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Show The Salt I .ake Tribune, Sunday, March 5. 1978 7 Raffertys View: Parents Need Better information on Schools By Dr. Max Rafferty Genial George Gallup reared back and released some poll results a few months back. They had to do with the attitudes of American citizens toward the public schools and for some weird reason got virtually zilch coverage by the media. So here are the latest findings about what John Q Public thuiks of his schools, as broken down into subcategories for you by your helpful col A Time to umnist 1. Overall ratmg: A ll percent; percent; percent. The rest of the pollees either said Fail! or ducked the question. Thats down 4 percentage points from the previous year, : B-2- 6 8 2. Problems listed in priority: lack of disci phne, forced busing, lack of money, quality of teachers, cru.nmy curriculum, drugs, lack of Lie Big CJiange juue In Tax System? NIGUEL, While the new Social Security tax law which Congress passed in December and President Carter signed is partly in operation, theres no reason to believe some whether in to regard schools or classes, ranks dead last with John Q. when he is asked to meditate upon actual or potential educational assets as opposed to liabilities. Most folks, apparently, think a good teacher will get the job done w ith 40 kids while a poor one will lay a bomb even with 14. Whos to blame for truancy? Why, schools and teachers sav most old 5. to the Basics meant. Those who did said, Readmg, wntmg anil arithmetic, although a kit of them added flesh to the Three R" skeleton in the fonn of respect for teachers, good manners, obedience and politeness." A good bit of vagueness here, alas. ho-hu- On the other hand, should parents be hauled into court and fined when their offspring are consistently A.W.O L.? Yep, says the citizenry, oddly enough. 6. Should schools be closed during a hard freeze in order to alleviate the energy problem? No way, say Mom and Pop. Schools should be the last things closed. Banish Buncombe? If youre wondering whether George ever got around to the mam issue 7. Dr, Rafferty education today should the schools get back to the basics and jettison most of the buncombe? yes, he did. The answers were a mixed bag. Half the public wasn't sure exactly what Back in 8. One stipulation in this connection was interesting: the need for structured classrooms. For those of you who havent been initiated into the professional pig Latin known as pedageese, this means classes where the teacher sets definite goals within clear-cu- t time frames and then organizes the class work to achieve these specific obji etives. This is the opposite of the freewheeling, informal, progressive method wherein the teacher ascertains the immediate interests of the pupils, proceeds from day to day in accordance with the felt needs" of the class members and pets through the year triumphantly without failing to achieve any goals for the simple-reasothat no goals exist to be achieved. 9. Finally and this should give even the bureaucrats of Health, Education and Weltare cause to pause John Q wants final decision What does all this mean? That the American people are on the right track, as usual. making authority over the schools to stay right where the Founding Fathers wanted it: with Arseles Times Syndicate (c) 1978, Lo sunn?? fhftjnftrfap 'Tfftrtfin star-chamb- er should start right now in writing letters to your congressman and United States senators urging this change in the Social Security set-u- drastic changes lie p. ahead. REG. $249' Dont forget a short letter to the point Ls While nothing has hap- pened officially, it is ALL 9 PCS. almost always more than a long one. Get Set For Overnight Guests reader mail tells what interests people My me and have one the of popular questions this early in the year is: Will . there be a increase this year and how much wall it be? cost-of-livi- k Such increases are in- variably effective in mid- Mr. Walton year and added to the Social Security check one receives July 3. There will be an increase this year, but the percentage has yet to be announced. Financial Status To me, when Social Security recipients begin known that some members of each House feel the annual tax, to go in excess of $3,000 for high earners in 1987, is just too much to ask of American workers. While those with lower earnings wont pay the peak With This Special Purchase ! 9-P- c. Comer Group! Includes table in Hickory tone vinyl on wood products, 2 bed sets on casters, 2 bolsters, quilted coverlets in a contemporary print' Factory Select Premium Cover Sofa Sleepers! OPEN DAILY 10am to 9pm. . . CLOSED SUNDAY. asking that question right after the first of the year, it reflects the financial status of the retired generation. amount, they will pay more than ever before. Even with increasing tax costs there is no guarantee the $227.3 billion to be raised in the current Class Size Last Smallness of size, Americans. Why? Because their courses are dull, irksome and plain third of the Senate. If youre interested in keeping your taxes in line and who isnt you By Bob Walton Calif. 3. 4. ITS LAGUNA parental interest, lack of teacher interest and general mismanagement. In that order. As to the amount of the increase, I qould have to venture a guess it will be in the area of the 5.9 percent granted in 1977. Q. What is this deal about a widow keeping her full pension after she marries again at the age of 60? Is it another way of milking Social Security? Im married to the same man for over 40 years. I of his only get one-hal- f pension and we make it do. If we have to do it what is different about a widow who marries agam? Im being di- decade wont have to be refurbished by the end of the century, only 22 years in the future. What these members of Congress are discussing among themselves is the possibility of revising an idea they turned down in 1975. The idea would have taken the cost of Medicare and disability away from Social Security to be financed from general funds of the Treasury Department raised by the income tax. Retired Persons This would mean that Social Security money would be responsible for benefits to retired persons only. It would also mean the tax rate could be held below the 7.15 percent it is due to reach in 1986 with possible adjustment of earning figures upon which it is based. As to when this will come to pass if ever is the next big question. It is dubious it could happen this year as Congress seldom acts that fast. My bet would be that it could happen in 1980 and will have the full backing of the White House'as 1980 is an election year. This is an election year, too, for all members of the House of Representatives and a scriminated against. M.M., Minneapolis A. I dont dig your at all. What you do with widows, put them on welfare? If you are getting an amount equal to complaint would one-ha- lf of what your hus- band receives it means you are at least 65 years old. If you survive your husband you know, of course, you wall be eligi- ble for the full amount he receives. Who will you be discriminating against? (Mr. Walton likes to hear from his readers and, whenever possible, letters of general interest will be answered from time to time in his column. Address your letters to him in care of The Salt Lake Tribune. If you desire a personal reply, a stamped envelope is requested.) (Copyright) Magnificent Fabric Selection! Herculons...Nylons... Olefins ! These 3 illustrations give you just a hint of the tremendous selection of fine fabrics you will be able to choose from! The manufacturer was anxious to clean up his discontinued covers and offered us outstanding savings if we would buy his remaining stock! In some cases there was only enough fabric to make up a few sleepers ... so while the assortment is tremendous... the quantity of each fabric is limited. All the most wanted patterns and colors. ..but you will have to shop early for the biggest choice! Each sofa is beautifully tailored with hardwood frames and spring base... and comes complete with full w idth mattress that sleeps 2 people. 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