Show 22A The Salt Lake Tribune Sunday November 20 The Public Forum 1988 Common Carrier Tribune Readers’ Opinions Help Teens Make Decisions By Dr Barbara Reed read with great sorrow the publicized draft of the recommendations of the Governor's Teen Pregnancy Task Force While I fully support the approach of abstinence for preventing teen pregnancy (as well as sexually transmitted diseases and injured 1 think the lack of caring and concern shown for those teens who do not abstain is a severe mistake Without education to help those teens make responsible decisions (including that of abstention) they remain at high risk I am a family physician I care for patients of all ages — young old male female I perform obstetrics as well I deal on a regular basis with teens who are abstinent as well as those who are sexually active I strongly believe that any recommendations having to do with teen pregnancy must approach all teens with caring and respect Unfortunately the drafted recommendations encourage the abstainers while providing those who have not or will not abstain with little caring or concern I self-estee- Today’s Common Carrier author Is Dr Barbara Reed 1002 E South Temple Suite 107 Salt Lake City Utah 84102 Dr Reed Is a family physician A native of Indiana she is a graduate of Washington University Medical School in St Louis She did her residency work as a family physician at the University of Utah Medical Center and she has been In practice for the past seven years The views expressed In the artlele are the personal views of the author Those of us who have raised teens or who work with them know that they may occasionally make decisions that are not in their best longterm interests These include decisions to smoke drink alcohol drink and drive neglect school use drugs hurt others — including parents and friends — and become sexually active We owe it to teens to help them understand the risks of these actions and how to avoid pressures from peers the media and others However they also need to know they are responsible for their actions If they injure someone while drinking and driving — they are responsible If they offend others or injure their health with their smoking — they are responsible By educating them about consequences and their role in these they can better make decisions and if they choose to take chances they can minimize the risks to themselves and those around them Teens who choose to be sexually active usually do so first without contraception Their chances of pregnancy sexually transmitted disease and injured are increased if they are uninformed about the risks The risks associated with pregnancy are great — loss of opportunities including schooling sports advancement loss of marriage at the right time for them loss of parenting when they are emotionally and socially prepared loss of and The fetus is also at risk — of being aborted of being raised in a situation not supportive to its development and of not having a reasonable chance to become a member of a mature loving family self-estee- self-estee- self-respe- with two parents who are ready to provide for their baby Teens will make their own decisions We can encourage them to make the decisions we would choose for them But we must also help them become informed about the risks of their choices and the ways to avoid these Dissemination of information about the use of condoms has been promoted by our surgeon general Dr Everett Koop Information about other forms of contraception is also important Knowledge about AIDS herpes and other sexually transmitted diseases is basic We all need skills in maintaining avoiding peer pressure and making our own decisions Should we not help provide this type of responsible education for our teens? self-respe- I have discussed contraception with my daughter She is not interested or aware of sexual matters but she does understand that decisions about pregnancy are some of the decisions women and men make I believe that discussing these responsibilities of parenting separate from the emotional decisions of becoming sexually active will allow her to hear the messages as distinct hopes for her future: that she will not become sexually active prematurely and that she will be responsible for her decisions Furthermore promoting the opinion that discussing responsibilities of sexual behavior promotes sexual activity (which has not been shown to be true) will probably increase the number of parents who do not educate their children regarding these matters Is that the effect this task force thinks will be advantageous to our state and the education of our young people? Repeatedly I have heard that these matters should be taught in the home — will they be if parents are told that discussing them will encourage sexual activity? I urge all those who care about teens in Utah — all teens in Utah — to carefully consider how we can help encourage them to delay sexual activity while still educating them about the responsibilities involved with this decision I urge the Governor’s Task Force on Teen Pregnancy to include within their recommendations a strong message regarding the need to educate young people to take responsibility for their actions understand the risks of sexual activity and understand their role in minimizing those risks Abstinence is obviously the best way to minimize the risks However we must not write off those who do not choose to abstain To prevent teen pregnancy we must also help those who are sexually active How to Submit Articles To Common Carrier District Fran Schwaninger-Mors- e executive director Governors Council for Handicapped and Developmentally Disabled Persons Judy Vogel member Bountiful and Utah State League of Women Voters Maxine