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About Vernonia freedom. (Vernonia, Oregon) 1978-198? | View Entire Issue (Aug. 13, 1981)
Page 2— Vernonia Freedom Thursday August 13,1981 Editorial School levy failure robs students of experience We’re cheating ourselves in the worst way possible. We’re robbing ourselves of the promise the future holds for our children. The recent defeat of the school budget levy, and the likely battle over the ammended budget, scheduled for a vote on September 15, are short changing the options our children have in school. We’re the first to agree that often our schools place too heavy an emphasis on extra-curricular activities as opposed to the basics, and that nearly as often school systems throughout the country turn out students unable to perform even the most simple of living skills. Unfortunately, it appears that the baby is being thrown out with the bath water.. Hanlon faces hard re-election fight There is a stink in this valley. The stink is being raised by a growing group of people who believe that State Senator Charles Hanlon has sold his constituents down the river for the price of political revenge. We have it from reliable sources that an organized effort to keep Hanlon from being reelected is steadily growing stronger. There is unmistakable evidence that Hanlon’s track record on issues affecting this area will no doubt be responsible for a well organized, well financed effort to keep him from successfully running for reelection. Sources from Astoria to Mist cite as examples Hanlon’s efforts to remove all timber representatives from the State Board of Forestry and replace them with Real Estate agents and “city folks”. Hanlon’s opposition to the Port of Astoria bill that State Representative Ted Bugas has fought so hard for, and Hanlon’s fight against the creation of Tongue Point Park, and of course, his ill- chosen opposition to HB 2620, all point to the need to replace him with someone who is more responsive to the voters needs, they say. Although we don’t know at this time who will be chosen to fight Hanlon in the primary it is patently clear that a war chest of funds and favors is certainly building and that the next series of elections ought to be very interesting, if only to watch the political bodies fall by the side of the road. We would like to formally thank State Representatives Ted Bugas and Carolyn Magruder and our county commissioners for all of the hard work they’ve put into HB 2620 this year. They have fought the good fight and are not to blame if the battle did not succeed. We’re certain that eventually an equitable settlement will be reached, if not at the state level then certainly at the county level. In the past Vernonia has been lucky in that, as a rule, our students have received a solid foundation in the basic skills of Reading, Writing and Math. It would be nice if these skills alone were guaranteed to produce well rounded citizens. The truth, however, is that to a large degree tomorrow’s citizens are produced not in the classroom but rather, on the playing fields and within the framework of the variety of extra-curricular activities that round out a student’s life. It is a basic rule that the broadest experience possible turns out the best adjusted citizens. By voting “No” to any school levy, and especially a levy proposed during a period of austere budget cuts imposed from above by both state and federal authorities, we’ve dramatically cut our children’s chances to experience the widest possible variety of choices. It is the choices our children enjoy today that will determine their courses in life. We agree that any increase in taxes, even to support our schools, is hard to bear. The point is, though, that any move that eliminates variety in our students’ lives also eliminates the variety of choice in their futures. How is a student to know whether they want to be a logger or an actor, an accountant or a writer, a football player or a foreign language specialist if they are not given the chance to experiment? If we limit their possibilities now aren’t we also limiting their choices later in life? We urge all District 47 J voters to take a hard look at what they want by way of future options for their children before voting for or against the next school budget levy. Our unwillingness to foot the bill for a well rounded educational opportunity for our children now is perhaps the worst possible reason upon which to base the decision to do away with the variety that lends color and choice to their lives. After all, choice is the only justification we have for education in general and choice, in the final analysis, is the only leverage we have in trying to provide our children with the chance to do better with their lives than we have done with ours. Lady bowlers meet VERNONIA METS Mets make play-offs The Vernonia Mets Softball team have won four of their last seven league games placing them in Fourth Place, according to team member Dolly Keenon. Final league standings will be determined by league playoff games scheduled for August 10 and 11. Check next week’s Vernonia Freedom for final results. The Vernonia Women’s Bowling Association will hold their fall membership meeting at 7:30 pm on August 19 in the West Oregon building. All women interested in bowling on a league are urged to attend. Membership application forms will be available. For more information contact Alice Ellson at 429-5353 or Betty Fuquay at 429-7691. Reader believes 47J 'Scared' To the Editor: Pre-school openings PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT I think that the school district is running scared. Why is it that they still want $242,195 more to meet their budget when the state legislature has cut their basic school support by only two percent? The school district is also receiving money from the Common School Fund which amounts to about $11,200. My understanding is the reason why the original levy was presented to the voters in June was because the school district had been contacted in the spring that they were not going to receive that much support from the state. (The state had funded the school costs by 40 percent). So when the 1981-1982 budget was presented the school had counted on getting that full 40 percent support. Does $242,195 represent a two percent loss in funds? I’m not that good doing percentage math but it looks like a two percent loss is hardly $242,195. I’d also like to say that the other morning at 7:30 am I noticed that the sprinklers were on watering the grass in front of the Washington Grade School. When I passed by again at 12 noon they were still on! Isn’t 4Vt hours more than sufficient to water the grass? Roberta F. Williams Vernonia The Columbia Education Service District Board will meet in special executive session for the purpose of deliberating with their labor relations representative on Thursday, August 13, 1981 at 7 pm in the Columbia Education Service District office, 1290 Deer Island Road, St. Helens, Oregon. The Columbia Education Service District Board will meet in regular session on Thursday, August 13, 1981 at 7:30 pm in the Columbia Education Service District office, 1290 Deer Island Road, St. Helens, Oregon. Vernonia Pre-School Co-op has openings in their three year old class, held each Tuesday from 9:30 am to 11:30 am. To register call 429-4841. *71 grads plan reunion The Vernonia High School graduating class of 1971 will hold ft’s 10 year class reunion August 22, 1981, at the home of Rick and Shelly Curl. It will be a potluck affair from 3 pm to 8 pm. The class will also be inviting classmates from previous years and teachers. For more information, contact Marilyn Landers at 429-4543. | Please renew my subscription to the Vernonia Freedom □ Please enroll me as a new subscriber to the Vernonia Freedom | Vernonia Freedom Published weekly in Vernonia Oregon, 97064, on Thursdays at825 Bridge St. Serving The Upper Nehalem Valley. Phone I29SHI. Subscriptions, $8 per year. Deadlines for copy and classified advertising: Monday at .» pm for the following Thursday's paper. Deadline for display advertising: Friday for normal material and Monday for afterweekend copy. Second-Class Postage Paid at Vernonia OR 97064, PuMicatum No. 474-690. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Vernonia Freedom, 825 Bridge St., Vernonia OR 97064. Dennis Dobson.................. publisher-editor Ann Dobson......................................... publisherbusiness manager MEMBER 429-8111 Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association Q One year—$8 Q Two years—$15 Q On© year senior citizen (over 65)—$5 Name______________________________ ______________________ _ Street_____________________ _ ______________________ ______ City_______________________ ________ Mailpayment to: Vernonia Freedom 825 Bridge St Vernonia, OB97064
