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Show Schools Page 6 The Gunnison Valley Gazette What’s the deal with vouchers? by PRINCIPAL ALAN PETERSON Last winter, those with a vested interest in school voucher’s pulled off a major feat. They were able, by whatever means were necessary, to motivate a majority of the Utah Legislature into passing legislation making it legal to pull money from the public education pot to compensate parents wishing to educate their children in the private sector. Apparently their arguments were compelling, to the degree that a majority of the elected representatives bought in to their proposal. However, some didn’t. Representative K.L. McIff, who has a long background in legal matters, voted against the bill and explained why he did so in a public letter to his constituents after the session ended. He cited multiple reasons he opposed it, not the least of which was the issue of the measure being unconstitutional. (The constitution gets in the way of so many really good ideas.) Utah is fertile ground for causes and schemes that initially appear to be great, but when examined closely, aren’t. Historically, Utah follows conservative trends, eschewing ideas that run counter to that philosophy. Over time, those in charge of proper thinking, as they see it, have found it politically expedient to wrap issues they oppose in a shroud of evil and confusion and give it a human face that any self-respecting citizen would find repugnant and offensive. It came as no surprise that television ads recently featured a clear, undeniable message that dark forces from the east were out to strip the state of the divine blessings that would come about from vouchers. (What other conclusion can be arrived at when we consider that recent provoucher radio ads featured passages from the Book of Mormon being read over the airwaves?) The two visual images that were attached to the pro-voucher issue on television were the letters ‘NEA’, and a still photo of Sen. Kennedy of Massachusetts. Could there be anything more morally reprehensible than to stand idly by while the likes of Mr. Kennedy and the NEA ram their anti-family, liberal agenda down the throats of honest, hardworking Utahns? Probably not, but it begs the question: What does Mr. Kennedy have to do with vouchers in Utah? I question whether he was the best poster-child to use on the voucher issue. Personally, I doubt any of the Kennedy-Shriver-Lawford-Schwarzenegger, et al, children have ever attended a public school. People of substantial means generally pass on public education, opting instead for the private or parochial offerings, which are wholly superior. (If an institution can pick and choose who it enrolls, then test scores, athletic contests and many other things can come out looking really, really good.) Besides, fraternizing with those with shallow pockets is bound to create problems. But for all we know, Mr. Kennedy may be a staunch advocate of vouchers. Would any blue-blooded millionaire in his right mind turn his back on a few tax dollars handed to him? The whole notion of taking something from the government seems so… Democrat-ish’. It’s easy to see why I was confused watching the ads. The UEA, which is undeniably aligned with the NEA, is the standard bearer for the antivoucher position in this debate. Despite the unbelievable things the UEA does sometimes that drive honest, hard-working people crazy, they do have a history, (a very long history) of championing the needs of public education in Utah, especially those of students. The fact that they are so visible in that endeavor seems particularly galling to many lawmakers who travel to the state capital each January. Apparently it’s okay to lobby for all else except education. (Those %*&#%$&* teachers are always causing trouble!) Fortunately, our legislators showed the UEA who is boss last winter. The two days in October, historically referred to as ‘UEA’, shall no longer be referred to as ‘UEA’. (It’s a lucky thing the UEA scheduled those two days of convention on the very days the legislature scheduled their ‘fall education break’, or there’d really be problems.) And now the crux of the voucher matter. The question is this: Who does hold the political power in Utah? Is it a group of people who have been elected to represent the citizen’s of the state; or is it the citizen’s themselves? Maybe it’s the lobbyists who can deliver a few key representatives some tickets (really good seats) to Jazz games or maybe a gift certificate to Cabella’s. Why not both! Whatever it takes, it can be done. (The wheels of democracy can get so messy at times while they are being greased.) If the legislation passed last winter by a majority of the elected repre- sentatives is the will of the people, (and the ads say it is) then why such an uproar when the people are given the opportunity to validate the legislative action? At the very least, the outcome should signal whether or not it’s what the voters really want. Are we missing something? Could it be that the pro-voucher folks are worried about some uninformed populace undoing all their hard work and lobbying efforts? The groups who lobbied and pushed for the voucher bill last winter seem to be alarmed the radical citizens of Utah might do something crazy and irrational. (Who do these voters think they are?) If that specter should appear, perhaps the next round of provoucher ads should feature Bin Laden, or even the late Saddam Hussein. Wrap it in the flag; tie it up with patriotism, and we may have a win for the pro-voucher group. [Note: Being dead is a moot point when