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Show 2 Thursday, June 9, THE GREEN SHEET 1998 c c Grads Facing Harsh Realities OUR READERS WRITE Ryan Has Rights legislators and the governor. These people can be replaced if they refuse to save our schools. Our children and the lost years of their lives spent in Editor: classes of 40 or more students can not be replaced. I read D. E. Williams comment to Mr. Ryan about him moving from Utah to make it a better state. They will have lost forever years of learning in manageable classes. We had better start working for I have heard a similar statement, "If youre not a better school funding system now, or we will face a active in the ward why dont you move." My disaster that will take 50 years or more to even comment is this is the United States and Utah, one to correct. begin should live where one wants and have no pressure Helen Pearson from anyone or religion so long as that person obeys the laws. Any person should be able to say what he West Jordan might think. We have a Bill of Rights, unless someone has done away with it. Too I have also lived out of state for 21 years. I find Dear Editor; Utah no better nor worse than any other place to I am writing in regard to recent stories about the raise children. We all have the same social problems. We have less professional help in our budgeting processes of the cities. I have observed for communities and schools than most states because some time how often the claim is made that the city or county is drawing up a tight budget. Without of low wages and taxes. I also found that Mormons outside of Utah tend to exception, the first place cut is police andor fire live in clusters rather than freely mixing in the departments. Budgets may be tight, but I am getting I need most put on the community thus they reduce their exposure to tired of seeing the item chopping block first. You may think I will offer to outside ideas. Ryan does quote some truths, some half truths and have my taxes increased, but with the report by the some distortion of fact, but he is entitled to his Utah Taxpayers Assn, listing Utahns income at 73 do you really think I have opinion and just maybe Utah does have a problem of the national average, to more give? any here are there. I am also concerned about the message this sends I would like to know how the "church" can have an the people you are supposed to be working for. I employment office for members in good standing think this explains the voter apathy. not offer and these If only jobs through job security. How many managers could be combined to save you were to go to Connecticut or Massachussets you money? How many assistants does it take to make will find the Catholic "church" has the same control. I wonder how the employers of this state can pay the mayor or city manager look good? If its more low wages and then expect large families to receive than one, maybe the mayor or city manager should a quality education. The taxes just will not support be removed to allow those who really are working to it. It is about time that some super intelligent get the job done. How much traveling is done at my How many spouses ride along at my person in the state starts a business or two that expense? If expense? you arent asking how neighboring states pays a good wage. Henry Ford did so in 1909 and are educating 615,000 students on 55 percent of look what happened to the auto. If this does not happen soon, we can do one thing; their budget, with only 20 points lower SAT scores have a flat tax or head tax, that way the people with when they have a larger percentage of minorities as children pay for there education not people without Arizona has, what are you doing there? If you arent asking how those states keep their highways in children. better shape on lower gas taxes, as Wyoming and We have another major problem. We have a very hard working labor force that works for a very low Arizona both seem to be able to do, what are you there? Take your vacation on your own money, wage that supports nine or so cities in 300 sq. mile doing stretch of Wasatch front. I cannot understand how a not mine! If you cut back the police department, you have city like L.A. as New York can function, yet we are led to believe wed have no representation.Id like to said to me you have no more room for additional know what is magic about representation? If the day businesses. The economic development department came that we had one city and a lot less graft and can be discontinued. The redevelopment agency can be discontinued as well. No one should have the corruption maybe some additional people would right to take another persons property by have to go to work. Bigger just might be better! condemning it. One final observation: County commissioners budget can help by giving Our approach to the AIDS problem is ridiculous. I am flabergasted that it took a high school senior to back the $12,000 raise they gave themselves while teach her peers what they wanted to know because employees of Safeway had to take an 18 pay cut to keep their jobs. in our state we cannot say condem in school. Maybe This may not solve all of the budget problems but AIDS will jerk us into the 20th century. would it Saying no did not work with drugs and saying confidence goof a long way toward restoring the the people who pay your salary. abstain will not work with AIDS. Remember were the ones youre supposed to be Cities Spend A. Cook Freely no doubt Insist that they are ready for next the step in their lives. Theyre probably it college, the workplace, military Be right. service, marriage and missions, they are ready for new vistas, greater challenges, will start writing letters to superintendents, senators, EDITORIAL The hallowed sounds of Pomp and Circumstance (and a dozen other marches) Friday and Tuesday heralded the participation of some 6690 Green Sheet area seniors in those somber, touching ceremonies that marked the end of their high school years. For a brief moment, individual differences were forgotten, the competitive fires were extinguished and the young people banded together one last time. The color schemes, the settings, and to a certain extent, the messages were all different. Yet each ceremony was strikingly the same. Gowned in the traditional raiments of commencement, the young people reached this point with a mixture of happiness, sadness and relief. Many choked back tears as they realized that while this was a beginning, it was very much an ending. In the audiences, mothers and fathers felt that same tug of pride and of sadness. Some