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Show 6A Emery County Progress. Castle Dale, Utah Tuesday, October 12, 1999 rnIsss Youre Dog-gon- Wright e Doug Wright , Progress Columnist where jack rabbits flow like milk and honey Teacher accountability havent been hunter Early Saturday morning found us have been a long chance at such a shot. goes beyond test scores long were moving fast, and there were to a spot a miles our time. Not that didnt the sport, of it town. wasnt after A place a I I for a long, enjoy at one time in my life I was an avid hunter. I couldnt hardly stand the wait between deer hunts. And jack rabbits? Ah, the jack rabbits. At one time, I worked for Columbia Iron Mines in Cedar City, and it was there I found the paradise of jack rabbit hunting. I was a rodman for a survey crew, and it was when Dwight Haight and myself were out doing some shooting (survey lines) by ourselves that it was mentioned. Hey, Doug, Dwight said in one of the rare moments we were not on opposite ends of a measuring 'chain (tape measure), or stretched between the distance that separated transit and rod. Didnt you tell me once that you like to hunt? Sure, I like to hunt, I replied, although I couldnt recall having talked to him about it. How would you like to go hunting jack rabbits one of these Saturday mornings? That would be great, I returned, although the thought that went through my mind was the vision of the jack rabbit hunting Id done in the past, in the blue hills and sagebrush flats of Emery County. The hunting, itself, hadnt ever been too productive, and Id felt lucky to come back with one or two, to show for my efforts. I know of a place, Dwight continued, where the jack rabbits run in droves, and the only problem is deciding which one youre going to shoot at first. I looked at him with a look that told him plainly the statement was met with a lot of skepticism. It had been said that the jack rabbits in Australia got so thick that they ran in droves. But, Utah? No, honest," Dwight went on, in spite of the response he had gotten from his statement. Ill come by and pick you up Saturday, and Ill guarantee youll get the surprise of your life." non-believi- few way winding sunmuch north of It rise, and I was still asking why I allowed anyone to wake me at that hour. I was still rehearsing that one in my mind, when we stopped at the gate of a neglected, rundown farm. My eyes were di- rected, almost immediately, to the sage brush mat stretched almost as far as the eye could see. It was thick, and about the height of a man. Is this where well be hunting? I asked. Yep, Dwight replied, as he left the pickup, and pulled out his .22 rifle with him. So, youd better load up right now, because well start to seeing something to shoot almost immediately. I did as he suggested, loaded my gun, and together we started through the brush. He was right. The moment we stepped into the brush, we began to see jack rabbits darting here and there, to get out of our way. Problem was, we only got to see them for a split second through the dense brush, and then they were gone. Everything we tried, to get them out into the open for a shot, failed. After that same scene was repeated a few times, it became a very frustrating situation. If only there was a clearing where the rabbits had to expose themselves. And then, as if in answer to that plea, a large opening did appear in front of us. And with it came hundreds of rabbits...Im not exaggerating...hundreds of rabbits, crossing the clearing in rapid succession. You may have imagined this was where the hunters paradise came in to being. That we would be able to mow them down by the dozens. Well, there happened to be one other slight problem. The clearing was still several hundred feet ahead of us, and even if some of the rabbits, perchance, would have stopped in their flight, it still could POLITICALLY CORRECT ( V So WHAT M YOU LEARN AT Brooklym Museum so They so many them, was impossible to single out one rabbit. And that added to the already mounting frustration. The sage brush extended for about a mile and curved around in a circle, so that it ended at almost the same point where we began. The scene was repeated over and over again, as we made our way around the circle. Many rabbits in the brush, where we couldnt get a clear shot. Many rabbits crossing a clearing where it was too far to get a clear shot. So far, we hadnt been able to take any kind of shot, good or bad. About three quarters of the way around the circle, Dwight and I became separated, with a hundred or so feet between us. Thats when the brush slowly faded away and a large clearing appeared before me, not more than 20 or 30 feet away. Whats more, there were rabbits, hundreds of them in easy range. I raised my rifle and fired at one. Im not even sure if I hit It, because my attention was drawn to a flash of fire coming from the breach of the gun. Modem rifles were not supposed to do that. I threw back the bolt, only to find that the gun had blown part of the shell off, and the rest of the shell was lodged in the barrel. With nothing to pry it loose, my hunting trip was over. I stood in total exasperation, while rabbits hopped all around me. Their pace was much slower now, as if they sensed that I was helpless to do anything. I started walking slowly back toward the car, while the rabbits seemed to enjoy the sudden lack of danger to them. Even after many years, the scene has not dimmed one bit in my memory. I dont know if things have changed over the ensuing years. But, if they havent, hunters, I can direct you to a place that is a hunters paradise for jack rabbits. Bv Tim Huber THE of Art ? ) Opening institute for Emery County educators and support personnel comes around each August like Castle Valleys inevitable late summer thunder showers. You can count on it. And for those involved in these sessions, you can also count on a pretty good dose of back-to-scho- ol motivational rhetoric. Nothing wrong with that. Educators need to be reminded that if they arent doing whats best for kids, these same could very likely end up living in the legendary van down by the river. Motivational hyperbole pseudo-educato- rs should not be insulting, as some have suggested it often turns out to be, but to be truly effective it should also be laced with some hard wisdom. Thats what Emery County educators got when State Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Steven O. Laing addressed the Emery Districts Opening Institute on Aug. 23. After stroking the audience with praise (We have the highest rate in the nation taking the ACT, yet we continually exceed the national average in results...") and his own unique sensual impressions (I love the smell of new denim and tennis shoes,") Superintendent Laing got down to his gift to the educators of Emery County a message worth pulling on like an old pair of comfortable shoes. Education has become very dynamic, undergoing constant change as well as constant scrutiny. Public education is now a political entity," Superintendent ness of school programs-an- d personneL After years Of rejecting the "watchdog" mentality of the special interest groups judging the effectiveness of public education, educators are beginning to understand that such hard numbers, irrespective of how they may be manipulated, are what get into the hands of the public and Utah lawmak- ers. These same numbers, when boiled down and salted, set the table of accountability. Superintendent Laing said, We cant have test scores be the sole indicator of whats going on in our schools, and then added, I hope we dont get to the point where test scores are used to evaluate teachers." Still, he told the Emery County educators to ask themselves, How can I improve instruction in my classes in my school?". If all this isnt enough to accountability, then accountability may not be doable for some educators. But, theres more. Perhaps even more accountability-sensitiv- e than even teacher training, competition from private schools, and test scores is the way each educator functions within his or her own school y climate. Within the management of district, school and classroom policies and procedures lies the true test of accountability. The test includes teacher preparation, administration of discipline, ce day-to-da- attendance and citizenship policies, fair dealings with stu- dents, communication with parents, putting in a full days work and living up to other contractual commitments. Laing said, and with that Superintendent Lainge ofcomes the inevitable issue of fered these suggestions to educators as a means of improvaccountability. According to the superining education, while at the tendent, Accountability is same time, raising accountnow included in nearly all disability to a higher level: cussions related to education. 1. Use available data that He pointed out that teachers underscores the success of are now facing a licensing pro- education and communicate cedure which will require some that information to parents. 100 hours of inservice related Teachers are doing a good job, training every three years. At and the public needs to know the same time, the idea of giv- that. 2. Be more customer sensiing students more choice in education is expanding. This tive. He went on to remind teachyear the state is subsidizing a number charter schools, for ex- ers that they are professionals, ample. Not only are teachers despite public perceptions to expected to stay on the cutting the contrary. Because of the edge of their profession, they body of knowledge that eduare also competing with pri- cators have which is unique to vate and charter-typ- e schools their vocations, because edufor ftrnds and students. cators are always learning," In addition, state and naand because we are decision tional test scores loom over makers, teachers heads like the great enSuperintendent ax of Shakespearean lore. The couraged teachers Lainge and others Emery District administers a associated with education to number of standardized tests lay claim to that professional to various grade levels each status and to hold onto that year some are state man- status by placing accountabildated while others are not. ity at the forefront of everyTeachers feel the pressure, and thing we do. some even metaphorically live Mr. Davis is a teacher at Em . and die by the results. Al- ery High School and has taught though obviously not the on the secondary level for over single most important factor in 20 He is currently an addetermining student progress, ministrative intern with the test results may be the mea- Emery School District. His surements used most often by opinions are his own and do the public in determining stu- not necessarily reflect the opindent progress and effective ions of anyone else. -- -- . Emery County lrrogipess Home Made VOICE OF EMERY COUNTY SINCE Paula Wellnitz, Progress Columnist 1900 Administration Kevin Ashby Parents must express their beliefs to their children Publisher Linda Thayn ... Office Manager Circulation Darla Lee Advertising Why, Daddy? Why, Mommy?" This is a frequently asked question. Sometimes so much so. Mommies and Daddies get very impatient with trying to satisfy it. One reason, I believe, is that it can be a question that requires a very deep answer. Sometimes it is one that a parent must struggle to try to give an adequate answer to within the understanding of the child. Another reason can be that the answer requires a revelation of values on the part of the parent. Yet this last, this revelation of the parent's values, the parents sense of purpose in life is essential to healthy devel- - for being and an idea of how to live towards the fulfillment of that. This core reason most often comes from the lived values of caring parents. I saw this Parents Prayer one day and thought it might be a fitting conclusion to this series on developing the seven strengths of caring in your child. Lord, we know we can't do everything for our children; help us to do what we can, the best we can, to remain honest and open to each others needs, and to be there with loving support for the uniquely special people our children are becoming. i, Jenni Fasselin Dana Behling Display Classified Cole Clarke Legal Rate: 50 cents per copy; $22 per year delivered by carrier in Carbon and Emery counties; $27 in Utah; $30 out of Utah per year by mail. Office Hours: Monday 8.00 to 10:00 a m.; closed Tuesday; Wednesday - Friday 9.00 a m. to 6.00 p.m. at 190 East Mam, Castle Dale, Utah. Classified Deadline: Monday at 10.00 a m. for Tuesday publication. Fax (435) Telephone: (435) newmo' ecprogreaa.com Publication No: (USPS issued once a week at Castle Dale, Utah. Periodical postage paid at Castle Dale, Utah. 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