Page 4A
OPINION
East Oregonian
Friday, December 18, 2015
Founded October 16, 1875
KATHRYN B. BROWN
DANIEL WATTENBURGER
Publisher
Managing Editor
JENNINE PERKINSON
TIM TRAINOR
Advertising Director
Opinion Page Editor
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kick in the pants
OUR VIEW
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There’s nothing worse than losing your
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weeks before Christmas. That hurts just a
little bit more.
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away from the construction site, but have
yet to be paid for some work they’ve already
done.
Roughly 500 employees were working
on the station, which is 90 percent complete.
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of men and women will have a worrisome holiday season — not knowing
when that next check will come.
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wonderful variety of music, from the sacred
— “Ave Maria” — to the silly — “Text Me
Merry Christmas.” It was heartwarming
to see the choirs of traditional rivals —
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come together during this festive event.
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the people who donate time and resources to
collect, pack and distribute the food and gifts.
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area. Each helps make the Christmas season special in Eastern Oregon.
Unsigned editorials are the opinion of the East Oregonian editorial board of Publisher
Kathryn Brown, Managing Editor Daniel Wattenburger, and Opinion Page Editor Tim Trainor.
Other columns, letters and cartoons on this page express the opinions of the authors and not
necessarily that of the East Oregonian.
OTHER VIEWS
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laws mean for Oregon?
The Oregonian
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Obama signed a new law that entrusts
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broadcast her own pledge to Oregonians.
In a short statement, Brown said she
is “committed to ensuring every student
graduates high school with a plan and
opportunities for his or her future”
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its focus on “equity, high standards
and continuous improvement in our
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granted by the new law, which, as
The Oregonian2UHJRQ/LYH¶V%HWV\
Hammond reported, transfers the
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and select other accountability measures
from the federal government to states.
Healthy skepticism is warranted.
Oregon does not do accountability well,
whether it’s in education or any other
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of Energy editorial for an example of a
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But more important, how states use their
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difference between a tailored system
that rigorously evaluates and seeks
improvement for schools and one that
hides its failures — such as Oregon’s
low graduation rate, chronic absenteeism
and persistent gap in progress for
low-income students with students
overall — behind a façade of weak
metrics. Oregon’s success under the
new law will require strong educational
leadership from an administration
that has, so far, shown little interest in
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To be fair, there have been other
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became governor last February when
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didn’t take long for legislators to roll
back, with Brown’s blessing, one of his
key reforms. The Legislature dismantled
the Oregon Education Investment Board
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effort to comprehensively remake the
educational system for children from
birth to age 20.
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of adopting higher standards and
expectations in schools, retired from
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with the Northwest Regional Education
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position was also pared down after
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months ago. The position has been
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education policy adviser, Lindsey Capps,
a former teachers’ union leader who has
no experience as an educator.
Brown then delivered her own blow
as well. A teachers’ union-led revolt
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resulting in a bill that would allow
families to opt their students out of the
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any reason. Despite extolling the need
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to track how well schools are teaching
students — particularly low-income
and disadvantaged students — Brown
buckled and signed the bill. Both the old
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percent of students in tested grades take
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test just met that minimum.
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6DODP1RRUWROGThe Oregonian
OregonLive editorial board that both he
and Brown value the data that such tests
deliver and that they are committed to
meeting the 95 percent minimum.
“First, whether there was a federal
law or not, as sound practice and good
stewardship, we need reliable student
data,” Noor wrote.” This data is one
tool to drive school improvement efforts
and aggressively close achievement and
opportunity gaps. The Governor believes
strongly in data informed policies.”
In the meantime, the state will solicit
feedback from parents, educators and the
community about “the kind of inspiring
and highly-engaging learning we want
to see in our classrooms,” Noor wrote.
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to greater motivation, critical thinking,
creativity, and success for every student
so students see a connection between
their education and their future.”
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welcome, however, also makes it easy
for states to shortchange students, prop
up school ratings and weaken teacher
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Education is barred from prescribing
what measures states should use to track
progress or what goals they should set,
notes Daria Hall, a vice president with
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Education Trust. If a state includes
school success indicators that mask a
problem — for instance daily average
attendance — students end up losing.
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this,” she said. “But also advocates in the
state need to really keep states honest.
Let’s make sure this is about rigorous
outcomes.”
Considering Oregon — and Brown’s
— reaction so far to rigorous outcomes,
education advocates face a lot of work
ahead.
OTHER VIEWS
Fear, loathing and Republican debaters
:
one that he apparently imagines could
ell, the big Republican
be targeted so strategically that it would
presidential debate is over
kill only terrorists.
and the message is clear: Be
On the plus side, Jeb Bush did perk
afraid. Be very afraid.
up a bit. About time. I am privileged
“America has been betrayed,” began
to be on the Jeb! campaign mailing
Chris Christie, setting the tone for the
list and his pre-debate missives were
night, which might be described as
possibly the most pathetic in recent
bellicose paranoia. The betrayers were
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Gail
Clinton. His example of the terror they
COllins know you’re with me. Are you, Friend?
