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Show rsuJUy 1984 Page 2 Thursday, January 5, continues. Improve as their work ELEMENTARY At MILFORD Fifth Grade there is a need to focus in a bit more on reading and just a "shade on language. With the exception of the library (which is limited) all other scores are above grade level. At Oovornmont epondng A generation ago, In 1950, all levels of government in this country spent $60.5 billion a year. According to the Tax Foundation, total government spending in fiscal 1983, which ended September 30, was $1.3 trillion. That means Federal, State and Local governments are now spending $14,334 per household, which must be raised by taxation and adding to the debt. How was it possible that we permitted government to increase spending 20 times while the population Increased only 1.5 times, and the cost of living, as measured by the consumer price index, increased only 3.6 times. What can explain this huge growth in spending by the government? It seems obvious to us that this virtual explosion has been caused by people turning to government to solve all their problems, and government is a wasteful spender. What is government anyway? Its only a group of people organized in such a way as to establish a central authority to protect the nation. Because it is made up of individuals, it has no resources other than those of the people who are subject to its authority. Yet throughout the country, politicians and special interest pressure groups spend most of their time trying to Increase government spending as if there were a magic source of funds to pay for the programs. As the saying goes, There Is no such thing as a free lunch! Everything must be paid for, including government spending, and ultimately it is taxes that pay for it. Whenever ranchers in the West suffer a drought and turn to government to assist them with grants or low interest loans, it means that other individual taxpayers will have to provide the necessary funds, many of whom may themselves be in trouble too. the years, you are too honest, too much guts. It would be easy for me to have a difference of opinion on other questions that your comments made regarding our educational system. The teachers, and Johnnys inability to read. But I am limiting myself to the two before mentioned questions. This I feel qualified to say. Yes, I know of inadequacies In American Education. I also know where much of the fault lies. However I also know that NO educational system now or ever has brought so much enlightment to so many in so short a period of time, as has the American Educational Therefore I ask you to System. in me join praising what we have while trying to improve. The wonder to me today is that the American Educational System is a sound as it is when you take into consideration the devastating effect that the social morles and morals of our times which seem to be accepted, has upon our way of living. Im pleasantly surprised that we have so many fine people blessand so many good things as we have. ings if you please Dear Editor, For more years than I care to relate Ive had the pleasure of reading the Beaver County News. I still read It with interest as well as pleasure. However, I find that I must write you concerning your comments in Just Between You and Me In Vol. 83, No. 50, Decem- ber When 10 million school children are given free school lunches and 22 million Americans are given food stamps for free groceries, it means their neighbors must be taxed to pay for them. But a lot of those neighbors may be just as poor. Our country is in a very precarious financial position. For over fifty years our people have been turning to government to provide what most of them should have been providing for themselves. For over fifty years we have been spending beyond our means, saddling our children and grandchildren with a debt which will burden them for generations, and on which the yearly Interest is now over $100 billion a year. This debt, created by profligate government spendtaxes taken from the ing beyond the sizable people, has reached $1,300 billion and is increasing at the rate of $575 million a day, $24 million an Just think of that!. hour, $400,000 a minute. There are some people who dont think these spending programs are harmful to the economy. They believe it is just a matter of who does the spending, a matter of taking from the haves, in the form of taxes, and giving to the have nots in the form of welfare programs. They believe the money would be spent in either case, and it doesnt matter who does the spending. But this is not true. . When government spends such a huge proportion of the national income, it leaves less for saving, for capital accumulation to build the new plants, create the jobs necessary for the millions of new employees, coming of age. Its a choice between production for the future or consumption for the present. In a very real sense, its a case of "eating the seed corn. It is well to keep in mind that if it isn't produced, it cant be consumed. 