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Show Page Z South Edition Citizens Wednesday, February 12, 1997 Competition to be shaped with an externally needs of managers — politicians and business executives — whose rr desires are conveyed as curricu- lum and enforced with standard- ized achievementtests. These tests are the only way managers know howto hold workers accountable. It is a system Citizens wherein students serve the needs of teachers, who serve the needs of administrators, who obediently carryout the wishes of elected of- ficials, while parents watch with frustration from the sidelines. In our public education system students compete for nearly every- thing, including grades, honors, scholarships, athletics, and star- s Note: T e quest for citizens’ opinions, we folks downtownat the ZCMICen- hem, and asked: What are some good ideas to inspire romance on Valentine's Day? i married lady we went out to H dinner, which was very nice. This time we'll probably go out again andjust promise eachotherto be life-long good friends and to love each other more t Nan Northberge What I wasgoing to do for my fiance was to get this Polo bag that she wanted. I was going to buy the bag andfill it with roses: that way, you got something she wanted, and you've got your tra- ditional Valentine’s Day gift.” Brad Watt Salt LakeCity A dozen red roses as a sur prise would bereally nice. Or ndlelight dinner is very romantic. Or tickets for a trip or something. A nice, Jennifer Stephens Salt Lake City mething outside would be good. Oth- r than that, oils, lotions. feathBers. Actually a lot of things can work pretty well lohn Dobson Salt Lake City Probably a moonlit hik somewhere in the foothills, fol- lowed by an intimate dinner, and then sitting in front ofa fireplace with my husband Jackelin Slack Salt Lake City It depends on the woman. Basically — and youshoulddo this ar round — on Valentine's you should treat your lady a queen. You should do evrything she wants. Andif she can’t decide what she wants, then for Ww productions. Shortly after World War II, J. Edwards Deming tried to con- vinee America’s business leaders. that it would be beneficial to respect and listen to the ideas of workersin the factories. Unfortu- re two years into marriedlife. Last Valentine’s Day ring roles in plays and musical t to do. Matt West Valley City nately, the business leaders were so ingrained in authoritarianism that they rejected Deming and his ideas. You knowthe rest of the story — Deming went to Japan where business executives embracedhis ideas, and the factories began to produce the best automobiles (and other products) in the world. not through competition, but through cooperation. Mypoint is this: There is much moreto be gained through coop- Salt Lake City Other ner than the traditional I think of a candlelight with soft background mu sic. | think a meaningful gift — out of the ordinary — is good. Jewelry should probably be alit } tle different from a traditional holiday gift t should have some _] sentimental value tich Argentari Amber Mills Buffalo, N.Y nner would be good, I think that’s 1 romantic Me i Salt Lake City taking a manila folder and putting =, flowers in it, then sending it hrough the mail to a friend of 1ine. I have some of those stick n hearts to decorate it with, and would write a note, so it would t of a home-made valen. Wayne Davis Salt Lake City For me it would be the tradi tional show-up-with-flowers gift and then go out and have a can dinner for two. Because don't like giving flower men anymore L Wayne Davis rezia Gueman Guatemala City Just to get out of the city Maybe go up one of the canyons et away from society and be alone Ralph Dansic Salt Lake City looking for the raw material with which to build themselves. we would treat them much differently than we do in our traditional system of education. Wenowhaveresearch on the brain to confirm what Plato said hundreds of years ago: “Knowl- edge acquired under compulsion obtains no hold on the mind.” We knowthat personalinquiryis the primary mode of human learning and that externally imposed curriculum results in shallow, temporary knowledge. The competition for grades in traditional schools results in students memorizing material to pass tests and forgetting it soon thereafter. Unless a student is really seeking the information that is being taught, it will not be integrated into his or her life. tition to cooperation is needed. A few years ago I was involved in a project in which parents, teachers and students worked democratically to create a different vision of education. In two schools, Hill Field Ele- goals for education to be the responsibility of both home and school. The three dimensions of human greatnessalso called for a shift in the way curriculum wasused. Instead of it being the main purpose of education, curriculum became the meansof helping students ac- complish their goals. In other words, curriculum shifted from the role of boss to the role of servant. Onenotable strategy created at E.M. ers and PTA organizeda series of ject. in which students were invit- one-on-one meetings between parents and teachersto establish common goals and develop a cooperative working relationship. They agreed on an overriding educational purpose: To develop great human beings who are valuable contributors to society. They also agreed on a goal: To help learners grow in three major dimensions of human greatness: @ Identity — cultivate individual gifts, talents, interests, and abilities. Develop self-worth, and a vision of one’s unique ways of contributing. © Inquiry — magnify