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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (April 8, 2015)
10A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015 Submitted photo On his trip to China and Xi’an No. 85 Middle School, Astoria High School Principal Lynn Jackson said he witnessed highly dedicated students in an unparalleled high-stakes testing environment. China: As part of the exchange, eight Chinese principals will visit the US Continued from Page 1A Under pressure “The pressure of that sum- mative test … drives all instruc- tion at the high school,” Jackson said, relaying his observations of placards at the front of class with a gaokao countdowns and students leaving school late at night after studying. He said he might have had a skewed perspective, No. 85 being a high-level school where many parents are profession- als and many children study at internationally prestigious uni- versities — akin to using Jesuit High School, a private Catholic high school in Portland, to look at Oregon’s educational sys- tem. During his trip to Xi’an, Jackson sat down several times with students, who conveyed the pressures they face to make it to class under any circumstance and study harder than other stu- dents. “One student said ‘we don’t have dreams,’” Jackson said, adding an administrator told him about the problem in universi- ties, where students who have managed to pass the gaokao of- ten lack direction. The teachers aren’t pushy or overly demanding, Jackson said students told him, but rather, it’s more of a societal issue. “There’s a human element to this,” he said, conveying the immense pride and emotion felt by students and parents during a coming-of-age ceremony he compared to graduation day in the U.S. In a country of 1.3 billion, Jackson said a principal queried him, how can educators equita- EO\ ¿QG WKH FUHDP RI WKH FURS without testing? Best of both worlds The New York Times article reported how Chinese schools are trying, albeit with resistance, to lower the reliance on the ga- okao and expand curriculum. Jackson said he sees a middle ground between the discipline of China’s schools and students, and the creativity of America’s. Along with Xi’an No. 85, Jackson visited several univer- sities and a Juilliard-like arts school, the Shaanxi Vocational College of Arts. Along with shadowing edu- cators at various schools, he vis- ited ancient monuments around Xi’an and the Shaanxi province, including the Terracotta Army, the Shaanxi History Museum, the Xi’an Bell Tower in the center of the city and the Qian- ling Mausoleum. Jackson also visited the Great Wall of China, Beijing, the Forbidden City and other national monuments. The China Exchange Initiative cov- ered much of the cost, and Jack- son paid for his airfare. As part of the Ore- gon-Shaanxi exchange, eight Chinese principals will travel to the U.S. later this year. Jackson said Principal Wu from Xi’an No. 85 will be among the group. Submitted photo Principal Lynn Jackson said that amid high-stakes test- ing, he was consistently reminded of the humanity of Chinese students, seen here learning about the Astoria Column. Jackson also brought gliders from Astoria. Letter: Judge is expected to rule on defense’s request at next hearing who have not been inundated with unnecessary and negative publicity.” In addition, the defense’s motion stated Marquis’ com- plaints have been brought up multiple times in previous court cases and to continually raise the same issues wastes court resources and interferes with Smith’s efforts to conduct the litigation in a timely man- ner. “Numerous and repeat- ed complaints by the state, Continued from Page 1A Marquis’ letter asked the FRXUWWRVHWD¿UPGHDGOLQHRI May 1 for providing witness names and statements and that an upcoming hearing May 12 be turned into a status hearing to determine when the state can expect to receive discov- ery from the defense. Smith, 41, is accused of aggravated murder and at- tempted aggravated murder for allegedly drugging and murdering her 2-year-old daughter and attempting to kill her 13-year-old daughter in a Cannon Beach hotel July 31. ,Q WKH PRWLRQ ¿OHG 0RQ- day, Smith’s defense claimed Marquis’ letter is an improper pleading and in violation of Oregon Uniform Trial Court Rules. The defense is asking the court to strike the letter from WKH FRXUW ¿OHV DQG WR KDYH 0DUTXLVFHDVHVXFK¿OLQJVWKH motion stated. whether by letter or by prop- HUO\ ¿OHG SOHDGLQJV VKRXOG not be condoned or allowed when they argue the same is- sues previously ruled upon by this court,” Falls and Morgan wrote. The motion also points out the state carries the burden of proof, not the defense. “A criminal defendant, as I have known even before going to law school, has an absolute right not to testify and in fact, to not present any evidence or put on any defense,” Falls and Morgan wrote. The next scheduled hearing in the case is 11:15 a.m. April 17, when Judge Matyas is ex- pected to rule on the defense’s request to strike the letter. “I expect to address these issues at the hearing on April 17,” Marquis said. “The state GLGQRW¿OHDPRWLRQZHVHQW