| Show Letters to the Editor On Thursday the of June the Manti High School Band had ithe the opportunity to represent the communities of Ephraim Manti and Sterling in the Pleasant Grove Strawberry Strawberry Strawberry Straw Straw- berry Days Day's celebration Unfortunately Unfortunately Unfortunately Un Un- fortunately the representation was not what it should have been Students who should be participating participating participating par par- in the summer band number about 45 Of this number number number num num- ber I 1 believe about five were participating in jn the Church Dance Festival Only 22 of the remaining 40 were in attend ance Where were the 18 absent absent absent ab ab- sent students The reason given by almost all of these students was I have to work or I cant can't get off work There were bands in attendance attendance attendance attend attend- ance at this parade from many parts of the state Tooele was represented by 88 students not counting the twirlers American Ameri Amen can Fork was represented by 75 young musicians I would like to mention the American Fork band as an example r t Only three students were absent absent absent ab ab- sent from the American Fork band One was ill and two had to work Is there a bigger percentage percentage percentage per per- of band students in Manti ManU working than in American American Ameri Ameri- can Fork I think not Are the businesses of that big indifferent city more willing to support the young people in this educational venture venture venture ven ven- ture than our small personal communities It appears so Are the parents in American Fork putting effort to see that Johnny goes to band practice and participates in band activities Does the fault lie with the businesses who dont don't support or with the parents who dont don't support Does the fault lie with a combination combination combination com com- of the two Does Docs it itlie itlie itlie lie with a general community attitude Or does it lie with the music teacher If the music music music mu mu- sic teacher at Manti High is at fault the parents of band students should demand of the school board a new teacher I think that the Manti ManU High School is deserving of better support than Ithan it is receiving in all all' areas of activity be it buying new band uniforms getting grass on the athletic fie field d or attending a school program Some people think that the bands in a parade or r other activities activities ac ac- ac- ac are never noticed Aletter A Aletter Aletter letter I received this week from the Days of 1847 committee committee committee com com- in Salt Lake proves how wrong this thinking is I would like to quote from it One of our parade committee attended a recent parade in which your band participated and noted that you had considerably considerably considerably con con- less than forty playing playing playing play play- ing musicians We must have forty musicians 15 years of age or older What a terrible thing to be said about a school the size of Manti ManU High School I would like to thank all businesses and employers who released band students to attend attend attend at at- tend this and future band ac ac- ac- ac I would like ito to single out the Dairy Queen in Manti ManU and Ephraim who released three students at considerable inconvenience to them so that they might participate I wish I had the names of all businesses businesses busi bus nesses where students work that I might thank them personally per per- I thank all the parents who saw to it that their children met their commitments I also thank those students students' who could not come but took the trouble to notify me in advance ce so that adjustments could be made I ask for the support of all other businesses and parents for all future band ac ac- These young people are worth the effort Lets Let's not let them down Sincerely J. J EVAN BEAN Music Director Manti High Sch School SchoolA l lA A recently published letter to the editor from Mr Al Biorge of Manti ManU questions the activities frightening and dangerous according to him of the Sanpete County Guidance Guidance Guidance Guid Guid- ance Counseling Service and its personnel His letter emphasizes re-emphasizes the truth a little knowledge is dangerous As a parent and former teacher as well as a member of the Mental Health Advisory Board I shall attempt to correct correct cor cor- reet some misleading I would like to present the aims alms purposes and accomplishments accomplishments accomplishments of this program The reason for having a mental mental men men- tal health program program in the schools is obvious It is needed need needed ed The present school age generation gen are living in the most enlightened and technically advanced time of recorded history history history his his- tory but also under the most bewildering confusing frustrating pressures ever known The majority of the young people seem to thrive in this super-charged super atmos atmos- phere However an unfortunate ate minority find themselves unable to adjust Thanks to mental health workers and modern therapy techniques most of these young people may be guided into under self standing thus ultimately into productive learning and living liv liv- ing It Lt is a well-known well truth in education that no matter how fine the teacher and how excellent excellent excellent ex ex- ex- ex the teaching techniques techniques techniques ques sometimes a child can cant can't t learn simply because he has emotional problems that stand between him and the people around him Often these problems problems problems lems are not obvious to his associates though they may be We have an obligation to help these distressed children and their teachers No matter how well qualified qualified fied a teacher may be an emotionally emotionally emo emo- disturbed child often otten cannot learn The problems that fetter his mind and heart create a wall between him and his teacher The mental health program has given teachers one more insight into understanding understanding understanding under under- standing and reaching these children a k key y to unlock their minds and hearts to free them so that they may be receptive to learning One goal of the Guidance Counseling Service is to help the teachers to have bave a better understanding of some of the children whom they ther teach in order that they may teach them better Another goal is to help these children to understand them- them elves Delves and their problems In Inmany Inmany Inmany many cases merely understanding understanding understanding under under- standing solves the problem Other times understanding eases cases the pain of the problem and makes the child better able to accept teaching and to absorb education I invite and urge anyone to interview those who have worked closely with the mental mental mental men men- tal health program nurses doctors principals and teachers teach teach- ers to learn of the very gratifying gratifying gratifying gra gra- accomplishments already already already al al- al- al ready achieved May I explain the patron system How very often young people find themselves unable to confide in parents and teachers because the very closeness of the situation makes them fear criticism or Yet they can confide confide con con- fide in a person who is not involved a patron and receive comfort and help by being listened listened listened lis lis- to understood and ac ac- The The group discussions discus lons on a high school level have been a avery avery avery very rewarding aspect of this service This has been entirely entire entire- ly voluntary students attending attending attending attend attend- ing by their own choice Many times the outstanding students and leaders have chosen to participate thus making it easier for the shy backward troubled child to get help without without without with with- out feeling conspicuous In almost almost al ale al- al most every case students who have participated in the program program program pro pro- gram have expressed satisfaction satisfaction tion Lon and thankfulness for the help understanding and insight insight insight in in- sight they have gained gamed A fear was expressed that perhaps the activities of this service might interfere with religious beliefs or with the home relationships of these children NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH The men who staff this service Dr Smith Dr Nielson and Prof Thackeray are all not only well qualified they are themselves religious men men- menNo No one of them would ever do anything which in any anyway anyway anyway way could interfere with achild's a achild's achild's childs child's religious belief or with his respect for his family On the contrary these men strive to help young people understand understand under under- stand the importance of religious religious religious reli reli- conviction and close loving loving loving lov lov- ing family relationships in their lives THIS IS ONE OF THE MAJOR GOALS OF THE PROGRAM That each child shall achieve a peaceful home relationship and emotional stability to enable him to Ito become become be be- become come a responsible law-abiding law productive citizen I fail to see how such a program could engender fear or distrust in anyone Perhaps it is fortunate that Mr Biorge's letter was pub pub- We would like everyone everyone everyone every every- one to know about the mental health program We invite inquiries inquiries inquiries in in- by those who seek a amore amore amore more complete understanding of it The program is here It is available to all adults as well as children It can greatly benefit benefit ben ben- children and families in our area Its success depends upon acceptance and support of it by all of you We are indeed privileged and grateful to have this Guidance Counseling Service I commend without reservation reservation reserva reserva- tion the personnel of the service service servo ice and express my mr personal gratitude to them for their dedicated efforts MARJORIE L L. HAFEN Mayfield Utah Member Sanpete County Mental Health Advisory Board |
