Show 1 6A The Salt Lake Tribune Sunday December 6 1987 The Public Forum ft ' i -j Common Carrier Jt 'V Home Teaching Not 'That’ Radical they are indeed educating their kids This is ironic for education in the home actually used to be the norm In fact 150 years ago the author of a By Rick Soulier In a recent address to the Utah Education Association the editor of the Oklahoma Observer was critical of both the Utah Legislature for not providing public education with more money and the teachers for not being more politically active He was quoted on KSL Radio News as saying that teachers should go to educate the people about the funding needs of the schools With all due respect to our friend from Oklahoma funding is actually the least of the problems facing the public school system Its biggest problem is the public school system itself book called Home Education warned his readers that if public door-to-do- Today’s Common Carrier author Is Rick Soulier 1590 W 1320 North Mr SouProvo Utah 84604-296lier a partner in Stone and Soulier a writing and editing eonsuiting firm writer specializing in is a free-lanc- e political topics and an assistant to the Utah coordinator of Family-Centere- d Learning Alternatives a nonprofit cooperative of parents who educate their children at home The views expressed in the article are the personal views of the author 0 In 13 years the 21st century will arrive Yet public education is still at heart a 19th century institution Despite “reform” movements superficial structural tinkering and educational fads which have come and gone the system is still basically the same We gather children in ‘ rooms and lecture at them we keep minds occupied with artificial their ' activities As a result the schools are becoming increasingly inadequate for modern needs Today books and educational re ’ sources are so inexpensive and plentiful that we no longer need to collect them in a central building managed professional teachers Parents by ’ can easily obtain these things them-- 1 selves and make them directly available to their children The personal computer software and networks available through a modem connection can also bring in formation into the home on a scale JT jthat matches or exceeds the capacity ' of the public schools Demographic changes have also contributed to making the school sys-"- ’ terns obsolete While many 19th cen-tury parents were poorly educated and illiterate by the standards of the white Anglo-Saxo- n culture the age has helped make most rTrr°f today’s parents more sophisticat-ed and more knowledgeable of the 1 World around them than their great- grandparents were This means that if they want to the parents of 1987 could teach their children about as well as the majority of trained teachers Parents teaching their children is not as radical as it sounds Many observers are convinced that today's teachers lack the dedication sharpness and creativity of their predecessors This suggests that children may in fact get a better education at home under the direction of conscientious parents Such parents need not worry about being “certified” to teach A teaching certificate is not a guarantee of quality The certificate means that a person has taken certain university-leve- l educational theory classes and has passed through a “baptism of -' -- T - r T teaching It does not necessarily mean the person can teach Parents have advantages no credentials can duplicate They know their children well They know how their minds operate and what interests them They can work with their children in small groups in a sup? portive environment Best of all they can learn along with their children Unfortunately the tradition that education is something only the public school can do is so ingrained in society that most parents are downright reluctant to take the initiative to educate their own children Too many parents believe that as long as they get their kids to school and ask them at dinner what they did in class education were allowed to replace the home as the standard kind of education education would be completely depersonalized How right he was Most adults in our society now assume that because the public schools are big cold and impersonal these characteristics are a necessary part of the learning process We try to assure our children that “school is good for you” But many children — naturally idealistic unspoiled and observant — see clearly what the public schools have become an elaborate shuck designed to keep them occupied while their parents are making money Is it no wonder that so many children become cynical of and disenchanted with education? When this happens we all lose A retired BYU elementary education professor informs me that scholarly studies predict future public schools will function as resources to aid parents as they educate their children in their homes Here it seems to me is the central issue facing Utahns who want to reduce the costs of the schools andor reform the system If we want the public school system to remain the same if we want teachers to take full responsibility for managing our children from 8 am to 3 pm we will have to reconcile ourselves to higher taxes If we truly want quality education we will have to put in more than mere money We will have to take more direct responsibility for educating our children A quality 21st century education will need to be a effort be- tween parents professional educators and students themselves Only in this way will we get our money’s worth in education How to Submit Articles To Common Carrier Board of Lay Editors Opinions expressed in Common Carrier do not necessarily reflect those oThe Salt Lake Tribune or the Common Carrier Board of Lay Lacks Validity De Lamar Gibbons’ Common Car- rier article (Tribune Nov29) not only was misleading concerning cancer and the Indians but it suggested that cancer researchers were avoiding finding a prevention or cure until “their retirements are safely fund- ed” This