Do you have my back? If so, please
have wrought was the Los Angeles
Comment
chip in just $1 right now to say you’re
school system, which closed Tuesday
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after an email threat from someone
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who described himself as a Muslim terrorist.
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“Think about the mothers who will take
entirely due to “political correctness.” Carly
those children tomorrow morning to the bus
Fiorina promised to bring
stop wondering whether their
back “warrior class” generals
children will arrive back on
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that bus safe and sound,”
“retired early because they
Christie said darkly. “Think
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about the fathers of Los
that he didn’t want to hear,”
Angeles who tomorrow will
skipping the part about giving
head off to work and wonder
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about the safety of their wives
biographer with whom he was
and their children.”
having an extramarital affair.
This is probably not the
But the real battle was over
time to point out that the
governor of New Jersey seems to have a rather who could make things sound more dire, or
offer solutions more drastic. Trump wants to
retro view of the roles of mothers, who are
target the families of terrorists, and he drove
likely to be heading off to work themselves.
home the point by repeating his story about the
But here’s the thing: The threat was a hoax.
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New York got the same message and kept
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writer was not only a phony, but a phony who
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had no clue how to sound like either a Muslim
had no families or girlfriends in the United
or a terrorist.
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The lesson from Los Angeles would seem
argument.
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Christie got a Facebook question from
operate in a calm and rational manner, aware
a young woman who thought it was a little
of the possibility of disaster but cleareyed
uncharitable to rule out accepting any refugees,
about the fact that the odds against a terrorist
including orphans under the age of 5. “Now
attack at any particular place or time are
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responded. All told, Christie mentioned being a
need of politicians trying to scare the pants off
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the voting public.
giving the distinct impression that in the
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Reagan’s city on a hill,” questioner Hugh
between New Jersey and oblivion.
Hewitt said rather plaintively, yearning for
His answer to the question was that the
some optimism. The audience was getting the
5-year-olds have to stay out: “And it was
Ronald Reagan who blew up a wagon full of
widows and orphans, by the way, and we now
gunpowder in “Cattle Queen of Montana.”
The topic was national defense, and Donald NQRZIURPZDWFKLQJWKH6DQ%HUQDUGLQRDWWDFN
that women can commit heinous, heinous acts
Trump seemed stumped by a question about
against humanity just the same as men can do
the three ways America could conduct nuclear
it. And so I don’t back away from that position
attacks — from air, land or sea. “I think, I
for a minute.”
think for me, nuclear is just the power, the
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devastation is very important to me,” the
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front-runner said.
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Not a problem. He can hire somebody who
Ŷ
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Gail Collins joined The New York Times
really great.
in 1995 as a member of the editorial board
The campaign’s current up-and-comer,
and later as an Op-Ed columnist. In 2001 she
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bombing, a tactic he seemed to be unaware the EHFDPHWKH¿UVWZRPDQHYHUDSSRLQWHGHGLWRU
of the Times’s editorial page.
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In summary:
Kill the families.
Screw the
orphans.
YOUR VIEWS
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improve response times
I would like to comment on Ron Triplett’s
letter of Dec. 16. He makes it sound as though
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for everything, which is not true.
Everyone in the district will be paying
the same rate, $1.75 per $1,000. And for that
we get six more employees, which will help
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Center stations. And the main thing will be, if
you should need to call 911, your chance of a
fast response will be much better.
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calls at this time. No delays. But with the
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and Highway 395 — and with our growing
population — if we don’t do something,
someone may be waiting a little while longer
for the emergency people to show up.
Bruce Naugher
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Founded in Oregon and now with
membership in all 50 states and Canada,
Backcountry Hunters & Anglers applauds
the congressional three-year extension of the
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Merkley for their efforts to make this fund
permanent.
Over the 50-year history of this tax-free
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helped ensure access to our public lands
in Oregon. It also helps fuel a robust $10
billion dollar outdoor economy that employs
approximately 100,000 people, according
to Travel Oregon estimates. The Land and
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important to rural areas where the economy
lags. Headwaters Economics studies show the
closer a rural community is to public lands,
the better the economy.
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year-end Omnibus bill is encouraging, BHA
will continue to support full and permanent
funding of this law, which has overwhelming
bi-partisan support. Full and permanent
funding was held up primarily because of one
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of Utah, who wants to restructure and re-direct
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because of Bishop. Had it not been for the
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others, this three-year extension would not
have happened.
It’s time for all those who love and support
public lands tell Congressman Bishop to take
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support if he takes that hike in public lands.
Brian Jennings
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LETTERS POLICY
The East Oregonian welcomes original letters of 400 words or less on public issues
and public policies for publication in the newspaper and on our website. The newspaper
reserves the right to withhold letters that address concerns about individual services and
products or letters that infringe on the rights of private citizens. Submitted letters must
be signed by the author and include the city of residence and a daytime phone number.
The phone number will not be published. Unsigned letters will not be published. Send
letters to 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801 or email editor@eastoregonian.com.