Polk County
Voices
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • July 15, 2015 4A
EDITORIALS
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Standardized tests
for nonstandard kids
Humans come in all shapes, sizes and colors — and
abilities. Students are no different. So why are they all test-
ed with one test while in school?
This is the debate around standardized testing, which in
Oregon means Smarter Balanced. The test is supposed to
show that all students — regardless of shape, size, race, ori-
gin or mental ability — are being taught the same stan-
dards and not discriminated against.
A test of the standards that all children should be taught
in school sounds, on the surface, like a good idea. But
that’s not what’s happening.
Students are being coached on how to pass the tests. El-
ementary school kids are being taught how to use the com-
puter specifically to take these tests, because they aren’t in-
tuitive. The tests are high stakes, with roughly $140 million
in federal funding on the line for school districts through-
out Oregon.
If these tests are truly just testing whether or not stu-
dents are learning the standards — math and language
skills expected of high school graduates — then extra time
coaching and prepping students should not be required.
Just teach them the standards and let the test determine
whether the students have learned said standards.
Standardized testing is a result of the No Child Left Be-
hind beast. Regardless of how the name changes on this
monster, the idea of 100 percent of students succeeding re-
mains.
While the concept is a good one in theory, it neglects to
provide the means necessary to accomplish the ends.
Funding continues to dwindle to pay for education, K-12
and higher education.
Students are not “standard.”
Students who struggle because of intellectual or physi-
cal disabilities, those whose native language differs from
English, or those who find themselves bored because they
are talented and gifted, and therefore not challenged by
curriculum — these students are being left behind, and
standardized testing is not helping.
The topic is a 20-sided die, with many facets and argu-
ments. We see the need for a way to test students, and also
how student results could be useful for teacher evalua-
tions.
At the same time, it feels like K-12 schools have become
an experimental educational laboratory as districts strug-
gle to jump through whatever new hoop legislators throw
their way.
It is unfortunate that so much rides on these tests as far
as the federal government is concerned. Rather than pro-
vide avenues for schools to give students opportunities to
succeed, the feds have chosen to punish those who won’t
conform to take the tests. While that attitude may be
changing, the proof is in the pudding, so to speak, and
changes have not been signed into law yet.
Oregon is taking a risk by allowing parents the freedom
to choose to opt out of standardized testing. With budgets
tight everywhere, federal education dollars aren’t some-
thing to sneeze at.
However, the education revolution has to start some-
where.
PUBLIC AGENDA
Public Agenda is a listing of upcoming meetings for gov-
ernmental and nongovernmental agencies in Polk County.
To submit a meeting, send it at least two weeks before the
actual meeting date to the Itemizer-Observer via fax (503-
623-2395) or email (ionews@polkio.com).
—
WEDNESDAY, JULY 15
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk
County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173.
• Monmouth Planning Commission — 7 p.m., Volunteer
Hall, 144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0722.
• Chemeketa Community College Board of Education — 7
p.m., Salem Campus, building 2, room No. 170, 4000 Lancaster
Drive, Salem. 503-399-2517.
THURSDAY, JULY 16
• Polk County Fair Board — 8 a.m., Polk County Fairgrounds
and Event Center, Main Building, Meeting Room No. 2, 520 S. Pa-
cific Highway (99W), Rickreall. 503-623-3048.
• Dallas Economic Development Committee — Noon, City
Hall, 187 SE Court St., Dallas. 503-831-3502.
• Independence Parks and Recreation Board — 6 p.m., In-
dependence Civic Center, 555 S. Main St., Independence. 503-
838-1212.
• Monmouth Arts and Culture Commission — 7 p.m., Vol-
unteer Hall, 144 S. Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0722.
MONDAY, JULY 20
• Dallas School Board — 5:30 p.m. work session, District of-
fice board room, 111 SW Ash St., Dallas. 503-623-5594.
• Dallas City Council — 7 p.m., City Hall, 187 SE Court St., Dal-
las. 503-831-3502.
TUESDAY, JULY 21
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk
County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173.
• Independence Historic Preservation Commission — 4
p.m., Independence Civic Center, 555 S. Main St., Independence.
503-838-1212.
• Monmouth City Council — 7 p.m., Volunteer Hall, 144 S.
Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0722.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 22
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk
County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173.
GOVERNOR
Gov. Kate Brown (Dem.)
160 State Capitol
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-378-4582
Email: via website,
http://governor.oregon.gov/
—
STATE LEGISLATORS
Sen. Arnie Roblan
(District 5, Democrat)
S-417 State Capitol
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1705
sen.arnieroblan@state.or.us
www.oregonlegislature.gov/roblan
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
County gravel
roads need fixing
My wife and I live on
Highland Road, one of the
250 miles of gravel roads in
Polk County.
Over the past two years,
we have had 17 flat tires and
three destroyed tires caused
by or destroyed by sharp
rocks on the road.
I have taken two of the
destroyed tires to show to
the county commissioners.
I was told on both visits
that Polk County has the
best roads of any county in
the state and that the com-
missioners are proud of
their roads.
When I asked if 17 flat
tires and three destroyed
tires are normal for well-
maintained roads, I was told
to just buy heavy duty, more
expensive, truck tires for my
cars.
When the roads are grad-
ed or fresh rock is spread on
the road surface, the driving
public is used to compact
the sharp rocks back into
the road surface.
Our rubber tires are used
instead of a steel drum
roller as compactors. De-
stroyed tires and flats are to
be expected.
Polk County is an urban
county that is right next
door to the state capital, not
an eastern rural county.