P With the perennial shortage of funds that our schools face new and unique sources of revenue must be devised Taxpayers (especially those who do not take tithing and numerous dependent exemptions) are unlikely to accept any sort of an income tax increase with which to augment education monies A reformation of the income tax structure which would shift a more proportionate amount of the tax burden onto the shoulders of those with offspring in the school system also seems remote in light of the Mormon Church's — I mean State Legislature's — policy of “make more babies pay less taxes” Necessity reveals an untapped source of revenue for our schools How about a diaper tax? With Utah's astronomical birthrate a tax as little as a few pennies per diaper would surely add a tremendous amount to the school system's wallet The diaper tax would somewhat resemble the Social Security tax Most people I know see the logic in the Social Security system it’s an escrow account of sorts for future use by the payer Likewise for the diaper tax except the payer’s offspring will be the future recipient of the bene- fits The concept of fairness lends itself to the argument for a diaper tax Those families who specialize in infant production and ultimately fill the schools with children should pay a greater share of the cost I am aware that if the diaper tax revenues were diverted to the uniform school fund it would somehow be construed as being in violation of our state constitution’s provision for a free public education Our children's educations may be "free” for some but they are costing myself and other taxpayers who have no children a fortune Let s put an end to the free ride that large families are getting The State Legislature has taxed "sinful” items like alcoholic beverages and cigarettes why not tax diapers? So did the FICA Sound tax before the 1930s KENT GRIFFITHS West Jordan Hughes member Communication Workers of America Local 7704 and Dr Sanford Baum a professor of industrial engineering at the University of Utah The board seeks articles from all segments of the community Articles need nut be professionally prepared but should be between 950 and 1200 wortls long and be typed and double spaced They should pertain to the economic political and social of the Intermountai n Area Articles should be timely have a basic idea promote dialogue and be challenging "open letters" are not acceptable well-bein- As a parent of several sons who were not successful in high school and in view of the recent tax initiatives and controversy in education I feel that several changes need to be made to improve education in this state First the Legislature needs to change the age that the state is obligated to educate the students to no more than eighth or ninth grade When students enter high school they and the parents should be notified that the school district has limited resources and that it wants to educate the high school students and it s When Samuel P "Judge" returned to his law office last Tuesday after lunch his first afternoon appointment was waiting for him "Judge" Cal Drummer began "my bank account has been seized by Emerson Murchint before I even had a chance to bring you his complaint to answer for me How can he do that without proving that I owe him any money?" "Let s take a look at the paper Car-ruther- j 4 k bottom half of his bifocals “It’s based on the fact that you are an resident and issued conditioned on a bond posted by the plaintiff with two sureties” "You mean” Cal said "that just because my house is across the state line and I only spend about of my time here that they can grab all my cash and there's nothing I can do about it?” “Yes and no" Carruthers exclaimed decisively "Because you are not a resident of this state the courts of this state do not have jurisdiction over your property in your state of domicile” "Meaning they can't sell my home at a sheriff's sale to pay a judgment?" Cal asked "At least not until they bring an action over there to get a judgment based on the judgment over here" Carruthers answered "That's one reason they can attach your bank account here to make sure that any judgment against you will be collectable here" "What can I do about it?" Cal asked "Just as they had to post a bond w ith sureties to get the prejudgment writ of attachment issued you can get the attachment released by post" ing a bond “What does it mean ’sureties'?" Cal asked ' Two property owners in the county who are worth at least twice what you are being sued for can sign as sureties on your bond and get the atthree-quarte- Car-ruthe- Murray Credit’s Due I need to share some of the credit given to me by Mr Hansen (Forum Nov 12) Derek James prepared and disin voting District 4142 the three-pagcircular which was mentioned and which listed all of the candidates My circular had a map of the area and showed how it was divided into the different districts Then it listed when and where to register and vote for the four districts I am glad that both Derek and I could help in encouraging people to register and vote PAUL PHILLIPS tributed e Pristine Past As I sit on the edge of the hill as I do many times and look out over the canyon I can't help but think about the many things that have been said about the Dimple Dell Park and I can’t help but observe those things Pristine? No The beauty of the canyon was destroyed long ago by the motorcycles and Whose Choice? Why is it that there are a number of people out there who feel they have the right to undo a mistake of their own doing at the expense of their own unborn child? It seems the thoughts are completely selfish and never once is there a mention of the unborn child's rights Of course Brian Oleson (Forum Nov 2) did