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Show THE SENTINEL Thursday, January 22, 1981 Page 2 o pinion School and Homo Your Opinions Editor, I am writing concerning the new billing policy for the water, sewer and garbage in West Jordan City. The change to a monthly billing is a good idea and one that I as a bill unreasonably high late fee. Our last bill was paid three days late and a service charge of $3.33 was added to our next bill. I feel like that is awfully high interest for a three day late bill. I was informed ; payer appreciate. There are a couple of problems with this new system, however. First, the due date of these bills is the 13th or close to that date each month. Being a new home owner and on a two check a month work payment, this is a very inconvenient date. With house payments due from the first check and other essentials like food, there just doesn't seem to be enough in the budget for paying bills at this time. I would propose that the due date be changed to the this is the due date of 20th pratically every other utility in the valley. The second problem and reason at West r CaD I suggest a new due date is the by Dr. Doryl J. McCarty Executive Secretary Utah Educotion Association "The mind doesn't wear out it rusts from lack of use," according to Louis Kaplan. We are often reminded that we don't come close to using our minds to the extent that's possible. Maybe that's because use of the mind is work and this effort can be emotionally exhausting. by Barry McWIIUams mu, i nod a muxcpemir) PIXUP MY V OutHouse?.. rr T COUKTY Jordan City offices that each time the bill was late, this charge would again be tacked on. I appreciate being able to live in West Jordan and I would especially appreciate some consideration to these problems as I am sure they are of concern to other West Jordan residents as well. s Jan Wells, West i m mi i m Early in life, children become excited about mental challenges and working to solve problems. It's a spirit that should be nurtured by parents, because if it dies, the child may not live up to potential in the school years. , like the body, the conditioned mind serve the owner i fE 1 COHSmCfiON ill Jordan (Editor's Note: In last week's, meeting, the city council adopted an ordinance which allowed for the imposition of a VA percent interest fee rather than the former late charge of 10 percent per billing period.) -- kV I J.5JI n i it n fk Frank Patrick a lot is. calisthenics." "mental performing So is the student who works crossword puzzles, dismantles engines and solves complicated mathematics problems. ' eon o But now the dawn has come and that in do we not? we all see fairness we must always use "person" and "he or she" instead of the honestly thought that "men" covered all human beings, male and female alike. What chauvinist pigs we were! But, you must admit, we were not alone in our error. Many a woman has reached a certain age without being aware that she was the victim of sexist language. She probably talked it herself. It is only recently that her consciousness has been raised and she has come to see that using "man" and "he" to designate a human being without distinction of sex is a studied insult to women. Mr Patrick teaches Political Science in an obscure Eastern college. (c) Public Research, . Syndicated, 1981 have Men! We you and I We of fault. been guilty a grievous sexist been speaking have language all our lives, to the gross injury of the female sex. Ladies! Forgive us, for we knew not what we did. When we used such phrases as "All men are created equal," we did not realize that we were leaving you out. We old, offensive "man" and "he." "All persons are created equal" lacks the crispness of Jefferson's phrase, but it says exactly what it means. There is some loss to Shakespeare's poetic quality in saying, "What a piece of work is person,' " There is a definite loss in making the Psalmist ask, "What is person that Thou art mindful of him or her?" But this may not be too high a price to pay for sexual Sound Legislators Corner By Sen. Arnold Christensen In the budget message 'to the Utah Legislature, Governor Scott Matheson said that the 1981-8- 2 budget for the State of Utah contained no general tax increase. While in general terms this fact is true, the Governor's budget includes several items which do, in fact, increase your taxes and fees. Among these items are a hike in the gas tax of three cents, an increase in car registration from $5 to $10, and a doubling of the current $5 drivers license fee. These increases generate about 27.7 million dollars in revenue. Along with the gas tax and registration fees, the Governor proposes that there be an across the board increase in the State Severance Tax. Also the govenor has proposed an increase from 2 percent to 4 percent on the Mine Occupation Tax on oil and gas, and a doubling of the Mine Tax on metals from 1 to 2 percent, and including in the tax such as coal, salt, stone, oil shale, sand and gravel. These taxes would generate an additional 21.3 million non-meta- ls