15, 1983. The points that I write you about concern NEA (in Utah or any state) as a union and the question of "Merit Pay. The NEA is First the NEA NOT a union. The American Federation of Teachers is the teachers Union affiliate with the CIO AFof L. I should know because I joined the AF of L in the early 30s after, as member of the IEA(the state of Illinois NEA) on a teachers welfare committee I was told the teachers salary was no concern of mine that the teachers welfare committee was to decide with whom the teachers should take out insurance. That was when I joined the American Federation ofTea-cher- s. I serve as a Nafl Vice Pres, in the AF of T also a secretary on I J5A.F.T Illinois State American Federation of Teachers). of During all thos years (30) AF of T membership I participated in teachers strike. Your UEA calls it a Sanction. Now as to the merit system, Fine if it is honest. Not only my 30 years of AF of T, but during my whole 47 years I saw time and time again what it took to be a teacher of merit. I feel safe in saying You would never have qualified -judging by what youve written over It is hoped Mr. Editor that youll accept my comments on NEA and merit pay and rating in the spirit in which they have been made. Im just too proud of having been an AFT member without my writing and telling you that the NEA is as much a union as the Drs AMA, therefore not a real Union. about your health. I hope it improves. While late I wish you I read . and your family good health and continued success. Yours truly, Arthur F. Symond EDITORS NOTE: Technically you may be correct. But the NEA acts like a union, and its affiliates such as the UEA and BEA, (Beaver Education Assn.) take its direction. The BEA actually conducts negotiations with the school district and I believe that constitutes collective bargaining, which conforms with labor unions in every literal sense. Of course there are many other unions other than labor unions, and the NEA qualifies on most counts. I believe I As to merit pay. indicated earlier that I am strongly for it. The problem is who administers and evaluates the teacher, and how do you guarantee its fair, not only to the teacher but to the tax paying public, and more especially to the student. As to your previous letter on Watt Ive decided to send you my answers to your questions under separate cover. The answers became so extensive I havent had. space to run it, though I do feel it is Important for you and others to know why Watt was embraced by the west. Thanks for your comments. "Red BIRTHS to Duane and Congratulations Norma Henrle. They became the proud parents of a baby girl born at the Holy Cross Hospital in Salt Lake on December 27, 1983. She weighed in at 7 lbs. 14 oz. and will be named Natelle. Grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Norm and Thompson of Milford and Dr. and Mrs. Terry Henrie or Panquitch. T, -- - tifei 411 MUa Kraal, MtOHM POoaa , Ml - Hard, suncRimoN rates IN UTAH ELSEWHERE U4 Entered as 44751 in advance 110.00 PER YEAR $15.00 PER YEAR mmw MONDAY NOON COPY DEADLINES all dowlUMa Bra mm tottfey mi m 9m Sr 9trm 4r orto Om I orwarS mm AND EDITOR BUSINESS Ml vortoac 7 Stoantoy MANAGER RHYNES 8 REASONS RANDEE 'RED WILSON WARREN MELLOR , CORRESPONDENTS OUR MILFORD ... IN MOTION RUST I CO VALLEY .. LIZ ZALESKI .. 387-26- 16 .. BARBARA MAYER ROBERTA CONDE BESSIE EDWARDS VALLEY ADAMSVILLEGRCENVILLE BEAVER SPORTS i MEL 8 NEWS Ior of (ho uoitod siai -- nd.r Cod, MimiM., rf Amarta, gsr 12 and Over 3.00 Children end Snnior Citizen, 1.50 Uu.'ec? i- s- NEVER SAY By SupL Lynn Haalem Superintendent of Schools Achievement Scores How often do we test? What do the scores mean? How do we use the o we compare? How results? We test stu its with a standardized measure at grades three, five, seven, nine and eleven. The tests used are set up to give us national, and sometimes state, comparisons and are graded to tell us at what grade and, month a student is functioning. For example, an elementary school student with a test score of 5.3 is functioning at grade FIVE, third month level of a student with a score of school 7.6 ts functioning at a grade SEVEN, sixth month level or school, and so on from grade 1.0 to grade 12.9 (plus some added factors for special circumstances which I need not go Into for the purposes of this article). The question is often raised as to whether or not there is value in testing, and if a value exists what it is, also how the results are used. Whether or not a value exists depends upon how the data Is used. For example, we use the results for, among other things: 1. Assessment of individual strengths and weaknesses, the results to be used in meaningful conferences in developing the individual education plan of each student. 2. Pinpointing student strengths and weaknesses in order for to direct Individual teachers education needs. 3. Counselor focus in career guidance for young people as they approach adulthood. 4. Illuminating subject strengths and . weaknesses to guide teacher emphasis, additional training needs, subject emphasis change by classroom, school, or even district, and to some extent staff evaluation. 5. Comparison of our scores with the scores of other schools, both in Utah and on the national level, to see whether or not we are comparing well and If not what and where the deficiencies are. Then by Identification we can plan for As I have reviewed the results for grades FIVE andSEVEN recently I have noted a few comparisons I would like to share with you. The subjects tested were reading, math, language, library, social studies, and science. The tests were given in the second month of school so if the FIFTH grades were right "on target any score at the FIFTH grade would be 5.2 to be up to Likewise at grade grade level. SEVEN if students were right "on target their scores would be 7.2. Sean Connery 6-- 7 9:A5 8-- 10 7:30 vnQS--: FINAL OPTION 0SE0RN to th Oanuary Oanuary Morris Photo OVERCOAT. Dames Bond 007 Starring TOPS SCORING: Mark Yardley shoots one of his baskets, he scored 30 points last Friday at Delta, to lead the Tiger scoring. WINTER NEVER AGAIN DAVIS WILMA 61 477-35- PAROWAfl SNAKE .. .. 