curiosity A. political/corporate, competitive model for education is wrong becauselearners are not products through and through, with a hierarchy of management that promotes competition as its major It is autocratic focus on the needsof individual students. They also required a shift from parents as spectators to parents as full partners. We found the major purpose and mentary in Clearfield and E.M. Whitesides in Layton, the teach- communication and cooperation. Whitesides Elementary School was the Great Brain Pro- ed to become* ‘specialists, perts,’ ‘masterminds’ or “geniuses” in topics of their own choice with parents acting as research partners. This project opened the floodgates of personal inquiry. We watched manystu- dents who previously had been apathetic learners with discipline problems become eager seekers of knowledge. After watching students, teachers, and parents engagein a coop- erative endeavor, there is no question in my mind as to whether cooperation is better than compe- tition. If we want to touch hearts and changelives, democratic cooperation is the wayto go. In the meantime, I support the proposal to allow a refundable incometax credit to parents who choose to These goals required a shift from a focus on curriculum to a educate their children outside of the public schoo! system. Credit: But it is also accurate to point out that only 30 percent of Utah students read at the “profi- Continued from Page1 ‘Tuitiontax credits would allow families who cannot presentlyselect an independent school to do so, and would encourage the growth of moreindependent schools, creating a greater number of choices and opportunities for our children. As families consider which choice of schooling best meets their needs and budget, there would be a natural improvement in school offerings and services, both inthe public systemandin the private system. This improvement would undoubtedly come about because improved products and services always results from consumer choice and competition learning style, interests, and special needs. Educational choice would also motivate parents by empowering them to enroll their cient” level or above and only 22 percent childrenin schoolsthat demonstrateeffective- score at or above the “proficient” level in math. These figures are from the Education Weekreport card published this month. The Utah scores are bothersome even ness and are responsive to their concerns. Educational choice would also motivate teachers and administrators in both public and private schools by exposing them to competition though they may be abovethe national aver- from schools that provide innovative ap- age. It should also be kept in mind that private, parochial, and home-educated students con: proachesand effective programs. Empowering parents to choose among pub- stently show higher test results than pub- lic and private education providersis the best lic school students on nationally standardized wayto strengthen all our schools. Tuition tax credits are one wayto put parents back in the tests. The key to successful school reform is al- driver's seat as far as their children’s education is concerned. Public schools, private lowing parents to choose, without financial among providers. Our public schools are not the best in the world. Someparents look at the information published about the performance of our Utah penalty, the schools their children attend. public schools and see onlythepositive side school will be a good match for each student’s schools and taxpay Educational choice would motivate students low- and middle-income kids would have the bygiving them a stake in the school selection choices and opportunities presently available onlyto the rich. process and by making it morelikely that a Community Calendar Continued from Page 1 rington will share a glimpse into to 20. Free layettes are provided art promoter and early Utah legislator in a brown bag lunch lec- thelife of Alice Merrill Horne, an on completion of the course. For moreinformation, call 973-6654. @ Salt Lake Community Educa- tion: ing, afternoon and evening programs arescheduled to meet the Amber Mills herself. If we were to view learners as creative consumers whoare democratic. | gifts, just something special, say for you while a person builds himself or supposed to accomplish, but feel that, if there is enough competition within the system, the job will somehow get done. A changein the basic character of our public system from autocratic to democratic, from compe- eration than through competition. classes, weekend seminars, morn- | words or something that’s cheesy | But something from the heart shows that somebody really cares by human or mechanical means, business leaders do not have a clear vision of what education is It is ironic that the political/corporate model of education in this great land of freedom is not re something that’s from the heart n't necessarily mean who carry out the demands of managers. Theyare professionals who need our respect and support. Learnersare morelike consumers who go shopping for knowledge and carefully select what they buy. Students are people, not products; a product is shaped or assembled externally, tool for achieving quality and “excellence.” The politicians and and help learners develop their personal learning styles. @ Interaction — develop the powersof love, kindness, respect, Short workshops, quarter long ; That imposed curriculum. Teachers should notbe treated as workers needs of busy families. Several hundred offerings in subjects ranging from professional development to recreation to foreign language. Brochures