dollars in state revenue. The Governor also proposed that property taxes In the State be equalized throughout the State to 20 percent of the 1978 level. This would result in an additional increase of 34.0 million dollars. in increases these Despite revenue, totaling about 83.0 million dollars, the Governor still does not feel the State can afford the 40.0 million dollar tax rebate. Including the money saved from the tax rebate, these increases in taxes and fees amount to 123.0 million dollars. The fact that the budget calls for increases in taxes and fees, but can make no allowance for the tax rebate disturbs me. I feel that the tax rebate is an important part of the budget and should be provided for. During the coming legislative session I feel that any new regulations must be delt with in a conservative fashion. As a taxpayer and a citizen of the State of Utah, I feel that we are regulated enough, and it is time to reduce the hold that government has held on the citizens of Utah. the boy or girl who spends hour after hour as a soap opera spectator is probably engaged in a But equality. When we come to the word "man" with a prefix Alexander Pope's line, "Presume ("wo") meaning "female?" If we not God to scan; the proper study want to reform the English of personkind is person," however, language, we'd do better to keep we can't help feeling that "man" as referring to any human ' with has gone wrong something being, male or female, and to think the way we use the English tongue. up a prefix meaning "male" that What has gone wrong is the we can put before "man" to feminists' insistence that "man" correspond to the "wo" in " and "he" refer exclusively to the "woman." to use would male sex. In fact, the primary The obvious prefix .'be "male." But calling half the meaning of "man", is "human being." The name of our species is human race "malemen" would Man, and it is applied only seconsuggest that the Post Office is even more overstaffed than it really is. darily to the two sexes. A better solution would be to use What, after all, is "woman" but the Latin word "vir." It is an Is something bugging you? Do unambiguous word that means you have a comment to make on a "adult male human being" and current issue? The Sentinel nothing else. I propose, therefore, wants to hear from you. Call and that from now oh we call adult tell us what you think about anymales "virmen" ito ' distinguish Dial weekdays thing. them from women. between the hour of 8 a.m. and ; 12 noon or 1 and 5 p.m. " The beauty of this new word is No need to give your name, that, when pronounced rapidly, it to start a recall petition! We sounds just like "vermin," which shouldn't have him in for another is what feminists want to call us three years if he absolutely will not anyhow. We males, on the other listen to community members! hand, can take comfort in the Problem 2 . . . The TV cable thought that "virmen" calls attensystems should not be allowed to tion to both our virility and our invade our private proeprty The new word will please without the owner's consent sides and make everyone both or, at least, a citizen's election. we can go back to Then happy. If the council allows this, saying that all men are created someone should pay for an equal without feeling quilty about easement. it. 6 - An 255-355- 5 Irate West Jordan citizen writes: We have two problems that we would like to draw your attention to: . Problem 1 . , . When a West Jordan councilman publicly states in a council meeting . . . while addressing protesting taxpayers . . . that there probably will not be any more zoning for large lots allowed in our community, it is time for us irunckusting activity. The nine-year-o- hand Remington manul typewriter is giving his mind the kind of stretching exercises that it needs. vir-tur- e- ... But the kid who quits on his history homework to watch a ball game isn't. , The mind is being used well the when it must think of a word precise word for a phrase in an essay. The mind is getting a healthy workout when its owner is using it to solve some mechanical problem. The mind is a marvelous instrument that gets better with use.' How, then, do we stimulate the jninds of young people? t First, don't feel sorry for your - " children as they struggle through experiences. Second, show some pride and approval when your child is excited about something that's newly learned. Third, look for ways to test your child's thinking abilities. Now, reader, it's time to stimulate your own thought in creating ways you can help your children push their minds to discoveries. mind-challengi- Jordan Valley Sentinel . CwtiMMt Hw ataMnM Members of the South Jordan Tenth Ward added a little different twist to their Christmas party this past holiday season. Instead of having Santa Claus arrive and hand out gifts to the children, the children and their parents brought gifts and Santa took them. The presents were then given to residents at the West Jordan Care Center. A special thanks goes to the County Board of Health from the West Jordan Fire Department. A