Editorial
English-only rule
prevents culture
In an ethnocentric move the Tornillo, Texas, school
board has asked parents to punish their children if the
students are caught speaking Spanish in the classroom.
Because state and federal laws stop schools from
punishing students only for speaking a language other than
English, the school board sent letters to the parents asking
them to discipline their children if they are caught.
The program is supposed to encourage the students to
learn and to speak English. Scores on national mathematics,
reading and language skill tests are consistently below
average in Tornillo schools.
But while school officials may force these children to
speak English, they also are teaching them to ignore their
native culture. Forty percent of the Tornillo students only
speak Spanish, or little English, and 60 percent of the
parents don't speak any English.
The schools have a responsibility to integrate students
into society But this cannot be done at the cost of the family
nr the culture. Many problems undoubtedly will arise if the
parents consent to this idea.
Students may suffer from culture shock or a lack of iden
tity. In school they will be taught that English is the only
language worth learning, while their home life will center
around the Spanish language and culture
Granted, if the students learn English they will have an
easier time adapting to different cultures. However, there
are better ways of teaching them.
English as a second language programs exist and should
be improved as an alternative to this forceful form of learn
ing. The school isn't teaching them English, they're
threatening them.
The board’s intentions are good, but their actions are
not in the students’ best interests.
Man's best friend suffers
in master's exercise
Remember those Humane Society commercials asking
us not to leave our clogs In a car during the summer? “Hot
enough to fry an egg-Hot enough to fry a clog's brain .'*
It's a morbid thought but one to take seriously. While
we enjoy the warm summer weather we should not forget
our fine, furry friends. leaving pets in the car. however, is
just one problem.
lately we have noticed people riding their bicycles and
exercising their dogs at the same time. Similarly, people jog
with their dogs and expect the animals to keep up on the
five-mile trek.
It is not fair to make a dog exercise without proper con
ditioning. After all. we warm up before we work out and
never exceed our limit. This same consideration for health
and safety should be extended to the dog.
Some pets are capable of running alongside their
masters. They have the strength and stamina. Hut smaller
dogs arc- not built for this type of exercise. In these cases it is
best to leave the pet at home or casually walk it later.
We should give our pets the same respect we give to our
human friends. As spring rolls in, it is important to
remember that the animals have an extra coat on, and
therefore cannot withstand the same temperatures.
It can get hot enough to fry an egg. Please don't fry your
dog.
TVWS MAN TAKE
A BIGGER MIRACLE
TUAN \ TWOUGHT...J
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Special thanks
We would like to thank all
.students who took an active role
in selecting their next student
government, and we are proud
that you have selected us.
Special thanks go to Concern
ed Students for Responsive
leadership, the Greek Kndorse
rnent Committee. the Oregon
Daily Kmerald and the Student
Athlete Team Council for your
support and endorsement —
thanks for taking the time to in
terview candidates and make an
informed decision.
This election was a difficult
one, and we thank all of the can
didates that ran for caring
enough to publicly stand up for
what you believe. Students had
an array of choices for the future
of their student government —
and a record number of students
took advantage of this
opportunity.
Now that the election is over,
we would like to clarify some of
the campaign rhetoric which
poorly represented our position
on issues.
Minority recruitment and
retention is vital to this campus
and to our administration. We
will have a Minority Affairs
Coordinator in the Executive to
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explore the problems and for
mulate effective solutions. We
encourage anyone concerned
about minority issues to apply
for this position and to actively
work with the ASUO Executive
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Child care has always been
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finding additional NON
STUDENT support for the
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which is for accessible govern
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Thanks again for your
support!
Kasey Brooks
President-elect
Karen Gaffney
Vice president-elect
Draw the line
I have thought a lot about the
police action in the Churchill
High School strike confronta
tion since 1 first heard about it.
It is easy to take our freedoms
for granted. Sometimes,
however, it is necessary to stand
up for our rights or we risk their
erosion.
1 have always been a law-and
order supporter. I believe in
capital punishment. 1 believe in
victims' rights and in getting
tough with criminals.
I do not. however, believe in
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letting our cops unnecessarily
beat up honest, hard-working
citizens without challenging
them I'm not saying this is
what happened, but if it is we
need to draw a hard line right
here or next time it might be
you or me.
We can't open the door for
people who would abuse this
kind of authority. We don’t
need a police state in America.
What we IX) need is an in
dependent accounting of what
happened Monday morning. In
dependent of the school
district, the teachers' union and
our municipal government. 1
would suggest a citizens com
mission appointed by the
governor.
Stand up for yourselves De
mand your rights. If the police
did nothing wrong nothing will
happen to them. If they were
out of line the offending officers
should be suspended and charg
ed with assault and battery, just
as any other citizen would be
We need to send a strong
message to these public ser
vants. They are accountable for
what they do. This kind of thing
will not be tolerated.
Al Steinberry
MFA student
Sorry Blake
Upon reading a letter that was
published in the April 29
Kmerald. a realization came to
me: There are many people that
actually thrive on attention.
Mr. Sliter is a textbook exam
ple of a person who feels in
need of attention. Difficulties
arise when people in a com
munity. like the University,
realize that the kind of attention
that Mr. Sliter is attracting is
negative.
It is most possible that Mr.
Sliter is in dire need of help, but
that is neither here nor there.
Simply realizing that this
phenomenon exists is enough.
Sorry Blake.
Mark Gustavson
Political science