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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 17, 2005)
il'e'IJnrtlanb (ßbscrucr Page A 4 August 17. 2005 Opinion articles do not necessarily reflect or represent the views o f The Portland Observer O pinion Voting Rights Act Brought Justice SfME ° F"WE UNK>M, Two ^ r s tué m w c. Full equality needs more work by U.S. R ep . J ohn L ewis , D-G a . Aug. 6 was the 40"' Anniver sary o f the Voting Rights Act. It has been called one of the most influential pieces of legislation passed by Congress in the last 50 years and hailed as the crowning success of theCivil RightsMove- ment. Before the Voting Rights Act, there were only a few hundred black elected officials in the whole United States. Today, just 40 years later, there are literally thousands of lo cal, state, and federal officials all and fired from their jobs just for talking about reg iste rin g to vote. People were beaten, arrested, taken to jail, and even killed trying to register to vote. 1 almost died trying to make sure that my parents, grandparents, you and your children would have the right to vote. We have come a long way in America, but we still have a great We must remember that the vote is the most powerful, non-violent tool we have in a democracy. We cannot take it fo r granted. across the country, including black distance to go before we achieve mayors, judges, sheriffs, school equal justice in America. We have board members, city council mem work to do and we have to get busy. We must remember that the bers and members of Congress. The Voting Rights Act has vote is the most powerful, non changed America. It has made this v io le n t tool we have in a democracy. We cannot take it for country a better place. We must never forget the role granted. We must get educated about the that our community played in bring ing greater justice to this country. issues and vote according to our It is true that Congress passed conscience. And, then, we need to the Voting Rights Act of 1965. And, get involved. Whatever it is you yes. President Lyndon Johnson care about, you need to choose signed it into law, but it was the your ground and make a difference. brave and courageous souls of This nation needs you. It needs M ississippi, Alabama, Georgia- your creativity and your ideas to men, women, and children-all across meet its democratic destiny. Congressman John Lewis is a the South who wrote that act. People stood in unmovable lines. member o f the Congressional People were evicted from their farms Black Caucus. W b U NEVER UtT - the terrorists Affaci ASSURED- Missed Opportunity on Fixing Schools Lawmakers fail on several counts S usan C astillo In my role as the State Superintendent o f Public Instruction, I’d like to discuss a few missed opportunities during the recent Leg islative session. First, of course, is school fund ing. There was a great deal o f talk about stable school funding through the Speaker’s plan and later on, with the Governor's plan. by A combination of politics, turf, and the preservation of the status quo won out over what was best for students, schools and taxpayers in Oregon. In the end, neither plan w ent anyw here, and our schools ended up in sam e p o sitio n th e y ’ve been in for years - poorly funded and still dependent on the unstable income consolidation. Finally, the G overnor’s excel tax. I appreciated the efforts to ap proach the problem from a different lent idea o f requiring group pur angle, but both the Speaker and the chasing agreem ents for O regon’s G overnor missed the opportunity 198 school districts never even to address head-on the dual issues got drafted into a bill. A third missed opportunity was o f stability and adequacy. The second missed opportunity the failure to take a constructive was the chance to make progress in look at the Education Act for the containing education costs. I joined 21st Century, especially the CIM with the Governor in supporting a and CAM. Instead, a serious effort statewide health insurance pool for was made to simply eliminate sec school districts. The potential sav tions of the law, and the many Leg ings under a statewide pool were islators joined me in opposing that unknown, but even the idea to do a extreme approach. In all these cases, a combination study to identify possible savings o f politics, turf, and the preserva went down in defeat. A bill to direct and fund the Sec tion of the status quo won out over retary of State’s office to conduct what was best for students, schools financial and performance audits of and taxpayers in Oregon. Even though we m issed these Oregon’s school districts, which the G overnor and 1 also supported, opportunities during the session, waskilledincommittee. Inaddition, I am going to continue to work for a bill to streamline services to stu school funding, co st c o n ta in dents and consolidate Oregon’s 20 ment, and school im provem ent in Education Service Districts, with the year to com e. Betw een now the result being significant cost and 2 0 0 7 ,1 will work closely with savings, was amended to remove the G overnor, the State Board o f E ducation, and the m any other education leaders and partners w ho care deeply about Oregon stu d e n ts. We can make progress by plan ning to fund schools under the framework of the Quality Educa tion M odel, c o n ta in in g co sts through improved audits of school districts and ESDs, and using co operative purchasing agreements, ESDconsolidation, and a statewide health insurance pool. A comprehensive review and revision of graduation requirements and the CIM/CAM to make the changes is also needed in order to move us to the next level. As Thomas Jefferson said, “I like the dreams o f the future more than the history o f the past.” The time is now to look toward building the schools Oregon needs for the skills of the 21 st century. Together, we can work toward that goal. School Castillo is the Oregon superintendent of public instruc tion. OFFICE • RETAIL Martin Luther King Corridor Located in the Heart of Portland For More Details A FILM DIRECTED BY KEN BURNS Contact: UNFORGIVABLE BLACKNESS THE RISE AND FAEE OF Chuck or Mark Washington JACK JOHNSON 503-288-1897 Parts 1-2, Thursday, August 18 & 25 at 9pm 2 Spaces Available SPONSORED BY \ proti» I sponsor «I k« n Burns / O l’B T V opb.org Re Mnn pbs.org/jatkiobnson Joyce Washington Plaza