viewpoint ignores the fact that research in the free world is much like free enterprise: there are many researchers all competing toward finding the answers and these researchers are rewarded by making new developments or disproving false ideas The conspiracy viewpoint ignores the fact that western scientists are fiercely independent and would not be inclined to keep any cancer developments secret Dr Gibbons found less cancer in Indians compared to Anglos and concluded that it was due to their diet He neglected to consider that the life expectancy of Indians is much lower than Anglos (probably because of their extreme poverty and poor living conditions) and that perhaps some of them didn’t live long enough to die of cancer He neglected to consider that Indians are less inclined to seek medical care or allow autopsies so that perhaps fewer cases of cancer in Indians came to medical attention Dr Gibbons’ observations are interesting but lack scientific validity VON WELCH I would like to publicly thank the men and women of the Utah Department of Transportation for their hard work in keeping the roads open for Thanksgiving holiday travelers A huge snowstorm barreled into Southern Utah the Wednesday before Thanksgiving forcing the closure of Interstate 15 Every available person in the UDOT district office was called upon to help reopen the road some employees even came back from vacation to help Most of the crews were out until midnight some were out all night and others came back in the early hours of the morning to make certain the highways were passable All in all nearly 100 UDOT em- and Dr James Strozier research professor and associate 7704 chairman for undergraduate studies in the University of Utah department of mechanical and inArticles in this department are dustrial engineering The board seeks articles from selected by the lay board of ediall segments of the community tors which operates independently oThe Tribune editorial and Articles need not be professionpolicies ally prepared but should be beThe Common Carrier board tween 950 and 1200 words long representing a cross section of the and be typed and double spaced community is composed of They should pertain to the ecoDianne Hesleph principal Wanomic political and social wellsatch Junior High School Granbeing of the Intermountain Area ite School District Fran Articles should be timely have a executive director basic idea promote dialogue and Governors Council for Handibe challenging "open capped and Developmentally Disletters” are not acceptable memabled Persons Judy Vogel Material should be mailed to ber Bountiful and Utah State Common Carrier The Salt Lake League of Women Voters Maxine Tribune PO Box 867 Salt Lake P Hughes president Communication Workers of America Local City Utah 84110 Wednesday night clearing the roads for Thanksgiving traffic 1 would like to commend them for their efforts EUGENE H FINDLAY CPA Executive Director UDOT Fertile Ground I was flying out of Salt Lake with my two young daughters to visit Arkansas As it came time for refreshments the black flight attendant leaned over us to place our Cokes on our lap trays My four-year-o- Why Cut Back? stared wide-eye- d with her mouth wide open at the flight attendant She said to me in an audible whisper “Mom why is her skin so brown?” Remember the drug crisis? Only a year ago everyone was obsessed with crack the extremely addictive smokable cocaine It was only a year deaths of ago when the athletes Len Bias and Don Rogers The surprised flight attendant smiled and looked at me I apologized and the thought hit me that my daughter had never seen a black person before quite different from the way I grew up in the South The flight attendant was very understanding and knew herself there aren’t many blacks in Salt Lake Utah has one of the very lowest blackwhite ratios in the country in cities with a population over 100000 This and the fact that the LDS Church didn’t exactly make the black feel welcome until 1978 when they finally allowed the black males into the priesthood could be the reason an extremist group like Aryan Nations think this area might be a “happy hunting ground” for new recruits to their Order It’s really scary to know that blatant racists like this are broadcasting in our community This racist climate should make us stop and think If this nation is to be strong we can’t be swayed by groups such as the Aryan Nations MARY M SMITH coke-relate- d were in the media Very seldom do we hear now of the drug problem It is only one year later and the demand for coke has never been higher More cocaine is being smuggled into the United States than ever before In 1986 Congress appropriated almost $2 billion to help stop drug trafficking The Reagan administration last year decreased this funding by 40 percent Red tape held up most of that money before it got to the states If the drug problem is worsening as time goes on why are we cutting back our efforts to stop it? RANDY BATH Favors Serving In response to the Utah Poll (Trib22) on the serving of minibottles: I am for the right of mini- une Nov bottles to be served at tables This legislation doesn't go far enough Utah should catch up with the rest of the world and sell mixed drinks and e discard the Some people might not consider the serving of alcohol appropriate because of religious beliefs but should one group’s religious beliefs be forced on us all Should all of us be denied the right to purchase a mixed drink? I recently heard on the radio that some members of the state government would not come out for or against this legislation until they heard what the LDS Church had to say on this matter This is a fine example of separation of church and state (ha ha) Our government needs to start acting on what’s good for the state not the church KEITH D ANDERSON Forum Rules mini-bottl- 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 Worthy Effort ployees statewide spent that Editors Schwan-inger-Mors- Tribune