Monologue
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Textbook laws need review
By
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By Doug Vaughan
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Editor in Chief
A spelling book was also banned because a
reference to the Equal Rights Amendment was
made in a baseball story. The only problem was
that ERA stood for the pitcher’s Earned Run
Average.
A textbook does not always exactly in
fluence what a teacher teaches. Lectures usually
stray off the book’s course, and are filled
basically with what the teacher thinks is impor
tant. So it is said that textbooks really do not
have an impact on what the student is taught,
yet people seem to make a fuss about them.
Some restrictions are needed for text
books, but the truth should not be avoided. The
way that ORS 337.260 stands now, Oregon
students are not being taught the truth.
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Clackamas Community College, 19600 S. Molalla Avenue, Oregon City,
Oregon 97045.
Office: Trailer B; telephone: 657-8400, ext. 309, 310
Editor In Chief: Doug Vaughan
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Often what one says and does are two
totally different things. The Father of our
Country, George Washington, made this point
stand out clearly, but don’t put it in an Oregon
textbook.
Why? It’s against the law. Section 337.260
of the Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) will back
me up on that. It states, “No textbook shall be
used in the schools which speaks slightingly of
the founders of the republic or those who
preserved the union or which belittles or under
values their work.” So he wasn’t a hypocrite?
Washington owned slaves and in the same
lifetime stressed the Massachusetts Constitu
tion which states, “All men are born free and
equal.” Facts overthrow his image, but still it
can’t be taught.
An argument is the slaves were not
“slaves.” How should I say it? They were
agricultural specialists who were imported to
tage over the enemy. At least, that
improve Washington’s fields on a long-term
By J. Dana Haynes
appears to be the opinion of the
contract. If that’s a legitimate argument, call
Arts Editor
Reagan administration.
me a fool.
Mr. Reagan seems to believe
This Oregon statute is over 50 years old,
In Ronald Reagan’s State of
that a space-based defense line, not
and like most things 50 years old, it is out
arms negotiations, will end the
dated, excuse me mom and dad. The debate in the Union address last month, the
threat of nuclear war for all time.
the courts has been dragging on for the fifth president unveiled his support for
an American space station, to be
The theory goes something like this:
year, but hopes to conclude this year.
functional no later than 1992.
In the event of a Russian first strike,
Whether the statute will be overturned will
This move took many of us by America’s satelite system, whether
not be known for a while. Textbook orderings,
particle beams or X-ray lasers,
which occur every six years, will not wait. If the surprise, since Mr. Reagan has
court hearings are not settled by the end of the never been synonymous with could obliterate the Soviet missiles
in mid-air, somewhere over the Arc
year, all textbooks will have to comply with the peaceful, progressive ideas.
However, a closer look reveals a se tic (or, as hard-line Pentagon en
laws.
thusiasts estimate, 90 percent of the
Stevie Remington, executive director of the cond side to the coin.
Along with his endorsement of missiles, meaning a paltry 300-400
American Civil Liberties Union in Portland
says, “It is unrealistic to paint out founding NASA’s space station, the President would actually hit the U.S.)
Since we would then be virtual
fathers as saints. That’s propaganda, not also authorized a new “low-level
research effort” aimed at ironing ly invulnerable, Russia would final
education.” A point well made.
The Oregon Textbook Commission sets out the wrinkles in what the press ly admit to our superiority and the
the crucial guidelines for the publishing com has dubbed the Star Wars System. arms race will be over.
This is obvious hogwash. Post
panies, which includes Section 337.260. They Evidence suggests this, and not the
are not to blame for the restrictions, it’s the manned station, is the true thrust of World War II history clearly shows
the current administration.
that neither side will long tolerate an
law.
The Star Wars directive arms lead by the other side. If we
ORS 337.260 is not altogether bad. It also
sets guidelines that call for “respect for all peo authorized the addition of between pour millions—or more likely,
$250 and $300 million to research billions—into space weaponry, then
ple, regardless of race, creed, national origin,
age, sex or handicap.” To me this is common into space-based, anti-missile the Russians will also. If we develop
systems, the money to go into effect “death ray” satelites, the USSR will
sense, but to others, maybe not.
The law does have an impact. If publishers in fiscal 1985. In other words: counter with like weapons and
do not comply with it, they don’t sell their lasers, particle-beams or hunt hunter/killers. We, of course,
books to Oregon schools. Even though Oregon er/killer satelites.
would have to build Weapon X
Since the battle of Masada, (take your pick of science fiction
schools make up just 1.56 percent (23rd na
tionally) of the publishing companies’ 1 billion military men have sought the “high favorites) to counter this clear and
dollar annual business, it does have a great im ground,” that area which, through obvious threat to democracy, to
pact. These companies sell their books nation elevation, provides maximum which the Russians would build of
defense and an optimum vantage fensive and defensive systems,
wide. What Oregon wants, the rest of the na
point of the battlefield. The French which of course would be in
tion gets.
siege towers in Lebanon and what is tolerable for us and prompt the
Oregon is not the only state that has
now Israel provided the high ground development of new weapons.
restrictions on textbooks. California prohibits
over France’s disgruntled “tenants”
pictures of junk food to promote nutrition.
Ad infinitum, ad nauseum.
and the dominance of the allied air
Texas stresses the discussion of creation in
Clearly, adding - $300 million
forces in World War II proved the for research into this field is not
biology books. Witchcraft also plagues
vulnerability of Hitler’s Fortress prudent, not in these times of
publishers.
Europa.
Last year, in Alabama, a book used by
cosmic budget deficits. Research in
nearly half of the school kids was banned. Not
Now, space is the high ground to ballistic missile defenses is
because of a touchy subject, but because of a
and whichever side masters it first already costing us $1.2 billion this
reference to a Halloween witch costume.
will have a clear and distinct advan- year alone.
Star Wars System immoral act
>
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Page 2
The only logical defense against
nuclear war is ridding the planet of
nuclear weapons. And the only ob
vious way to accomplish this is
through peace talks. The Reagan
administration, ever-aware of the
election year, has said repeatedly it
would like very much to resume
talks, yet the deployment of Cruise
missiles in Europe has made such
talks highly improbable. Mr.
Reagan knew that before they were
deployed. Evidence suggests the cur
rent administration is talking a good
game (to us, not the enemy) but is
not all that anxious for communica
tions with the Soviets.
Fans of the Star Wars System
counter these arguments by saying
the Soviets are already working on
such futuristic weaponry, and if we
don’t develop similar systems, they
will have the advantage.
In fact, according to a study
conducted by American scientists,
including Dr. Carl Sagan, there
have been 40 distinct technological
advances in weaponry since World
War II and in 38 of these cases it
was the US who upped the ante, not
the USSR. Besides, Soviet space ac
tivities have been slip-shod and
haphazard, despite the awesome
amounts of money they have poured
into the field.
Another, more esoteric, pro
blem arises from the American
research funds. Simply put: Do we,
the United States of America want
to go down in history as the first na
tion to bring war to space? To date,
no one has ever killed or died in
outer space. Are we ready to break
this taboo by seeking a celestial high
ground? If so, I suggest the move
would be as morally indefensible as
it would be militarily indefensible.
Clackamas Community College