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Page A4
April 20. 2005
Opinion articles do not
necessarily reflect or represent the
views o f The Portland Observer
O pinion
Price of Two Terms
Two terms of Republican rule are bringing us a continual
war with no end in sight, the highest gas prices in history, the
highest federal deficit in history, elimination of Social Security
and lifetime appointments of judges who oppose abortion,
minimum wage, pollution restrictions and a citizen’s right to
privacy.
There’s more, but isn’t that enough? Just say no to extremist
judges and down with George Bush II!
Jason DeSanto
Southeast Portland
Stand Up for Rights
For more than 30 years, Oregonians who care about
fairness and equality for all Oregon citizens have asked the
state to pass legislation making it illegal to discriminate based
on sexual orientation. There comes a time when it is no longer
acceptable to be politically cautious or cavalier about doing the
right thing-and that time is now.
It is now time for lawmakers to show the leadership and
courage we expect of our representatives in the legislature by
protecting all Oregon’s families including same-sex couples
and our families with civil union legislation and banning dis­
crimination based on sexual orientation throughout the state.
Oregon’s promise of fairness and equality for all of its citizens
stand strong, even today with a nationally hostile political
arena. It is time for Oregon to stand strong for all Oregon
families.
WMHMNNI
Change Schools from the Inside
Finance teaching over testing
J udge G reg M athis
At a recent gathering spon­
sored by the National Gover­
nors Association, the world’s
richest man took state leaders
to task on failing high schools
throughout the country.
B ill G ates sta te d that
A m erica’s high schools are
leaving students unprepared for
both college and today’s jobs
market. Gates didn’t just talk
the talk: He pledged $15 million
to states that take significant
by
After a painful and divisive campaign season, we now have
an enormous opportunity to find common ground. MostOrego-
nians-even those who voted yes on Measure 36-believe that
discrimination is wrong. Those very same voters believe that
same-sex couples have the right to legal recognition of their
families and their children. To squander this opportunity would
be shameful and at odds with O regon's fundamental values.
It’s time for Oregon lawmakers and all Oregonians to do the
right and civil thing. Right now.
Karen Wells
Northeast Portland
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We need more
resources given to
assist schools
with teacher
training and
smaller classes.
-J u d g e Greg Mathis
majored nor minored in the sub­
ject in college.
Colorado Gov. Roy Rom er
proposed replacing large high
schools with sm aller ones that
can provide students with more
individualized attention. The
idea o f sm aller high schools
has proven to increase stu­
dent perform ance. In the last
five years, the Gates Founda­
tion has invested $7.33 million
dollars towards the construc­
tion o f new , sm a lle r high
schools and im provem ents in
existing ones. C learly, Bill
Gates knows som ething about
increasing education perfor­
mance and is w illing to put his
money where his mouth is.
If the Governors would fol­
low his lead, we can perhaps
stem the tide of failing high
schools. One governor at the
meeting must have been listen­
ing to Bill Gates. Michigan Gov­
ernor Jennifer Granholm an­
nounced last week a program to
provide zero-interest loans to
school districts that will build
new high schools with no more
than 500 students.
The schools would focus on
students who are perform ing
poorly in the larger school set­
tings. Granholm is also seek­
ing help from foundations for
assistance with operating e x ­
penses. Hopefully, the other
governors will join in this ef­
fort to prepare high school stu­
dents for success by taking a
more innovative approach to
instruction. All the testing and
increased standards that our
students are being subjected
to w on’t do any good if we fail
to give them the resources
necessary to improve their test
scores.
Judge Greg Mathis is chair­
man o f the Rainbow PUSH-
Excel Board and a national
board member o f the South­
ern Christian Leadership Con­
ference.
(T h e P o r t k n t h O H w n w r
raacr mors paopte
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steps to im prove their high
schools.
The G overnors Association
responded by pledging to in­
crease stan d ard s and high
stakes testing at high schools -
the same solution offered by
the Bush A dm inistration. U n­
fo rtu n a te ly , th ere w as no
pledge to m ake significant
changes inside the classroom ,
w h e re c la s s e s are o v e r ­
crow ded and students are un­
der taught. Somehow testing
and standards seem s to be
more im portant than instruc­
tion and classroom changes.
Numerous studies have in­
dicted that smaller class sizes
and teacher retraining are the
most necessary changes for
improved student progress. We
know the kids are failing, we
don’t need more testing to show
that our schools are falling be­
hind. We need more resources
given to assist schools with
teacher training and smaller
classes.
In a recent report by the U.S.
Department of Education, un­
qualified teachers was the pri­
mary reason given after 50 per­
cent of the nation’s high school
seniors were unable to pass the
basic skills test on the subject of
history. The report also indi­
cated that over half ofj unior and
senior high school students have
history teachers that neither
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Injustice to Loving Couples
M ayor T om P otter
T he O re g o n S u p re m e
C ourt’s decision invalidating
Multnomah County’s same sex
m arriages is sad not ju st for
Oregonians, but for anyone
who values individual dignity
and the absolute right of two
people to share their love with
their families, their friends and
theircom m unity.
To deny two people the basic
legal rights that every Ameri­
can in a loving, committed rela­
tionship enjoys simply because
of their gender is a slap at the
by
core moral values that shaped
our country, and a denial of our
collective humanity.
On a personal note, I am
especially saddened for my
daughter, Katie. As a Portland
police officer, she has put her
life on the line to protect our
community. Katie and her part­
ner, Pam, married last March,
with their two little girls watch­
ing. Now, I wonder, who will
protect Katie and her family?
I know that the governor is
pushing for legislation that will
allow same sex couples to
form civil unions that would
give them many of the same
rights available to heterosexual
m arried couples. This is a
good-if-im perfect first step.
And I know that in time, our
laws will catch up with the
goodness that is in the hearts
o f so many. It was only 38
years ago that people o f dif­
ferent races were allow ed to
marry. Time will heal this in­
justice as well.
Tom Potter is the mayor of
Portland and a former Port­
land police chief.
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