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Show March21, 2000 6- The Forum Radl Progir Blk mmly carry books in their arms. An average bystander would wonder what all the excitement was about. The Growing up I was ones who know are the always told that reading a officials and students of the book could take me to a school. They were place that I have never participating in the first been before. That place family book read. was my imagination and Tne Family Book Read all I needed to do was to is just one step in open a book and let encouraging tne students to myself in. I was always increase their encouraged to read by my hours. The readingstarted program teachers. At school the in September of 1999 and librarian always read to was created to encourage us and we always had the students of book drives. Many Meadowbrook Elementa try schools have different to read more. To persuade ways of encouraging the students to read, the students to get involved PTA President, Cathy with reading. Bountiful's Whiting, devised an Meadowbrook incentive program. If the Elementary is one of the student body could schools that is placing its complete 40,000 hours of best foot forward to reading, the principle of the increase the amount of school, Becky Ball, would time kids are reading. show her approval by The hallway leading getting on the roof of the to the cafeteria of school in May. Meadowbrook To some this may sound Elementary School is silly, but the students of lined with posters of Meadowbrook Elementary student's names and are excited. Enthusiastic books they have read. about the idea of their Located in the middle of principal mounting the roof the posters, in big letters, of the school, the kids dug are the words "100 hours". Further down the out their books and began to read, "The kids just hall, laughing children By Suzanne Vickie Contributing Writer old You . people from the community have been very generous with their time. Alderson admits that the incentive program sounds like a bribe, but feels that getting the kids to read at least two hours a week for the whole year is worth it. "Reading better is a goal, but having them enjoy reading and continuing is what is important." Doug Pardon, a in Professor atEarly Westminster that such believes College should be Hrams in every school, "whatever it takes to get kids to read outside of the school day." The PTA has had helped from the community by receiving books at a discount from Barnes and Nobles and free CD's from Bee 98.7. Wagstaff is delighted that the students and parents have become so involved with reading, "I just want the kids to get excited about reading. It is important for the kids to loiow that reading can take them to any place."D MlnDlnoimaDr M They said it was nothing more than a beauty pageant for a man to chose a bride. Maybe the real question that we need to ask is what The new and ever are Americans watching? It in trend growing seems that the networks are television these days is putting on shows that are game shows. Not your demeaning, humiliating average game show but and worse; viewers are ones in which you can willing to watch them. win big. This started out How far will people go with Who Wants to be a to get a little money? Some Millionaire after which people are buying lotto other soared and ratings tickets for the chance of channels quickly followed some green, some people with their "win big are entering their names in money" shows. On drawings, and some people February 23, 2000 Fox would be willing to marry a hosted their show Who man on national T.V. just Wants to Many a because he is a millionaire. Millionaire. Rick Rockwell was the Many people were millionaire that Fox chose outraged by tne program, as the groom-to- - be. He but ratings did soar. proclaimed that he "was Feminists complained very excited about the idea. about the program's It is romantic." beachwear competition. Cara Drury Contributing Writer will be allowed to slide down the yellow slide. Most students already reaching this goal are excited for May to arrive. "I can't wait," Alicia Maloy of the fourth grade exclaimed when, asked how many hours she had completed. Having completed over 80 nours of reading, Alicia will be one of many riders. Wagstaff is Bountiful. looking to include more Appearing on the local rides for the May Festival. radio station, Bee 98.7, Along with the reading Wagstaff was able to raise incentive, Meadowbrook the goal to 80,000 hours. If has a special reading this goal is achieved, 98.7 will broadcast a show from program for students who test below their grade level. the school's rooftop. The PTA has more Throughout the week, 50 come in to work goodies up their sleeves for volunteers with these students. The the students of volunteers work one on one Meadowbrook Elementary. If any individual class reads with the students for 10 to 20 minutes once or twice a for 1,600 hours, the class' teacher will have to join the week. "I have seen kids shy away from reading principle and mayor on the that in class, volunteer to read roof. With the students starting the reading more and more, the out loud after next goal will be to have program," stated Julie the teachers singing "Up on Thomas, a volunteer tutor for the second grade. Their the Roof" by the Drifters. What has the students goal is to have over 75 most excited is riding a big volunteers before the year is over. yellow slide that will be Thomas and Whiting Drought sometime in May. are hopeful that this goal Students reaching a will be reached, stating that personal goal of 75 hours started reading and reading and reading," laughed Yvette Wagstaff, tne PTA reading coordinator. Reaching their goal sooner than expected, the PTA raised the goal to 60,000 hours with the incentive of not only Ball getting on top of the roof, but also being joined by John Cushing the Mayor of Darva had no idea that Rockwell had chosen her. Three women were lined up in their wedding gowns when Rockwell came out about themselves, then when the show began he sat and proposed to Darva. After the proposal which behind a screen and Darva said yes to, Fox cut watched. Rockwell watched these to a quick commercial break women display themselves and tnen the two were married by a Las Vegas in bikinis, evening gowns, and yes- - a wedding gown. Vhat seemed to be a Many viewers at home match made for T.V. heaven thought the idea was sick. ended in disaster. New Near the end of the information came out about program Rockwell had tobe Rockwell, and his bride narrowed his brideDarva did not want to down to three women. continue the marriage. It Then the women spoke a was annulled. soliloquy to Rockwell, and Darva, who is an ER that is when he said he nurse in California, said chose Darva Conger. that her major regret is "Darva was into camping what all of this has done to and hockey, and likes to her family. spend nights alone by the could a man Darva feels that the fire, what more Rockwell. exclaimed show was very want!" Before the aired, Rockwell was able to look through the files that each girl had filled out disrespectful of women, but she did sign up for the show, did participate until the very end and maybe she deserved what she got. Fox is now working on major public relations efforts to put a positive spin on this. Wnat has this taught America? Nothing. The greed does continue, all the other shows are still up and running. My guess is that there will be more, however distasteful the show maybe, for if it attracts viewers the networks will play it. And then I find myself asking the question if it is the participants on the shows that want the money or if it is the networks that are the real greedy ones.O |