Readers’ Opinion Can’t Shoot 'em Where’s the Fat? A string of 35 Christmas lights were stolen from our front porch The cost of the lights is not so much the issue here but the principle is It is abhoring to think that honest people who work for their money spend on what they can afford only to have some low-lif- e sneak thief come and take it It think the law is truly on the side of the criminal I reported this incident to the police department and asked if we could shoot them meaning the thieves I was informed we could not and I say “Why not?” First on private they are trespassing property second they are stealing what belongs to another individual If we can’t use bullets how about a good dose of rock salt in the rear? LORRAINE SPENCER They say there is fat in the education budget Where is it? Is it in the administrators salaries which only account for 12 percent of the total spending? Is it in the classroom where curriculum supplies must be supplemented annually by more than 5 percent of the teachers’ personal income in order to provide the materials the budget does not so that quality educational experiences can still be had? Have the tax protestors sat down with pencil and paper and tried to put together a budget which would meet their spending limitations? Where are their suggestions and proposals in this hour of need? All we hear is invective RICHARD C RUSSELL e COMPLETE EVE CARE LY FROM STANDARD OPTICAL d fire” experience called student Point of Law It’s Often a Matter of Numbers Company President Robert Leeder strode into the conference room of the United Salt Company running his hand through his hair The cuffs of his white shirt were rolled up to the elbows and the knot of his striped tie was pulled loose “That was Bill Bildor on the phone” he said "He wants to come over to- morrow and talk settlement'' Leeder and the company comptroller Carl Nombers had spent most of last Tuesday working with the pany's lawyer Samuel P “Judge" Carruthers preparing for the trial of Bildor Construction v United Salt com- Edward McDonough is a lawyer practicing in Salt Lake City “This could be our best chance” Nombers said “The judge could throw out our counterclaim against Bildor and then all the jury would be left with is Bildor's complaint against our company for $40000 They’d at least get the $10000 we held back to cover possible liens I say we offer Bildor a settlement where we each take nothing and just walk away from the law suit” He was wagging a finger at Leeder as if scolding a child Leeder spread his arms wide “A walk away! With our case? The only reason we withheld the 10 K is because Bildor hadn't paid all their subs Then they sue us for four times that amount ’for extras that they found at the last minute” “The main issue on Bildor's complaint against the company is going to be what amount is now owing on the contract” Carruthers said “That may be” Leeder said “But on our counterclaim against Bildor it's just a matter of adding up what the company lost as a result of the delay in finishing the plant” “Maybe it is and maybe it isn't" Nombers said “Who knows what the jury will do?” “After working with our evidence” Leeder said “I think we’ve got a heck of a case We shouldn’t settle for anything less than the full $50000 we’re asking from Bildor on our counter claim" “Less the $10000 we owe them” Nombers said “That's $40000 ‘‘What are the odds Sam?” Leeder asked “I don’t think Bildor can prove hat you owe anything beyond the $40000 due on the contract” said “I'd give Bildor 100 percent on the $10000 and 20 percent chance on the additional $30000 they are asking" “Twenty percent of $30000 is $6000” Nombers said “Now were up to $16000 against us” “The counterclaim is less clear Carruthers continued "It depends on how convincing we are I'd make the counterclaim a 50 percent Car-uthe- rs chance” Eye Examination (II you don't need glasses you don't pay for the exam) StanCare Plan tor Children One Low Price As we complete our ?6th year of service we celebrate by dropping the price of our eye exams back to what it was the day we opened in 1911 Just SS with your purchase of complete eyewear In addition we’ll give you S20 off any eyewear purchase when you bring in your own doctor's prescription (This offer is to other discounts and packages) Good through December 51st Breakage Guarantee StanTuff Scratch Resistant Plastic Lenses Largest Selection of Designer Frames and Sunglasses in I'tah Bifocals Free Fittings and Adjustments Gas Permeable and Soft Oniuacts wuh Lifetime Service Policies Flexible-weaContacts Contacts for Astigmatism Collegiate and )otith Contact Lens Pack ages including S2s discount and lilelmu & No-lm- e And ail in two hours r from eye exam to eyewear m just two hours at our new Lye World superstores in the ZCMI Center Fashion Place and South Towne Mall Or use our personalized customer serv ice plan — Gold Standard Sen ice — in our traditional stores You can go service guarantee oil on all extra pairs n gissts our new 1)1 WORLD Mipnslore now open in the ZCMI (enter One-lhir- Visit These are our regular services Every day of the year: Our Series 2020 Professional “No Risk” 11 e offer ' lt micro! free s spur mitt m "Fifty percent of $50000 is $25000 on our side” Nombers said “Their 16 from our 25 makes it a probable $9000 case for us” “I’ll tell Bildor we want $9000 from him to settle” Leeder said “Then when he tells me where to go I'd better be ready for that trial" He sat down at the pile of documents notes on the table and yellow-pa- d (Point of Law is published for information purposes only and should not be used as legal advice You should see your own lawyer for specific legal opinion) I ru CM! owns O' HUT SO (Too Hi OO ni - 0 00 p m lishmri Plaiv :(i’Co o oo p m 10 OO a in Snulh VmuM' Sl SHIO lONh Sooth Male 10 CHI a m - ooo p m nunmosu (iiltiimkixxl 10 00 J nt Mall ' Co sra-- l p m Suaarhnuv or d cm --‘I’! 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