containing complete course listings are available at the Salt Lake Community Education main office at 440 E. 100 South, rm. 211. Questions/informationcall '8-8236 or 5788287 © Stop Smoking: The American Lung Associa- tionis holding their next Hypnosis Clinie Feb. 6-8 p.m. Co: $55, requires a $ tion with remainder payableev ning of class. Information call 484-4456. © Linda Lee Foster Exhibit: The watercolor paintings of Linda Lee Foster will be on dis- at the Kimball Art Center, 38Park Ave., Park through ch 4. Information call 649@ 55 Alive Mature Driver Pro- gramfrom AARP: AARP’s 5 Alive mature driv ing classes are being offered to drivers over 50. It is a classroom refresher course with updates on safety and emergency situations Those aged 55 and over may be eligible for reduced auto insur ance upon completion. Cost $8 Call AARP at 561-1037 for more information. @ Host an Exchange Student: Students from the former Sovi et Union, France, Denmark, Bra: zil. Bulgaria, Japan, Spain, Alba: nia, Germany, Poland, and many other countries are currently seeking caring host families for tu the ‘97-98 school year. The: dents come fully insured and bring their own spending money Information call Rick or La Nae at 250-2302 © Sesquicentennial Brown Bag Lecture Historian Harriet Horne Ar ture Feb. 20, noon at the White Memorial Chapel, 150 E. 300 North, SLC. Information call 5333545. @ Learnto Speak French: L’Alliance Francaise is sponsoring 10-week French classes for all ages and levels (including children). Classes, which are taught by native French speakers, are held at local libraries, and will startthefirst week of March. Cost is $130 for adults, $100 for children. Pre-registration required. Information, registration call 1019. South Salt Lake Community Council Meetin; TheIndependent Association of Community Councils (IACC) is South Salt Lake is composed of representatives from Burton Place, Center of Industry, Central Park, Madison, Millstream, Southgate and Wandamere com- including separated or divorced couples who want to try again. The process consists of a weekend and six follow-up sessions over a three-month period. Next pro- gram is Feb. 28-Mar.2. Information, registration call Jim or Lauren Aumann, 262-8023. © Stop Procrastinating: The topic of tonight’s “Evening with the Experts” lecture at the U of U Neuropsychiatric Institute will be “Procrastination and Problem-Solving: Getting Unstuck.” All of the free, public pre- sentations are held Wednesday nights, 7:30 p.m. at 501 Chipeta Way, in the U of U Research Park. A complete schedule of presentations is available bycalling 583-2500, ext. 453 @ Near-Death Experience: The Feb. 12 meeting of IANDS will feature Howard Storm, aman who went from being an atheistic head of the art department at a Midwestern university to a minister of religion because of a neardeath experience. The free meet- ing will begin at 7 p.m. at 2001 S. State, north building. in the Salt Lake County Commission Cham- bers. Informationcall Bill English at 277-4209 @ Utah Homemakers: The South Valley chapter of the Utah Homemakers meets the sec- ond Monday of each month, 1 p.m, at the Copperview Community Center. Guest speakers cover a wide range of topics, all focusing on strengthening the home and family. Nurseryis available for a nominal fee for children age 2 and older. Informationcall Karen at 253-6302 or Teri at 964-2491 @ Women’s Health Issues — Hearts, Bones & Hormones: Local experts offer insights into menopau: hormone re- placement therapy, heart disease andosteoporosis. Theconference first in series, is geared toward health care workers, but publicis welcome. March 15, 8:15 a.m.-5 p.m. at the University of Utah Continued on Page 3 munity councils. If you would like to attend a meeting forone ofthe councils or the IACC, call 4849603 for meeting dates and loca- tions. IACC meetsthe first Tues: day of every month, 7 p.m. at the C.0.P. Building, 2235 South Main Street, SLC. @ Young Adult Arthritis Support Group: The Young Adult Arthritis Education and Support Group, designed for adults 20-40, will meet on Feb. 19,7 p.m, at theSalt Lake County Complex, 2001 S. State, rm, S-2019 (south building). Free. Informationcall the Arthri tis Foundation at 536-0990. @ “Newly Diagnosed” Seminar for Multiple Sclerosis: Free seminar for anyone who been di. ed with multiple Jerosis in the past two years Speakers will discuss MS, treat ment options, services available and research on Feb, 22, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Veteran's Administration Hospital, 550 Foothill Blvd Multi-purpose center, bldg. 8 RSVP by Feb, 19. Information RSVP, call Suzanne at 575-8500 or toll-free 1-800-527-8116. Citizens Published as a supplement to 7heSalt Lake Tribuneand Deseret News by the Newspaper Agency Corporation, 135 South Main Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84111 The opinions expressed by the writers in Citizens do not necessarily reflect the editorial views of The Salt Lake Tribune or Deseret News Your submissions to Citizens (columns,cartoons,letters or calendar announcements) are welcome. To contact Citizens, phone (801) 237-2716, fax to (801) 237-2519, mail your commentsto the address above or send an E-mail to citizens@NACorp.com. Columns on computerdisk are preferred, but not required. A free writer's guideis available on request Managing Editor: Kent Condon Editor: Deborah Moeller © Help for Hurting Marriages: To subscribe to The Tribune or News, phone 237-2900 Retrouvaille is a program for troubled and hurting marriages, For information on advertising, phone (801) 237-2815 |