show some concern by stating that it is better to deny life rather than offer an unhappy one Really? Does the unborn child have a say in this issue? After all it's the child's fate we are deciding Should a democracy extend its rights to allow a Wildflowers? No There aren't any wildflowers down there but there are plenty of weeds and cactus The deer herd? Yes! They are so graceful There are approximately 10 to 15 deer and they are always up in our backyard and looking in the windows They make their bed in the scrub oak on our property because of the scare they’ve had from the bikes Quail? Cute little things! They are so curious! Always looking to see what you're doing They make their nest and raise their young in the neighbors’ bushes where they have protection The county has put up a fence to stop the bikers and and it has helped but the damage they have done will take years to undue if ever KATHY PHILLIPS Sandy HOL I DAY Material should be mailed to Common Carrier The Salt Lake Tribune PO Box 867 Salt Lake City Utah 84110 tachment" Carruthers said scanning one of the papers through the work you brought with you" said Cal handed a fistful of papers across the desk to the lawyer "I was served with that summons and complaint last Friday Judge" he said "The summons says I have 20 days to answer the complaint but they didn't give me 20 days Yesterday they served that attachment on my bank and took all my cash It says I was mailed notice of the hearing on the motion for a writ of attachment Rut I was on the road selling and didn't get the notice until too late" "This is a prejudgment writ of at- - Forum Rules Public Forum letters must be submitted exclusively to The Tribune and bear writer’s full name signature and address Names must be printed on political letters but may be withheld for good reason on others Writers are limited to one letter every 10 days Preference will be given to short typewritten (double spaced) letters permitting use of the writer’s true name All letters are subject to condensation Mail to the Public Forum The Salt Lake Tribune PO Box 867 Salt Lake City Utah 84110 mother to deny a life she obviously feels no responsibility towards? If we are willing to take risks in life we must be mature enough to face up to the consequences we might create The choice this country offers most women is that of taking the initial risk to begin with Life is too precious to waste on our own selfish desires We aren’t talking about a mother’s rights but the right to life for the unborn child A sacrifice for others can be more rewarding than sacrificing a life for our own short-terhappiness I apfact mother didn't the my preciate choose abortion — shouldn't you? CORINNE WRIGHT d GIFT EXPR ESS Attachment Writ Can Be Surprise Edward McDonough is a lawyer practicing in Sait Lake City accomplish that task but there are certain rules and academic standards that must be met If students have learning disabilities thpy should be helped but if the students start to goof off are disruptive in class sluff and cut class and otherwise demonstrate that they are not taking their education seriously then they should be put on robation and their parents would e notified If the behavior continues they should be kicked out of school and told they are not welcome back until such time as they want to take their education seriously There should be no more babysitting in high school for those students who do not want to learn Also once or twice a year all students should be sent questionnaires whereby they would sit down with their parents and evaluate the educational system They would not only evaluate the quality of the teachers and their lessons but they would also evaluate such things as facilities teaching supplies and aids substitute teachers and administrators Furthermore there should be dress standards If students dress to play then they will not have a serious attitude in class Shorts may be acceptable for September and May but not for the rest of the year DUANE OLSEN g Point of Law Under some circumstances the plaintiff in a lawsuit can get a writ of attachment issued by the court and served by the sheriff before there is a judgment for the plaintiff It works like this will apply its resources and skill to Improving School Board of Lay Editors Opinions expressed in Common Carrier do not necessarily reflect those of The Salt Lake Tribune or the Common Carrier Board of Lay Editors Articles in this department are selected by the lay board of editors which operates independently oThe Tribune editorial and reportorial policies The Common Carrier board representing a cross section of the community is composed of Joyce M Gray principal Arcadia Elementary School Granite School Tax Diapers tachment A CELEBRATION CHRISTMAS OF LDS writers share persona essays short stories poetry Christmas traditions and experiences and recipes Veil-know- n A perfect holiday gift 4999 A CHRISTMAS VISH Afterglow’s popular holiday album Cassette 4895 Compact disc Christmas again IN MY HEART Bryce Neubert’s blend of original and traditional Christmas carols 4895 Christmas- - vhen HOPE SHINES BRIGHTEST audio cassette e minutes of inspirational stories from Forty-fh- aughn J Featherstonc that will help you capture the true spirit of Christmas 495 released” Carruthers explained "That'll be easy” Cal said "Especially when point out to some of my friends in town that the whole thing is the result of a mistake in an int voice and I really don't owe anything " 1 Mur-rhin- (Point of Law Is published for Information purposes only and should not be used as legal adtice )ou should see so or own lawyer for specific legal opinion I Not suref Aik about Deseret Book gift certificates Deseret Book 4 s |