Polk County
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Polk County Itemizer-Observer • September 30, 2015 4A
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Let’s stick with one
system for a while
The results are in for the first round of testing using the
new Smarter Balanced Assessment, which is supposed to
be a more difficult test using higher standards.
Overall, district officials are optimistic, scoring higher in
some areas — mostly language arts — than expected.
Meanwhile, scores in math were lacking across the board.
While other results, like those of Perrydale fifth-grade
students, were completely lost.
Last year, we suggested that it was too soon to put yet
another testing system in place. In the last eight years at
least, the standards and testing systems have changed in
our K-12 schools, whether changing the definition of
“meets” or “exceeds,” to redefining the entire system of
standards through the adoption of Common Core.
It isn’t just confusing for the public, it has to be confus-
ing for teachers, parents and students. How can a student
be expected to keep up with the expectations, or help a
younger sibling with their homework, when the methods
of teaching and what they are learning are constantly
changing.
It creates an environment of survival in schools rather
than encouraging creativity and hard work. Changing the
system each year — standards, testing, curriculum and
grading — makes education mean less.
What’s worse is the Smarter Balanced Assessment is
two-faced. On the one hand, it is allegedly testing whether
or not kids are ready for college or a career. On the other,
kids do not have to be ready for college or a career to meet
graduation requirements. State regulations means a stu-
dent can score “level 2” on language arts or math and be
ready to graduate, when, according to the test itself, a stu-
dent is not ready for college or a career unless he or she
earns “level 3” or “level 4.”
To make matters even more complicated, students can
do other assignments to show they understand the materi-
al to qualify for high school graduation, making the test all
but meaningless.
We know not all teenagers are slackers, but if you were
asked to take a test for three to four days, and y our knew it
had no bearing on your future, how hard would you try to
pass it?
With this information, it is difficult to take the test re-
sults with more than a grain of salt.
All that being said, it would be really nice for folks to just
settle down and try keeping somethings the same for a few
years. The test is far from perfect, and the fact that it
doesn’t really matter to a child’s future means it is good
they have the right to opt-out. The Common Core State
Standards are not terrible, though some parents and mem-
bers of the community are not satisfied with the way they
are being taught.
What’s more important than finding the “perfect” set of
standards or curriculum is some sort of consistency for our
schools and students. After all, our children are not labora-
tory animals to be experimented on year after year.
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
FireMed worth
every penny
Thank you so much for
offering FireMed in our
community. It is so worth it!
My parents were on a
fixed income and Medicare
doesn’t cover everything in
this area.
FireMed costs $75, but
worth every penny.
We are lucky to be in a
community where our am-
bulance, fire and police are
top notch!
MaryJane Mathews
Dallas
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—
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.
PUBLIC AGENDA
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
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, SEPT. 30
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk
County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173.
THURSDAY, Oct. 1
• Mid-Valley Behavioral Care Network executive commit-
tee — 3 p.m., 2965 Ryan Dr. SE, Suite 150, Salem. 503.585.4935.
MONDAY, OCT. 5
• Central School District Board of Directors — 6:30 p.m.,
Henry Hill Education Support Center, 750 S. Fifth St., Independ-
ence. 503-838-0030.
• Dallas City Council — 7 p.m., City Hall, 187 SE Court St., Dal-
las. 503-831-3502.
• Independence Planning Commission — 7 p.m., Independ-
ence Civic Center, 555 S. Main St., Independence. 503-838-1212.
TUESDAY, OCT. 6
• Polk County Board of Commissioners — 9 a.m., Polk
County Courthouse, 850 Main St., Dallas. 503-623-8173.
• Dallas Urban Renewal District Advisory Committee —
5:30 p.m., City Hall, 187 SE Court St., Dallas. 503-831-3502.
• Monmouth City Council — 7 p.m., Volunteer Hall, 144 S.
Warren St., Monmouth. 503-838-0722.
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. 39
(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
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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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