of their numbers were missing. The dropout rate remains a key area of concern. But the overwhelming majority were right where we hoped they would be on this night. The kids suddenly seemed older than their still tender 1 8 years and yet younger. Most - changed lives. One only had to look into their shining faces to realize that every effort that has been, made in their behalf - herculean efforts of themselves parents, educators, -the studentswell worth it.. been has the and taxpayers These young people are our future. They will take us into the next century. Friday (and Tuesday) was their night. Each had a brief moment in the limelight and then it was over. Already today they are facing the harsh realities of life. The cost of higher education, despite the hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships that were awarded, has become astronomical. Good jobs are not plentiful. Expectations are now greater. They can no longer hide behind the excuses of childhood. Much is expected of the Class of 1988. The Green Sheet salutes these young people for their accomplishments of the past, present and future. They are many and varied. We hope that as time marches on, the faith we all had in those graduates on a June night in 1988 will be well justified. Were pretty sure it will be. , v . - Their space is being invaded by Today it is fashionable to be an airhead. Oh, maybe it always has been. Weve from three different people generations on our staff who have all said the other kids made fun of them when they got good grades in school. But airheadedness appears far more fashionable today. If you happened to catch KSLs expose on Utah schools, you get the picture. pseudo-airhead- of hard to single out the real for any special attention. s. J Dont point your finger at the schools. didnt create these They monsters. They try their best to prevent their being set free among the rest of us. But since its such a fad to be dopey, they really are fighting a losing battle. A real airhead simply does not have hisher brain connected to hisher tongue. They say things Parent Involvement Essential Ingredient In Sex Education The article on June 2 on AIDS instruction written IT AS I by Ralph H. Goff was essentially a good article but had a few misleading comments that I could not or minimizing the role of pass up. Bob Walker, Granites coordinator for Ignoring, dismissing, health education, indicated his frustration over parents should no longer be tolerated." Educational programs that rely on the parental consent and suggested that the lack of sex education in our schools has resulted in higher medicaltechnical approach alone are showing virtually no change in pregnancy rates for the pregnancy rates in our state. To put the record straight, Utahs teenage better. In fact, testimony has been heard by the House Subcommittee that the medicaltechnical pregnancy rate is 30 percent below the national used by many family planning clinics has average, although the live birth rate is higher approach increased the sexual activity among adult because Utah has the lowest teenage abortion rate actually and adolescent And increased sexual women. d in the nation - about the average. The lower pregnancy rate and lower abortion rate just activity translates into higher pregnancy rates. sex education programs may be needed in happen to be largely due to the value system in this thePerhaps The State Office of Education is looking future. Mr. state that Walker feels is so restrictive. will However, this does not mean that there is rot a at developing a broader curriculum that AIDS well as the both issue entire as the incorporate problem. In 1986, there were 36 pregnancies per of teenage sexual involvement. It is being 1000 among 15-1- 7 years old in Utah. This is not a problem under the name of "character education". developed pretty picture considering the consequences of teen There are pilot programs that are being many and pregnancy parenting. conducted throughout this nation that are focusing However, significant research across the nation is on restraint, responsibility and positive lifestyles. and showing that values parental involvement are two essential ingredients in any sex education And the ones that are showing significant differences are the ones that include major parental program. Dr. Stan Weed testified before the U.S. House Committee on Health that "the potential components in their instruction. So you see, contribution pregnancy prevention efforts. Its time parental consent and involvement must not be seen for those who profess an interest in parental as a burdensome task but as an essential ingredient involvement to seriously consider ways to in the educational process for teenage sexuality. We who is the SEE are must also remember that it parents primary sex educators of their children and schools should acknowledge that partnership. Mary Ann Kirk Murray Successful n lu? Utah Education ijfu Audocl&tlon President Thats why the real airheads should unite. Time was when they were kind of unique. The dumb blondes who actually had hair of any hue. The rest of us kind of admired their attitude. We tried to protect them a little They were of such variety that they added spice to the that cause you to raise your eyebrows and nod your head while you try not to reveal your feelings. A pseudo-airhea- d appears not to be very bright. But its part of an act. If you can get past the "valley girl" English many of them use, there really is some grey matter happy-go-luck- y there. But they certainly wouldnt want anyone to know it. Airheadedness is not restricted to one sex. It used to be that males werent actually regarded but they were out as airheads there and perhaps should have been. workplace. The Green Sheet welcomes contributions from readers for either Letters to the Editor.or As I See It. Letters should be confined to a length of about 250 words and not contain libelous comments. They must be signed and must be received in our office no later than 10 a.m. Tuesday for publication - Just ask any woman. But todays boys are just as female their airheaded as And counterparts. apparently quite proud of it. But remember, most of them arent really airheads. They just want to fit in. So they go around with a innocent look. When asked a question, they theyre appear to ponder carefully and then come up with an answer that you might expect an experimental monkey to have developed. You know, the ones KSL showed on the show. "Uh, what states surround Utah? Hmmm. California?" Or was it New Jersey? Or I dont know, they shriek, man. We