We have miles of 19th
century roads with a lot of
21st century traffic. Little
has been done to improve
these antiquated roads over
the past 20 years.
It seems like there is little
long-term planning and a
lot of just getting by.
Am I the only one driving
in Polk County having tire
damage due to poor roads?
I urge any driver who has
had tire problems caused by
the poor roads of Polk
County to call the commis-
sioners and voice their con-
cerns.
Michael Henich
Independence
Help finding lost
spouse appreciated
I would like to thank the
many people who helped
find my misplaced husband
in the power chair on July 9.
I wasn’t able to thank you
all personally for your kind-
ness and concern: Thank
You.
Michelle Hunter
Dallas
WANT TO WRITE A LETTER?
Letters to the editor are lim-
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Letters, like all editorial mate-
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Letters must be submitted
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Letters of thanks to busi-
nesses, individuals and organi-
zations are limited to 10 names.
The deadline for letters to the
editor is 10 a.m. Monday.
—
Reach us at:
Mail: Editor, Polk County
Itemizer-Observer, P.O. Box 108,
Dallas, OR 97338.
Fax: 503-623-2395.
Email: ionews@polkio.com.
Office: 147 SE Court St., Dallas.
Sen. Jackie Winters
(District 10, Republican)
S-301 State Capitol
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1710
sen.jackiewinters@state.or.us
www.oregonlegislature.gov/winters
Sen. Brian Boquist
(District 12, Republican)
S-305 State Capitol
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1712
sen.brianboquist@state.or.us
www.oregonlegislature.gov/boquist
Rep. David Gomberg
(District 10, Democrat)
H-471 State Capitol
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1410
rep.davidgomberg@state.or.us
www.oregonlegislature.gov/gomberg
Rep. Paul Evans
(District 20, Democrat)
H-281 State Capitol
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1420
rep.paulevans@state.or.us
www.oregonlegislature.gov/evans
Rep. Mike Nearman
(District 23, Republican)
H-378 State Capitol
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1423
rep.mikenearman@state.or.us
www.oregonlegislature.gov/nearman
—
U.S. CONGRESS
Sen. Ron Wyden (Dem.)
221 Dirksen SOB
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: 202-224-5244
Fax: 202-228-2717
Salem office: 707 13th St. SE,
Suite 285, Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 503-589-4555
Email: via website,
www.wyden.senate.gov
National ‘Give Something Away’ Day is today
National Give Something Away Day is cel-
ebrated annually on July 15. This is a day to
give something to someone. It can be some-
thing that is a basic necessity like shoes or
clothing or something more frivolous like
flowers or a balloon bouquet. Spend time
with someone in a hospital or just call some-
one to let them know you are thinking about
them. National Give Something Away Day is
a day to pay it forward and do something
nice for someone, whether it is someone you
know or a stranger.
Celebrate by buying lunch for someone in
need. Buy a cup of coffee for the person be-
hind you in line at the coffee shop. Go
through your closet and donate clothing you
no longer wear to a good cause. Post on so-
cial media using #GiveSomethingAwayDay
to encourage others to join in paying it for-
ward.
Sen. Jeff Merkley (Dem.)
313 Hart SOB
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: 202-224-3753
Fax: 202-228-3997
Salem office: 495 State St. SE,
Suite 330, Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 503-362-8102
Email: via website,
www.merkley.senate.gov
Rep. Kurt Schrader (Dem.)
108 Cannon HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: 202-225-5711
Fax: 202-225-5699
Salem office: 544 Ferry St. SE,
Suite 2, Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 503-588-9100
Fax: 503-588-5517
Email: via website,
www.schrader.house.gov
—
POLK COUNTY
Board of Commissioners
850 Main St.
Dallas, OR 97338
Phone: 503-623-8173
www.co.polk.or.us
—
CITIES
Dallas
187 SE Court St.
Dallas, OR 97338
503-623-2338
www.ci.dallas.or.us
Falls City
299 Mill St.
Falls City, OR 97344
503-787-3631
www.fallscityoregon.gov
Independence
555 S. Main St.
Independence, OR 97351
503-838-1212
www.ci.independence.or.us
Monmouth
151 W. Main St.
Monmouth, OR 97361
503-838-0722
www.ci.monmouth.or.us
HOW TO REACH US
Vol. 140, No. 28
(USPS) - 437-380)
The official newspaper of Polk County • Serving Polk County families since 1875
Winner of 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014 General Excellence Awards
from the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association
Periodicals postage paid at
Dallas, OR, Independence, OR and Monmouth, OR.
Published weekly at 147 SE Court Street
Dallas, Oregon 97338
Phone: 503-623-2373 Fax: 503-623-2395
SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
Polk County — One Year $27
Other Oregon Counties — One Year $33
Outside of Oregon — One Year $38
POSTMASTER:
Send address changes to: Polk County Itemizer-Observer, P.O. Box 108, Dallas, Oregon 97338
The Polk County Itemizer-Observer assumes no financial responsibility for errors in adver-
tisements. It will, however, reprint without charge for the portion of an advertisement
which is in error if the Itemizer-Observer is at fault.
NEWSROOM
Nancy Adams ...............Publisher/Editor .............................................................nadams@polkio.com
Lukas Eggen..................Sports Editor......................................................................leggen@polkio.com
Jolene Guzman............Dallas/Falls City/Polk County Reporter ................jguzman@polkio.com
Emily Mentzer ..............Monmouth/Independence Reporter ..................ementzer@polkio.com
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