387-24- 49 386-22- 41 NINERSVILLE SAN . . MILDRED YARDLEY NANCY CARTER 438-22- TOWN rn, Oanuary k - 7 7:30 will mew f N.E, PJBLISIIER 8errj class natter weekly in the Hilford Post Office. RopvMtr tef R ELEMENTARY this year? Many factors influence test scores correction. UAnlT BELKNAP Fifth Grade all scores are above grade level except math which Is right on grade level at 5.2. At MILFORD HIGH Seventh Grade, math and science are above grade All other areas, although levels. not way below grade level, do need continued strengthening and the excellent staff there can do It. At BEAVER HIGH Seventh Grade all scores are above grade level except reading and library which are just a "shade (1 month) below level. . One can see by analysis that we use testing scores for many purposes, even in teacher placement to correct subject needs. One will note that we often place our strongest teachers where the needs are greatest. As an example, one will note that It appears that our greatest need (at Fifth grade) now is in Mlnersvllle and yet we have some of our strongest teachers there. How do we reconcile this with the scores Dont Go Out Without It 1983 AH Robmt Coniomur Product! Drvwon Richmond Virgin 23? 10 and unless one recognizes such the results can be misleading. Often one will find that a single student or two who Is really struggling can markedly distort the class average, especially so in a small class such as Mlnersvllle. Therefore, individual as well as class scores are Time of day, kind of analyzed. day, attitude, examiners mood, health and other factors also Influence test results. In the overall, we do need to work on the areas noted and will do so. We will not consistently be low in any school. At the same time, we feel our teachers are doing a good Otherwise, we would make job. whatever adjustments were necessary to secure such. Testing is valuable to students, parents, teachers, administrators, and the Board of Education. at fifth grade, math is the highest score (being above grade level), followed by reading and language (close to grade level), with all other subjects being lower, thip we., would like... At Seventh Math, SocialStudies, and Science aro all above grade level with the otter subjects falling below. We can understand the library weakness as we dont have a library, as such, at Mlnersvllle. We will have to place Increased emphasis on social studies and science at Fifth grade, and reading and All language at Seventh grade. of these teachers are strong teachers, not lacking in skills nor effort. They will see these scores At Mlnersvllle, gre. here's more about DAIRY LEGISLATION MEETING SCHEDULE All meetings will begin at 10 and should be concluded by 3 p.m. with a break for lunch. If a dairyman cannot attend In his or her district, they are welcome to attend any nearby meeting. Meetings will be held: Fillmore Janaury 10 (Tuesday) Senior Citizens Center 55 South 400 West. RichJanuary 11 (Wednesday) field - Sevier County Court House. Manti -January 12 (Thursday) County Courthouse building. a.m. The Holiday season has never been more pleasant for the Nursing Home Patients at MVMHI In addition to those mentioned in our card of thanks last week we owe hearty Thank yous to the VFW for the treats they brought to veterans who are patients, Santa and the Lady lions for their joint effort in making Santas personal visit to the patients, Bessie Edwards, Ralph Fordham and Joan Blackner for a lovely evening of musical programs and treats, Helen and Garth Banks for their annual gift of cheer to the patients, Vera Cooper for a generous contribution of very nice The candystripers who regularly provide tray favors lap robes. for all holidays, Alice Elmer for "Adopting a patient who has no local family and all of the patient families who provided bedside trees and other cheery decorations as well as appropriate gifts of clothing and personal needs to their loved ones. The hospital staff provided a personal gift for each patient from their gift fund and many individual staff members brought gifts of cheer of various kinds for patients. Todd Williams drew several very attractive large poster decorations tor the nursing home wing. A list of those who provide hair care and loving attention to nursing home patients throughout the year are the Grey Ladles, Dick Banks and Bonnie Hardy. While recognizing the contributions from a caring community, If we have over looked anyone, please know that every effort has been deeply appreciated and dont hesitate to remind us If we missed you In our news articles. In addition to' remembrances tor patients, dozens of people brought gifts of food and lovely cards to the hospital staff. Being appreciated is a warm lovely feeling. Milford is in line for further congratulations and recognition. Several small Southern Utah communities were assigned Red Cross Bloodroobile drawings on short notice for the week before Christmas, after metropolitan areas cancelled out because of the Christmas rush. Not only did the Milford Chapter accept one of these assignments, but they met the responsibility with success. Under the leadership of Ka-i- n Nelson the Candy Stripers recruited donors, provided cookies and beverages from their own A few of them who were old funds, and then staffed Jhe drawing. A blood. donated also adult sized contribution to com -very enough munity welfare from so young and comparatively small group of young peoplel EMTs also provided several hours of professional services. All of these combined efforts payed off with a better than average production of 29 pints of blood. All of this proves that In time of real need, many times It Is a few (a small rural community who knows HOW to celebrate Christmas) who meet the needs of many. In my mind Milford stands TALL here In the desert. |