recent Sunday evening fire at . Smiths Food King forced the closure of the store and couldn't reopen management before the health department tested the produce to make sure it was safe. The health department came right out and the store was open again within a few hours. StuM , HiMt SariM,' Willi ptfaM mtr Hunt if StuM 1H Cnt Stmt IM, ft MM7. IMS. hnwm D MM7. , . who writes ld spy stories on the family's second- , 255-355- Did . The youngster who reads FROM mis by r well.. TO NtfoaJir. Sms pobm in. Mm ckMfB im. tit Subscription Rat Senior Citiion tot. Tin Mm Mq mm?. " yoor W yoor hi Stoto of Utah ' Oi lit if CvPfMuInn David C. GodfreyJames Mi landars AoY Mgr. David C. Godfrey Editor jamas M. London MtMiElt IV THE Utah Foundation reports . . . clh)ui)ge Prospects of substantial tax increases may significantly change Utahn's attitudes toward alternatives to construction of new schools, according to Utah Foundation, a private, nonprofit research agency. While past opinion polls have substantial opposition to d double sessions, schools, and other alternatives to new school construction, a Foundation Research Report released this week finds "reason to believe that attitudes may have changed within recent months," citing the serious condition of Utah finances which was made apparent to the public in the recent special session of the Legislature. of scheduled "Cancellation tax reliei emphasized the property year-roun- aMtadle toward aOtemaitiiives magnitude of the property tax burden, and may have brought a significant change in public attitude toward property taxes to finance new school construction," the foundation notes. Recent favorable experience d with schools in Colorado also may have affected past public resistance to this method of expanding the capacity of existing school buildings. Recent rapid growth in Utah public school enrollments, due both to Utah's high birth rate and to to unprecedented the state, has created critical problems in financing the public school program. Current projections indicate that, if present trends continue, enrollment increases will far surpass the maximum increases which followed the War year-roun- 1 year-to-ye- post-Worl- d ar II "baby boom." Utah school operating costs appear likely to rise from the current level to $1 billion in $2 billion in the school year 1964-81988-8If and $2.8 billion in 1990-9follow to traditional were the state patterns of new school construction and space allocation, the cost of new buildings would be $1.8 billion and possibly more, in addition to the operating cost cited above. The Utah Legislature, the University of Utah, and the State Department of Public Instruction have conducted studies to seek alternatives to new construction with the aim of saving at least part of the projected building expenditures. Utah Foundation cites these studies and notes that its own presentation is made "without intention of presenting significant 5, 9, 1. new data" but "as a public service as the Legislature goes into session, both for the convenience of legislators and to give lay citizens an understanding of the problem." More than a dozen alternatives to new construction are under consideration, but those which appear most likely to provide significant reduction in construction costs are: Bussing of students from areas where classroom space is schools inadequate to near-bwhich have excess space. For example, Jordan School District and the west side of Granite District are among those with g enrollments, while on the east side of Granite District and in Salt Lake City there is considerable excess space. Much of the excess space in y rapidly-swellin- Granite is in buildings constructed to meet the previous enrollment crisis. school day Extended "double sessions." or programs, Utah had experience with this type of operation in the 1960s and the concept is not popular. However, recent polls indicate that a majority of parents might accept e solution to the this as a problem. Extending the school year, or : short-rang- Schools would be operated throughout the but individual students would school , apattend proximately the same number of days as under the traditional schedule. Students would be divided into groups and given staggered schedules, so that one group would be on vacathm.at any ' the time, given increasing year, - capacity of the buildings accordingly. "The Utah Legislative Study Committee has indicated that its estimate of $1.8 billion cost for new school, construction could be reduced by at least $800 million if alternative plans were adopted where feasible," the foundation states. "In the final analysis, the basic objectives appear, to be to maintain the highest possible quality in Utah's public school program and do it within the state's financial means to do this, a number of compromises will likely be required." While the alternatives suggested might normally be unwelcome to some, they are likely to be acceptable if they moderate the otherwise heavy tax increases necessary to continue present programs withouth basic changes. ; |