a letter to the court asking that the May 12 date be turned to a status hearing. I expect that is what we will be discussing.” Daily Astorian file Jessica Smith, appears with her attorneys William Falls, back, and Lynne Morgan, foreground at the Clatsop County Courthouse for a status hearing Jan. 22. Smith is charged with aggravated murder and attempted aggravat- ed murder in the drowning death of her 2-year-old and cut- ting the throat of her teenage daughter in Cannon Beach. “The District Attorney’s letter to the court and to de- fense counsel serves no pur- pose other than the harassment of Ms. Smith and her counsel,” Falls and Morgan wrote. “The District Attorney’s intent to publicly disparage Ms. Smith DQGKHUFRXQVHOE\¿OLQJVXFK letter as a trial pleading is ob- vious and such tactics only serve to deny to Ms. Smith the constitutional rights of a fair, unprejudiced trial with jurors CMH Urgent Care in Warrenton Open daily, 9am-6:30pm 1639 SE Ensign Lane (near Staples and Petco) 503-338-4500 t www.cmhurgentcare.org Bridge: The Riverfront Vision Plan was adopted in 2009 ervation Society, questioned what lessons the Planning But in other sections over Commission learned from a the river in Uniontown, new town hall meeting in Union- buildings could be up to 35 town in January where public feet high and 150 feet wide, sentiment was overwhelming- with 40-foot corridors spaced ly opposed to greater develop- in between to preserve views. ment. On shore, new buildings Matt Hastie, a city plan- could be 35 feet high — or ning consultant, said public up to 45 feet with stepbacks feedback from the town hall — with view corridors in be- LQÀXHQFHG WKH UHFRPPHQGD- tween. tion to restrict development The Bridge Vista phase near the bridge and west of would also involve rezoning Second Street. “We certainly property on shore to allow for heard a lot of testimony from an expanded range of commer- folks who would like to see cial and residential uses and a very little to nothing allowed pedestrian-friendly district. over water,” he said. The 5-0 vote by the Plan- “We’re implementing the ning Commission sent Bridge Riverfront Vision Plan. We’re Vista to the Astoria City not going back and revising Council, which is expected to the recommendations from review the blueprint in May. that plan. That plan basically talks about a balance of pro- Multiyear project tecting views in some areas, The Riverfront Vision allowing a certain amount of Plan, adopted in 2009, is a overwater development in four-phase project to better other areas, that’s what we’re shape land use and develop- trying to balance.” PHQWDORQJWKHULYHU7KH¿UVW Hastie said the Bridge leg — the Civic Greenway Vista proposal would prevent phase between 16th Street and certain development over the 41st Street — was approved river, such as residential units by the City Council last year. or hotels, that had provoked Bridge Vista in Uniontown public concern. ZDV LGHQWL¿HG DV D SRWHQWLDO Dave Pearson, the presi- location for new develop- dent of the Planning Commis- ment, including development sion, characterized the Bridge over the river, but has become Vista recommendations as “a WKH ODWHVW ÀDVKSRLQW IRU SUHV- lot of compromises. But there ervationists who want little or are a lot of steps forward that no growth on the river. we simply do not have right Ted Osborn, the president now. of the Lower Columbia Pres- “So, to me, this is I think Continued from Page 1A the best possible balance that we have to send to the City Council for consideration.” Commissioner Jan Mitch- ell said she had been very concerned about develop- ment pressures along the river before the recession stalled growth. At the time, the city did not have the kind of land use restrictions now in place along the Civic Greenway and possible in the Bridge Vista phase. “No plan is perfect,” she said, “but I think it is a huge step in the right direction and leaves this community less vulnerable to being taken over by corporations that really don’t know much about how ZHVHHRXUVHOYHVDVD¿VKLQJ village, or as a river commu- nity, or whatever.” Commission Vice Pres- ident McLaren Innes and Commissioners Sean Fitzpat- rick and Kent Easom joined Pearson and Mitchell in vot- ing in favor of the recommen- dations. Commissioners Dar- yl Moore and Frank Spence were excused. Some residents want the city to do more to discourage development along the river and will likely pressure the City Council to add further restrictions before approving the Bridge Vista segment. “This is not a Bridge Vista plan,” Juanita Price, a retired librarian, told the Planning Commission. “This is a bridge blackout plan.” Urgent Care in Warrenton With shorter wait times. We’re here when you need care now When you need healthcare now, come to CMH Urgent Care in Warrenton and Astoria. With onsite x-ray and lab services, you’ll be on the road to recovery soon. $.)6SHFOU$BSF t Works with most insurances, including Medicare and Medicaid. t Provides onsite lab and x-ray services. t Cares for people of all ages. &YDIBOHF4USFFU"TUPSJB0SFHPOt XXXDPMVNCJBNFNPSJBMPSHt"1MBOFUSFF%FTJHOBUFE)PTQJUBM