FEATURES
6A
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015
Teacher upset by graduation
Tomorrow’s horoscope
Dear Annie: Graduation is com-
ing up, and I don’t know what to do.
You see, most of the seniors aren’t
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of them have been truant for half of
the years they were here. At least 15
seniors were absent from class for
their entire senior year, and at least
20 percent lack grade-level reading
and writing skills. For some, college
will be impossible.
Every year, we have “alumni”
who return to school because they
either graduated without necessary
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and need academic help. I never give
passing grades to kids who don’t
show up to class, but if they perform
some token service, the school grad-
uates them anyway.
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uation ceremony? I haven’t gone
in two years, and when asked, I
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I appear unkind, because this is a
low-income, troubled neighborhood
and high school graduation means a
lot to these families. I just don’t like
what I see as a deception because
either the parents haven’t made sure
the kids go to school, or the school
lies to the kids and tells them every-
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— Teacher
Dear Teacher: There is only so
ARIES (March 21-April 19). There are
many things out of your control, but if you
take charge of one or two major things that
are very much within your realm of influence,
you’ll create a different future than the one
that’s been handed to you.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Leonardo da
Vinci wrote that “he who has access to the
fountain does not go to the water-pot.” You
have fountain-level access to whatever you
need to make a project fly. Use it. This is your
moment.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You have
someone powerful on your side, rooting for
you to do whatever it takes for maximum vi-
tality — and that someone is you. All success
will spring from taking good care of yourself.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). You can’t
fully enjoy yourself when you know others
have been left out of the pleasure. You thrive
on being helpful. The generous acts that you
think will take your energy will actually renew
it.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Your joy is in the
creative process. If it doesn’t turn out perfect-
ly, that in no way robs you of the excitement
that comes with making the effort. You may
not have all the skills you need yet, but with
each try, you’re getting them.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Sometimes
you do the things you need to do to be hap-
py, and yet the happiness doesn’t come. At
least you have the satisfaction of knowing
you’ve done enough to deserve it. That’s
something.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). In order to
break out of the constraints, issues and prob-
lems of the day, you’ll need a different view.
Treat the day as if it were a coin you could
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nant and have a little girl 18 months
ago. Now, with further assistance,
she is pregnant with twins.
Creators
It’s exciting but expensive to
Syndicate Inc.
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proper etiquette? I really like her,
Kathy Mitchell
and she was the matron of honor
and
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Marcy Sugar
worked together then and now have
lunch once every month or so, but
much you can do, and you are al- we are no longer super-close. —
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you don’t feel it is fair for kids to
Dear Second: Are you asking
graduate when they haven’t done the whether you should host twice or
work, shown up for class or achieved attend twice? You are not obligat-
the required standards. You are al- ed to do either, but it is especial-
UHDG\ JLYLQJ WKHVH NLGV ÀXQNLQJ ly onerous to host a second baby
grades. But unless the other teachers shower, so you are off the hook for
and the school administration are that. Many women opt not to have
willing to hold them back, they will second baby showers, because they
graduate anyway. And your school is already were provided with plenty
not the only one that operates in this of nice things that can be handed
fashion.
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:KLOH LW VHUYHV QR SXUSRVH IRU however, the need is greater, so a
parents or kids to believe gradua- second shower is understandable.
tion will happen whether or not it’s But it should not overburden peo-
deserved, for some, the humiliation SOH ZKR JDYH JHQHURXVO\ WKH ¿UVW
of not graduating doesn’t spur them time. Guests should include only
to achieve more. It makes them give close family, very close friends and
up. Ask yourself what you hope to those who were not invited to the
accomplish as an educator, and then ¿UVWEDE\VKRZHU,I\RXFKRRVHWR
seek the best way to achieve it.
attend a second shower, you might
Dear Annie: I have a friend consider a token gift rather than a
who, after lots of medical assis- pricey item.
Annie’s
Mailbox
FRANK AND ERNEST
BLONDIE
THATABABY
SALLY FORTH
STONE SOUP
B.C.
LOLA
DILBERT
SIX CHIX
BIZARRO
MUTTS
NON SEQUITUR
BABY BLUES
WIZARD OF ID
ZITS
ROSE IS ROSE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
toss, catch and turnover on your hand to dis-
cover its flip side.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Account for
what is right in relationships. Make a list of
what you love about your current connec-
tions. Your focus on the positive will make it
grow and overtake any negativity that’s there.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). If
there’s not enough to do, you’ll work slowly,
take detours and, at the last minute, meet a
deadline. If you have too much to do, you’ll
work quickly, take shortcuts and meet your
deadline just as well.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Share
your wisdom, and in all likelihood, no one will
listen. It’s not you; it’s just the kind of day it is.
However, if you share a kind word instead,
your audience will be all ears.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Helping
others sometimes means you get nothing
back, not even the certainty that you did
some good. Yet you keep helping. It’s your
nature to do so and your preferred way of
living.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Pare down
your needs of others. You’ve grown to rely on
someone, and it’s interfering with your usual
state of self-sufficiency. Take steps to regain
your independence.
WEDNESDAY’S BIRTHDAY (June 10).
You’re like the ocean tides — over time, you’ll
beat a rocky shore into fine sand. Persistent
efforts will change the landscape of your life.
July brings declarations of love. Travel is best
in July and October. People will give you the
answer they think you want, so make it clear
what you want and then hold them to it. Aries
and Aquarius people adore you. Your lucky
numbers are: 3, 40, 11, 19 and 16.