Eugene weekly., May 12, 2011, Page 6, Image 6

letters
TO THE EDITOR
strong as the Y has come along and offered
to caretake our land. They seem to have a
solid proposal and the money and experience
to make it happen. They are offering the
School Board a reasonable amount of cash.
We are lucky. Opportunities like this don’t
come along every day.
Jewel Murphy
Passionfl ower Design
improvement in their standard of living and
prospects for the future. They didn’t want
signs hung around their children’s necks
saying “Dummies are us.”
Vote yes on the 4J school tax measure
and the school bond measure. “Dummies
are us” shouldn’t be the motto for Eugene.
Carleen Reilly
Eugene
PASSION FOR SCHOOLS
CRITICAL MASS
My dad has always been my hero, but I
have a new realization of just how heroic
he was. As a blind dairy farmer, delivering
milk with my mom to half the city on
alternate days, he tuned pianos afternoons
and played piano and organ for dances on
weekends in eastern Oklahoma.
He also had a passion for education.
When I started fi rst grade in 1946, he
wanted me to have a good education and
paid my tuition to attend good city schools.
By second grade, he had gotten our area
annexed to the city for all the children
for miles around to attend public schools
with art, music, social studies and math
teachers along with physical education.
This meant that kids graduating from
the one-room school could participate in
classwork on an equal basis with city kids
rather than being limited to lifetime jobs
as dirt farmers or sharecroppers.
I don’t remember how he accomplished
this feat, but from what I know about civic
engagement, it wasn’t done with the snap of
his fi ngers. I know that he and our neighbors
had to pay more taxes, but it was an instant
Social science tells us that when enough
people become the critical mass to bring
about change, change happens! In the
1800s many states created public schools
and land grant universities, recognizing
the need for an educated populace. One
teacher, Christa MacAuliffe, left this
legacy, that by teaching she touched the
future.
Changes in my personal life include the
closing of nuclear site Rancho Seco, the
end of the Vietnam War, and saving from
demolition two magnifi cent auditoriums:
Carnegie Hall and the Oakland Paramount
Theater. In Eugene, we preserved the
headwaters of the Amazon.
Today we have daunting but economi-
cally feasible choices: strong schools and
Civic Stadium. Passionate, convincing let-
ters from economists, parents, physicians
and students speak to the necessity of pre-
serving both schools and the stadium, to
ensure that the quality of life that Eugene-
ans enjoy continues.
In the 1960s I experienced the heart-
wrenching event of the downturn of a city
COMING SOON
Experienced.
Capable.
Caring.
Craig Smith has been on the Eugene 4J Board for 16 years. In that time,
he’s worked for a sustainable budget, stable education funding, quality
education and school excellence.
R
These community members and more, have endorsed
Craig in his Re-Election. For a full list of endorsers,
visit www.craig2011.com
VOTE FO
CRAIG
S BY M MAY IT 17 H th!
“Craig Smith has the perfect combination of experience, capability and caring that has benefited the
kids of 4J for 16 years. Please join me in re-electing Craig Smith to the Eugene 4J School Board.”
-Gerry Gaydos
“In these challenging times for 4J, with significant and difficult decisions to be made regarding budget
cuts and and a new superintendent at the helm, our district needs Craig Smith’s substantial experience,
steady hand and rational mind more than ever.”
-Tom Herrmann
“At a time when education and the way we deliver it is changing so rapidly, it is imperative to have the
knowledge and history that Craig Smith brings to the discussion. Please join me in voting for Craig
Smith in May.”
-Anette Spickard
2645 Willamette St
Authorized and paid for by Craig Smith for School Board
6 MAY 12, 2011 EUGENE WEEKLY
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