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Show THE SAN JUAN RECORD Wednesday January 17, 1996 Letters To The Editor - Page 2 Out San Juan Statistics" The Record welcome! letters from its readers on any subject of public interest. Letters must be no more than 300 words in length. The publishers reserve the right to edit, condense or reject any contributions. Letters must be signed and include an address and telephone number. Thank you. Percent of adults with More on test scores. In the December 27 issue of the San Juan Record, Larry Wells a high school diploma 85 discussed the recently released test scores for area students on page one story entitled Educators, students face major challenges in San Juan. Some readers felt the article was unfair for highlighting a dramatic drop in test scores at Albert Dear Editor: Concentrate on the game, not on the referees calls. As a young boy, I was taught not to argue with the call the referee made, because no matter how good your argument was, the referee would never change his call. As I grew older and played in high school, the coach would take you out of the game if you even shrugged your shoulders or shook your head in argument with a referees call. He said that if the referee called traveling and you didnt travel, you are wrong, you traveled. If the referee called a foul, and you didnt touch the guy, you are wrong, you fouled. It didnt matter how wrong the referee was in his call, it is the call and no amount of whining is going to change it. The only thing complaining will do is make the referees calls worse. Then the players mind will be on the referee instead of the game. When that happens, the player hurts himself and his team, and they both lose. Case in point, Monticello vs Bayfield on January 5. I feel the players lost their halftime lead and the game because of their concentration on the referees calls and not on playing the Not only did the game. show poor sportsplayers manship, but the coaches also argued with the referees calls, as did parents in 15-poi- nt the stands. Now I am a parent of children who have played sports and I admit that I have on occasion disagreed with a call made, and voiced my opinion of it at the time. But never have I been more aware of the negative consequences when parents, players, and coaches allow their disagreeing with a referees calls to take control of themselves. I have (continued on page 11) State oi San Juan Utah County SJ County Navajo Res. approval When you hear the word sportsmanship, what comes to mind? Sometimes I think about winning the sportsmanship trophy, and who usually wins that? It is sort of like being Miss Congeniality. Actually, sportsmanship can have a very positive connotation. It helps raise your level of expectation for yourself and your team. I compare good sportsmanship to the football notion of knocking 'em down, helping 'em up, and patting 'em on the back. It seems strange for me to be writing this article, because I have done my share of yelling at officials, both as a coach and fan. This article is, I suppose, my penance for making others lives miserable (officials) and not being a very good example for those around me. I know well the frustration of seeing an official make a call that is seen as totally unfair, especially when our team is not playing especially well. Others around me express their disapproval, why not join the crowd? Expressing dis 8:30 Stars Robin Williams ,ittEais$a Call for Information on shows playing Friday, Saturday, Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday Adults $3.50 Children $2 sometimes re- lieves tension, but at what expense? When I have time to think it through, I am thoroughly embarrassed at my behavior and vow never to let it happen again. But it usually does. I have done very well of late by making a conscious effort to recognize the negative effects that this type of behavior has on the athletes and the atmosphere at the game. Poor play is rarely the fault of officials, but everyone is capable of looking for an excuse when things are going badly. We certainly dont need to supply our kids with a ready-mad- e r excuse for a performance. We sometimes forget the attributes that we try to teach and support through our athletic programs. In analyzing crowd behavior and misbehavior at athletic contests, one learns that there are certain fundamentals of sportsmanship that, if followed, can make the whole athletic experience more gratifying and successful for everysub-pa- one. Gain an understanding and appreciation for the rules of the contest. Listen- R. Lyman Middle School. We reported: Eighth grade students score at the 24th percentile. In 1992, the same class (then in the fifth grade) scored in the 43rd percentile. The drop in scores is particularly dramatic for the eighth grade class at Albert R. Lyman Middle School. The class scored in the 28th percentile this year. The same class scored in the 62nd percentile as fifth grade students." We failed to take into account the leavening influence of students from Bluff Elementary School. That group, which comprises approximately 20 per- cent of the ARL eighth grade, scored in the 12th percentile as fifth grade students. We also failed to report that the 1995 ARL schools were higher than the 1994 scores. 5 Congressman ORRIN HATCH 1 0 $10 Wednesday 34-- 5 51 South University 317 Provo Utah 84601 (801) MON FAMILY NITE San Juan High School Auditorium 7 pm 135 Russell Senate Office Bldg Washington, D.C. 20510 1 (202) r 125 South State Salt Lake City Utah 84138 (801) 51 0 South University 320 Provo Utah 84601 (801) 1 Senator ROBERT BENNETT Dirksen Building 2 Washington, D.C. 20510 4 (202) 0 224-544- 51 South University 310 Provo Utah 84601 (801) the San Juan 224-525- BILL ORTON 225-775- many cases, are nothing short of heroic. San Juan County Planning Blanding Town Meeting 84511 U.S. House of Representatives 1723 Longworth House Office Bldg Washington, D.C. 20515 (202) are stacked against them. But all the cards are not stacked by the San Juan January 17, 1996 (home) (office) 6 ized test. These students deserve a good education, but the cards School District. These problems begin before the students enter the public schools. And they remain, despite the local educators, whose efforts, in 696 E. Central - Monticello (continued on page 11) 566 North Dover Circle Price Utah 84501 (801) (801) eleventh grade class recently scored in the eighth percentile in the national- iSeeTitatlTHEIMOVIESljlQTiOOpm (801)538-102- 9 Blanding Utah 7 (801) complicated issue. I am afraid that some of the blame for educational problems lie a little closer to home. In fact, dare I say that some of the blame may lie in the home? According to Principal Pat Seltzer, of approximately 250 students at Monument Valley High School, 194 meet the state definition of homeless and 232 meet at risk definitions. With these social problems, combined with difficulties associated with limited English proficiency, it should not be surprising that the Monument Valley High .COMINGT ATTRACTIONS KEELE JOHNSON Utah House of Representatives 318 State Capitol Salt Lake City Utah 84114 732 North 300 West whatever reason, students in the San Juan School District score extremely low on nationalized tests. Many are eager to point the finger of blame. It is a ather of the BridaniPGTtThe American PrcsidenfTP ing to a lot of fans grumble, I have discovered that a good portion of their com- - (801)538-103- 5 7:00 Blanding YOUR LEGISLATORS IN UTAH AND WASHINGTON Utah Senate 319 State Capitol Salt Lake City Utah 84114 Thursday, January IB Monticello Source: 1990 U.S. Census MIKE DMITRICH Toy Story Jumanji (PG) The Big Picture. The article was written to highlight the challenges faced by local educators and students in the school district. For On A Limb L Record j ISSN 0894-327- 3 Published weekly at 49 South Main, Monticello, Utah. Second class postage paid at Monticello, Utah 84535 (ISSN Postmaster: Send all address changes to P.O. Box 879, Monticello, Utah 84535. The San Juan Record is a member of the Utah Press Association and National Newspaper Association. Annual Subscription Rates San Juan County Outside County - USA APO or FPO address Newsstand Senior Citizen $10.50 $11.50 $11.00 $12.00 $12.00 30c An Award Winning Community Publisher Bill Office Manager Ad Layout Typesetter Rewrite - Paste-u- p Proofreader Newspaper Editor Boyle Pat Richardson Pat Richardson Jennie Richardson ....... Daniel Francom Dawn Boyle PHONE and FAX 801-587-22- 77 |