assembly where my cheerleader per- -' formed a routine with her squad (I went on event had the potential for creating one. It added up to a countless succession of the wrong day), and almost as many of basketball games, track meets, school prothose decisive moments as J was able to comband catch. concerts, marchingband grams, I only had 30 minutes or so Monday,'; petitions, award presentations, scoutmeet-ingdance and of work, to try and catch another ' because pianorecitals, graduations, e not to mention the one - so I was frustrated when I was late for "programs" when kids forced to sit are the game. through parents decide they want to be entertainers and are I stepped out of the car just as the batter,' Number 6, swung the bat and connected. looking for an easy audience. Through it all, I saw many of the those The ball sailed high into the air and cleared ';' decisive moments, coached a couple of them, the outfield fence easily - as the runner' ' cheered at all of them, sometimes to the slowed at first and then, seeing the home ' inof around the rest for kids of the embarrasment run, picked up his pace point volved. the bases. I knew it was Seth before he ever reached And there were other parents who were A parents knows how his kid runs and little there first. sitting through every always holds himself. And I ran down the hill to league game, every note of every musical ' performance, with the same look of pleased celebrate with the other parents who were parenthood on their faces. sitting in the bleachers, waiting for their' And there were some who were usually son's decisive moment of that day. The Editor's Column , '. Z '.' . s, home-mad- -- - a lot, but it did not used to be this way. With getting lousy mileage because of my air conditioning, I now have to look at our "magnificent" rule of usingoxygenated fuel. This is why we don't get any mileage out of gas any more, or didn't you know? The great Environmental Air Protection Agency put into force a ruling some time ago about cleaner oxygenated fuel which now helps us to achieve between 10 and 15 percent of clean air. Some would say, "You can't have your cake and eat it too," but the efficiency ofour ' and the , automobiles has dropped amount of fuel we are using is more. With air conditioners in our cars, we always use more gas, so you figure out what will happen this summer. I want cleaner air, but isn't there some , I' other solution to this problem? P.S. I keep my car properly tuned, Mr. Herbert. one-thir- d one-thir- d, 1- Taylor He's looking for a local hero ; Editor: I am compiling an expanded and corrected list of all awardees of the Congressional Medal of Honor, one of whom, Jose A. Valdez, is believed to have resided in Pleas- - plus an additional $600 million. This is in addition to $14 billion that our nation gives away every year as "foreign aid," about a third of which goes to Egypt and Israel. Since the Vancouver Summit, where Bill and Boris became chummy, both have been playing political semantics, seeking to persuade you that this is not a "handout" but rather an "investment." It's a risky "investment." The former U.S.S.R. is so fragmented that the Republic of Georgia has now replaced the ruble with its own currency. The Ukraine wants - may already have - its own functional nuclear arsenal. As almost anywhere, Uncle Sam is betting a bundle of your money on a sick horse. And our secretary of state is everywhere on TV insisting that "the world's wealthy nations" are obligated to help. There are no wealthy nations anymore, Mr. Christopher. We are all drowning in debt. We don't have another thousand of our American dollars to give - -- but It may at first appear our national leaders have contributed at least somewhat to public acceptance of child neglect. Uncle Sam seems sometimes preoccupied with the welfare of other nations at the expense of his own children. Didn't President Clinton recently com pare himself to the "father" of our country? OK then, pop we are over here! President Clinton proposes a thousand million American dollars for Russia By RUSS DALY Oxygenated fuel causes problems -- Hcaruey The Daly Planet tions, I was angry that these people would make me laugh and make me cry several r times during the same play. When I left the theater, though, all the. : , confusion about the conflicting emotions. i left, and I was a better person for having J i been there. These aren't once in a while occasions, . though. I believe they happen frequently,-.,-suc- h as when one looks forward to the coming of a new season. In looking forward to a summer of outdoor activities, some may want to retain the cooler temperatures of spring. High school seniors anticipate life after graduation, but-- , may not want their last year of planned . education to end. Fall brings the vacation atmosphere to a , close and puts young people back in school, , but also offers the excitement of the local . football games, night activities that end with hot chocolate, or just the beauty of the canyons with the turning of the leaves. I'm not sure about winter - many people complain about the snow, or the high utility . bills, but a lot of skiers look forward to the covered slopes of the season.' Spring fever brings on the last change and we become impatient when the snow , takes too long to melt or if the groundhog ... sees his shadow, but at least we know that we'll like it once it gets here. Of course, we'll probably miss the snow thatwewantedsobadly. But that's another, story. Letters to the editor Sam a child abuser? Puul Mark Twain is said to have said of the music of Richard Wagner: "It's not nearly so bad as it sounds." Similarly it can be said that life in the United States is not nearly so bad as it appears on TV. Competing media have focused our attention on the aberrational. TV talk shows delight in seeking to one another, convinced that a freak show attracts the largest audience. Inundated by so many freaks, the viewer is likely to start thinking of them as normal and himself as the exception. While it is depressing, it is arguably useful for the media to expose those who neglect their families, misuse their children. No rational person can imagine a parent neglecting his or her own children. On the block where you live the "good neighbors" are the ones who mind their own business, keep their own houses painted and their own grass cut and their own children fed, clothed and behaving. Our nation's leaders, conversely, have tended to preoccupy themselves with in- - teacher ant Grove when he entered service about 1944. Valdez is officially listed as having been born at Gobernador, New Mexico and having been inducted at Pleasant Grove. He was serving with Company B, 7th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division when he won the medal near Rosenkrantz, France in 1945 during World War II. I am tryingto ascertain his middle name and date of birth, however, any information you may furnish will be welcome. If possible, I'd like to correspond with any survi of his immediatefamily (brothers, sisters, etc.). Any assistance you may provide will be sincerely appreciated. "Bob" Powell, Sr. P.O. Box 7177 New Orleans, LA 70186-717- 7 Praise for radio station Editor: the radio dial is great! All of their music is exciting and sentimental, some uplifting, some fast, some slow, some bigband, and all of it is singable. It has been a long time since we had such pleasant music with such pleasant disc jockeys! They AM 960 on say they are a Provo station...thanks to AM 960 we can listen to good music again and from Utah Valley too! Let's support them so' they won't go away. Policy on letters to the editor letters to the editor. All be typewritten and should letters double spaced. Letters must also be signed, and must include the writer's name and telephone number. Please send letters to Editor, Newtah News We welcome Group, P.O. Box 7, American Fork, Utah, 84003. -- Marge Davis Lehi |