The Chemawa American, April 03, 1975, Page 2, Image 2

2
Chemawa American
Chemawa American Editorial and Opinion Page
First, Here's e Little Good News....
It used to be that a letter sent home on a student had
only one possible meaning. The student was in trouble. He
or she had done something bad. Well, we do'have students
who foul up, sometimes badly. But we also have a lot of
students who contribute a great deal of good to the school,
and they are finally getting some recognition too.
Staff and teachers have come up with what they call a
"Special Communique". It's a little certificate praising
students for a job well done in class, dorms or activities.
It is filled out and sent home so that teachers or staff
can let parents or guardians know their son or daughter is
doing well and is appreciated.
We think it is a good idea, and we wish it had been
thought of earlier. There is nothing like a few words of
praise to make someone, anyone, feel good.
...And Some Th&t's Not So Good -..
Chemawa's wrestlers took to the mat 139 times against
other teams this year. They won more than they lost (75—
62), but the team never won a match. The reason is simple.
Because of forfeits, they had to start most matches
with
the score 24-0 against them!
Where were those four extra men? And where were
the
jayvees? Only one, Todd DeGarmo, stuck it out for the en­
tire season.
They were in the student body— somewhere.
They wanted the glory, the prestige and the feelings of ac­
complishment that go with competition. But they didn't
want the hard work and sacrifices that they would have to
make to get them.
Athletics do teach a valuable lesson. You can succeed,
but only if you are willing to work hard for it. Nobody
will hand you a win as a gift. You have to struggle for it
and take it. This happens not only in sports, but in the
big cruel world outside as well.
What are the things you want for your life, and how hard
are you willing to work for them? The athlete knows at
least part of the answer. He has the experience of setting
a goal and then struggling to reach it.
No matter what the conference standings say, Chemawa's
teams were not made up of losers. The losers were the ones
who were afraid to try or who could not face the idea of
struggle and sacrifice. They are their own victims.
And a Footnote
Sim Adolph's wrestling season did not end at the State
Meet. He wrestled again in the Oregon Free style Champion­
ships at O.C.E. There he finished 11th out of 62 in his
weight division. He wrestled six times in two days against
A, AA and AAA competition, winning four of the matches.
That makes his season total 21-6. Good going, Slim!
Rev. Moffett
Talks to Students
"You are on the threshold
of a new age,: Rev. Walter
Moffett told Chemawa's stu­
dents at an assembly March
19.
Rev. Moffett is Presi­
dent of the Northwest Affil­
iated Tribes of Oregon, Ida­
ho, Washington and Montana.
Rev. Moffett talked about
the achievements and prob­
lems facing Northwest Indi­
ans . "Ours is a
changing
role," he said.
"We are
caught up in the 20th cen­
tury pace."
He said that
Northwest
Indians lag behind in many
social and economic aspects
of life. "But we have made
advances and we have shown
the strength to grow more."
Indian college enrollment
has more than doubled since
1960, he said, adding that
at one time he was the only
member of his tribe enrolled
in college. "Our history in
the last’ few centuries has
been written in our ability
to endure and survive."
THE CHEMAWA AMERICAN
Member--Oregon Scholas­
tic Press, Quill S Scroll.
Published through
the
school year (except d u r in g
vacations) by the joint ef­
forts of the
journalism,
Business
Ed
and graphic
arts
classes.
Official
publication of Chemawa Indi­
an School,
5495 Chugach
St. NE, Salem, OR
97303
Student Staff:
Cary Carden
Raymond Gunn, John Monaghan
Photography:
Mr. Matt 6
Brad Filkins
Typing
Business Ed
Cluster £ Staff
Advisers:
Mr. John Dashney
Mr. Ron Berg
Principal:
Mr. J.W. Smith
Supt.:
Mr. Ed Lonefight