never studied that." They do know quite a bit about the life and times of certain rock groups, however. Indicating a latent ability to learn. that week. Longer correspondence may used as As I See It commentaries on a space available basis. Primary consideration will be given to those submitted by people with expertise in the topic about which they write. A brief description of that expertise may accompany the submission. All submissions are subject to editing for space and They clarity. may be addressed to: The Green P.O. Box Sheet, 7187, Murray, Ut. 84107. be wide-eye- d "Ga-aa- l. Andre's KING SIZE one-thir- incorporate parental interests and prerogatives into their programs. Every area of research that has looked at adolescents acquisition of citizenship, productivity, responsibility, and achievement has identified the major and significant contribution of parental involvement and parental focators. and Your Child: by JIM CAMPBELL Celebrating Song James A. Cooper Murray You School West Valley Editor: Saturday night (June 4) many of us were able to witness one of the finest activities ever put on by citizens of Murray. I am speaking of the Celebration Of Song program honoring retiring Murray high choral director, Leland Flinders. It was truly a moving experience to see and hear over 800 of Mr. Flinders former students who had returned from all across American to pay tribute to this fine man, in word and music. For all of us who have had children go to Murray high and be trained by Mr. Flinders, it was payday for us as well. Music was reminiscent of the past 12 years and to hear i , performed by 800 voices in Symphony Hall was an experience that will endure forever. We all laughed, cried and rejoiced. It was a night we had anticipated for a long time and one we did rtot want to end. This great man has touched the lives of not only the students but all of us throughout this community. He has honored us time after time by the way he has taught our children, not just music, but those qualities of refinement dignity, and professionalism, appropriateness have been his central theme in all he has done. How fitting that students and parents should honor him as was done Saturday night. The prevailing thought in my mind that night was that for approximately three hours Saturday night the citizens of Murray were one. What a great feeling and what power to build ones spirit and sense of pride in the school, community and country. Our lives have truly been enriched through this experience. In the words of superintendent Ron Stephens, "It truly was Murrays finest hour." . pseudo-airhead- - . Dear Editor: The recent happenings in Jordan School District is not just a propaganda ploy. The victims of the decision of the Jordan Board of Education are not only the students and the teachers, all of society will be affected by this new policy. The lesson we learned from Don Quixote is the same that we should have learned from Hitler. As Don Quixote lay on his deathbed his enemies (his so called family and friends) were busy burning his books. Destroying the very instruments that would have saved his world. The same thing happened in 1933 when Hitler had his henchmen destroy the books that could have saved the German people from the terrible years that followed Hitler and his rise to power. Now the guardians of the people in Jordan District are falling under the same condemnation. They profess sorrow at their decisions but they have said that even if they did receive money to help the district out of its fiscal hole, they still would not reverse their decision to do away with librarians. Our library system is being thrown on the sacrificial altar. An uneducated and uninformed man has advocated doing away with librarians and hiring of $4 an hour aides to take over the professional duties of those well educated and trained librarians. Within a year the books and the machines will be lost or destroyed. Any district advocating such a plan will find itself faced with a replacement budget that will make the paltry salaries of the displaced librarians look like chicken feed. It is time the people of Utah took a stand. We talk to each other and decry what our boards of education and our governor have done in the past four years to destroy our school system, but we do little about it. We must begin to not only talk to each other about the destruction of our schools, but to airheads were kind of cute, of their because uniqueness. The trait didnt really manifest itself until at least late there are teens. Today s in every elementary school. By the time theyre in high school, theyre really good at it. Just the other day someone asked me what the children of Yuppies would be called. I didnt have an answer. I may have just thought of one. Past But now that virtually everyone Perhaps its time for the seems to be an airhead, its kind perhaps airheads of America to unite. ones Elaine Jones Sphool Concerns Aired. -- The Real Airheads Of America Should Unite working for. Midvale -- 'Quality S dedim at Atloidalk am nfrmliQrnTft 969-773- 3 3544 So. 2700 West (Across from Valley fair Mall) Parents who worry that their children will stop learning until school reopens next fall have good reasson for that fear. " Teachers find that students who stop reading oyer the summer sometimes take until December to regain their previous skill. However, the young person who whiles summer hours away reading for enjoyment often has a definite advantage when school resumes. One way parents can interest children in "school work" during summer is to motivate them by speaking of learning as fun - not a form of punishment. Scouting, camping, vacation trips, baseball and swimming can be educational, as well as fun. Dinner table interaction among - such as family members prodding every person to recite everything he or she knows about a topic such as dinosaurs - can turn a hot summer evening into something the kids consider -- -- "cool. Many kids love responsibility. let them help you choose a Utah vacation destination, learn all they can about the place, suggest a route, and compute the trips costs. Cub Scouts may earn their travel badges that way. Mowing the lawn, weeding the garden, cooking dinner or cleaning the house may not be welcome responsibilities for kids, So but they are valuable. Hold on, though, Mom and Dad. Handing those assignments to the kids isnt enough. Some of the highest quality time you can spend with the youngsters is being with them at work, on learning projects and at play. Be with them this summer, and theyll be "with it next fall. |