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Show Page - I THE HERALD, Provo, Utah, Sunday, November 6, 1988 More Feedback Letter was just an old fish story Editor, Herald: We very much enjoy reading the letters to the editor in The Daily Herald, especially letters that are well written and where the author knows what he is talking about. However, last week you printed a letter from a Mr. Green concerning a "high school" fishing trip to Deer Creek that was incorrect and where the author was seriously The author was concerned with the apparent waste in the use of school money that would allow "high school" students to be bused to Deer Creek Lake and taught how to fish. He further stated that up until now he was inclined to vote against the tax initiatives but he was changing his vote because of such apparent "fat" in school budgets. We are the parents of one of the cnnaren wno went on that fishing field trip and would like to correct some of the errors in the letter. Mr. Green's first error was that it was not high school students that went fishing to Deer Creek Lake it was sixth graders. Mr. Green's second error was that the purpose of the fishing trip was not to teach children how to fish. Rather, the purpose was to allow the teachers to build a relationship outside the classroom with the students and, show the children that they, too, are human. We have had five children in the public schools in Orem and we have never met a more dedicated teacher than the sixth grade teacher who teaches our son and who organized the field trip. Many times he has stayed after school to work with the students on a one-on-o- ne basis. The children love him because they can relate to him and know he has a caring personality. Never has our son worked harder in school than he has for that sixth grade instructor. There is no question in our mind that one day spent to build a relationship outside the classroom that motivates children to work harder for the remaining 179 days in the classroom is well worth the small amount of money and time spent. Mr. Green's third error was that school money was not used to pay for the buses or any part of the field trip. The families of the children involved gladly paid the money to allow their children to participate. Now, Mr. Green, next time you feel inclined to publically criticize an event that you only heard about but did not personally witness, please get your facts straight. There really is very little "fat" budgets and this "high school" fishing trip was not evidence of what fat does exist. As for us, we're concerned about large class sizes and inadequate budgets in initiatives. in school Children are our future and to shortchange them is about as shortsighted as one who will criticize something he knows nothing about. W. Steve and LeAnn C. Albrecht Orem The responsible choice is to vote no on initiatives Editor, Herald: I recently heard a radio spot which compared the need for additional funds to operate state funded services to the sound of one entering a "black hole." The message implied that the unsatisfied need made it as sensible to vote for the. tax initiatives as against them. The more I thought on the message, the more incensed I became. A "black hole" has an "event horizon" at its edge. Objects on one side of the event horizon are outside the black hole. Items on the other side of the event horizon are inside the black hole. Once something crosses the event horizon and enters the black hole, there is no known escape. The pull of the black hole is so powerful that not even light can escape its grasp. An illusive feature of the black hole's event horizon is that someone outside the black hole cannot tell when an object has actually entered the black hole. An object approaching a black hole must expend enough energy to not only equal the pull of the black hole, but exceed it, if it is to avoid being sucked into its inescapable grasp. Most people would not think of trying to feed a family of four for the same amount as a family of six, or a family with two children under 3 for the same amount as a family with two children ages 14 and 16. Even though we would all like to buy a new car or groceries for what we did two years ago, we accept the higher costs and budget appropriately. I find it incredible that people who adjust and plan for these conditions seem to believe we can build and repair our roads, provide law enforcement and protection services, deliver other needed and desired community services, and operate our educational institutions on what we did two years ago. Take education for example. Education is the key to ail meaningful development and progress. The more educated a people are, the more options they have, and the more they can enjoy both personally and economically. Yet, there are more students today than two years ago. Books, supplies, equipment and related educational materials have, like food and cars, increased in cost. There is a need to pay educa We're destroying the ozone layer Editor, Herald: I'm writing in response to the articles I've read lately and the things I've heard about the destruction of the ozone layer. I'm concerned. If the protection of the earth is breaking down, it will keep getting hotter every summer. The heat from this "greenhouse" effect is and will continue to melt the ice caps, which will eventually rise the system will be able to accommodate. Other states, with declining enrollments, will actively recruit our students. Which ones do you think they will recruit, the talent-- : ed and high achievers or the, Who will be left to attract the new businesses, aij industries with high paying jpBs? I believe Utah students CynV prise one of the greatest talent pools anywhere in the United States. However, is it reasonable to believe we can develop hisr talent pool if we cut what we afer currently doing? Do vou believed the cost of ignorance and under-- ; educated students is cheaper-than the cost of a superior educational system? Can we avoid crossing the "event horizon" of the "black hole" if we "roll back" and "cut?" No! ! We must be willing to pay the price of excellence.-W- tors more, not just for more's sake, but to keep and attract high quality individuals into the profession. Utah has always prided itself for its educational accomplishments. We boast that our graduating seniors' ACT scores are higher than the national average. However, they are lower than the average of the states in our region. Why? Is it possible that our larger class sizes and lower per pupil expenditures could affect the level of our results? If a more educated populace provides a competitive edge when attempting to attract new business and industry (and I believe it does), then Utah cannot afford to do anything which could put our educational system at risk. If the tax initiatives pass and any cuts result (and the debate by the opposing sides is on how much, not if), then some educational services will be reduced. Can we risk that and stay competitive with the states surrounding us? In higher education, cuts mean there will be more students graduating from Utah schools who desire to attend college than the under-prepare- '. e must "roll forward." PBb ihhhH cunt ocean level enough to cause floods. Everyone needs to stop using aerosol sprays; use pump sprays and cut down on air pollutants as much as possible. Merrianne Scholes American Fork we're fighting for American Heart mdurlife Association There is help if you have lupus Editor, Herald: "You have a disease called lupus." More than 16,000 people have heard these words from their physician in the past year and have learned the meaning of chronic illness. It means the illness will never go away. It means there is no cure. Sometimes there is a sense of relief that, finally, there is a name for all the symptoms, the pain, the depression that have plagued the patient for so long, but invariably this is followed by periods of denial and despair. Eventually, hope and determination return with proper medical treatment and the location of a support system that tells the lupus patient heshe is not alone. The Utah Lupus Foundation, along with the 108 other chapters of the Lupus Foundation of America, provides this support system in many ways. Nearly one million Americans suffer with lupus. There is a place and a group that understands, a place where they can contribute their efforts in the fight against lupus. Information and counseling is available through the Utah Lupus Foundation, 385 24th St., Suite 827, Ogden, Utah 84401. Van Terry Bell, President Utah Lupus Foundation I Iff i ' f-- hs n y ELECT ! . i i' t hmm feirtf I f , ' "" DON R. STRONG To The UTAH HOUSE . - - "' - . V . OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT Mo. 65 90 On The Ballot REPUBLICAN Paid For By The Committee Don R. Strong To "He'll keep our conservative agenda on track. 1 admire the economy. I way Governor Bangerter has reduced government spending and strengthened Utah's urge you to vote for Norm Bangerter; x the responsible conservative voice for Utah'" Re-Ele- Pa3 lof by the BangedetOvesoo commilte. Senate Jake oarn. Chairman crvJk ( or-- We must do what is best for our future well being, even if it seems uncomfortable. Vote No on Tax Initiatives A, B, and C. Keep Utah from crossing the "event horizon" of the "black hole." Robert L. LoveridgeT Orem NoemBmgerm |