it comes to fear. Some of the scariest things in life are dead.] Don’t be surprised by any claims in the next few weeks prior to the election. If what we’ve seen so far is any indicator, those favoring pulling money from public education will stop at nothing to achieve their goal. We may even find out that the long sought-after WMD, which have been missing for all these years are being stored in Utah schools, poised to come out for evil, anti-voucher purposes, in the hands of local PTA/ teacher terrorist cells. On November 6, vote No on Ballot issue #1. Send the message to those special-interest groups that even though we citizen’s of Utah may be gullible, we’re not that stupid. Thursday, September 27, 2007 Lead me, guide me... By GVMS COUNSELOR SHARON MECHAM I would like to remind our middle school parents that Monday, September 24 is mid-term for first quarter and we will be sending a mid-term report home with each student on Wednesday, September 26, 2007. Attached to their mid term report will also be their student profile Core\Test results from last Spring. If you have a middle school student please ask to see their mid-term report card and their core test results. Parent teacher conference for the middle school is this Thursday and Friday. September 27, 2007 PTC is from 1 to 4 PM. September 28, 2007 PTC is 8 AM to noon. School is out on Thursday at 12:15 for the students and the buses will take them home. There is no school for students on Friday at the middle school. According to the booklet “How to get good Grades in Ten Easy Steps” Tips for Parents it states: Your children need you to be interested and involved in their academic progress. Be interested. Make sure that your child knows that his/her academic progress is important to you. Attend all open house and parent conferences. Know when each grading period ends and make sure that you see all progress reports and report cards as soon as they come out. A final thought from Aldous Huxley “Successful people have learned to make themselves do the thing that has to be done when it has to be done, whether they like it or not”. Gunnison Valley Middle School Gunnison Valley Middle School has scheduled their first Parent Teacher Conference Meetings for: Thursday, September 27, 1- 4 p.m. Friday, September 28, 8:30 a.m.- 1 p.m. Parents with 6th grade students have scheduled appointments. School will be out at 12:20 p.m. on Thursday Sept. 27. There will be no school for students on Friday, Sept. 28. Gunnison Valley Elementary School GVES will be holding parent/teacher conferences this Thursday and Friday. There will not be school for the students those days. If for some reason you haven’t already received an appointment, please, call for one. 528-7880 School pictures will be next week on Thursday, October 4. Thanks for your support of the PTA pizza fundraiser. It was a big success. It’s time to pay for October school lunches and breakfasts. Full price lunches are $31.50. Full price breakfasts are $15.75. Reduced price lunches are $8.40. Reduced price breakfasts are $6.30. Please, pay by October 1st. It’s not too late to qualify for reduced or free meals. Call the school to get an application. 5287880 School lunch week is October 16, 17, and 18. We’ll send more information later. The Halloween Carnival will be on October 26. There will be no school on October 29 and 30. It is our annual fall break those days. El 25 de septiembre de 2007 de Valle de Gunnison Escuela de enseñanza primaria Estaremos teniendo a padre/maestro consulta este el jueves y el viernes. No habrá la escuela para los estudiantes esos días. Si para alguna razón usted no ya ha recibido una cita, por favor, la llamada para uno. 528-7880 Los retratos de la escuela serán la semana próxima el jueves, octubre 4. Da las gracias para su apoyo del recogedor de fondos de la pizza de peseta. Fue un éxito grande. Courtesy Photo/Mariam Hansen Principal Grant Hansen tries out Madison Hansen’s pony, “Smiley” at the 5th grade Pet Show on Friday afternoon. Mark Henline/Gunnison Valley Gazette Steve Conger, with the new Cherrydale, explains this year’s PTO fundraiser to the middle school students. For the next two weeks students will be selling over 300 items from the new Cherrydale catalogue. The proceeds from this PTO fundraiser will be used to help with activities at the middle school this year. Es tiempo de pagar por comidas escolares de octubre y desayunos. Los almuerzos del precio sin descuento son $31,50. Los desayunos del precio sin descuento son $15,75. Los almuerzos reducidos del precio son $8,40. Los desayunos reducidos del precio son $6,30. Por favor, paga por octubre primer. Es de no calificar demasiado tarde para reducido ni liberta comidas. Llame la escuela a conseguir una aplicación. 528-7880 La semana de la comida escolar es el 16 de octubre de 17, y 18. Mandaremos más información más tarde. El Carnaval de víspera de Todos los Santos será el 26 de octubre. No habrá escuela el 29 de octubre y 30. Es nuestra caída anual pasa las vacaciones esos días. Remember When... HEAP WEEK of the This week’s Heap of the Week goes to Lacie Higgins. Lace drives a brown 1980 Jeep Renegade soft top. “Dad loves this Jeep more than he loves me.” 1968 GVHS 8th Grade Class Officers Front row left to right: Evelynn Peterson; Secretry, Carolyn Nay; Reporter, Bruce Christerson; Vice President. Standing: Richard Dyreng; President, Charles Inouye; Party Chairman. Sponsored by HERMANSEN’S MILL 204 South 1st East • Gunnison 528-3136 Feeds • Grain Storage • Fertilizer Seeds • Farm Supplies • Chemicals Lacie Higgins HEAP of the WEEK Is Sponsored by: |
