Heppner gazette-times., March 27, 1975, Page Page 2, Image 2

Page 2, THE GAZETTE-TIMES, Heppner, OR., Thursday, Mar. 27, 1975
1
Horse sense J
ERNEST V. JOINER
The fact that Johnny can't read isn't news any more, but
the extent to which he can't read is. The American Press
Institute met at Columbia University a few months ago and
made tests of readership comprehension among college
upperclassmen, all English majors from good high schools.
The first group to take the test, and flunk it, was Columbia's
graduate journalism school. It makes one wonder how a
student who cannot read gets into a graduate school of
journalism, but that isn't the point right here. Other
interesting figures were arrived at : 90 per cent of high school
graduates never read another book in their lives; half the
college freshmen are required to take bonehead English;
they can't write a simple declarative sentence; and they are
ignorant of grammar and syntax. What to do about it? Prof.
Fry. head of Rutger University's reading center, had this to
say: "Until educators put more emphasis in the early years
nn basic communication skills, newspapers and wire
services must solve the problem by writing more simply, or
they'll lose that vast potential audience."
There is something sad as well as tragic in this
suggestion that U.S. newspaper reporters and editors, in
order to communicate with younger people, must "write
down" to the average person's 8th grade level of difficulty
with the language. This involves me personally, as an editor
w ho got the well-honed and polished tools of his trade in a
two-room country school 50 years ago and who is now being
asked to trade those tools for the two-syllable communicative
system of the Stone Age in order to be understood by youthful
illiterates. There may be something practical in the "If you
can't whip'em. join'em" theory. But I hope the nation does
not embrace that theory by encouraging the illiterates and
lending dignity to what should be humiliating disgrace.
How well I remember that country teacher to whom I
owe so much. Mrs. Frank Rader. at Sunnyslope School,
somewhere in the vast Oklahoma Panhandle. She taught all
grades. 1 through 8 She taught all subjects reading writing,
arithmetic, art. penmanship (penmanship?), spelling,
history, geography. English grammar and composition. All
eight grades were housed in one room. Mrs. Rader called for
1st grade, and everybody in the front row seats moved back
so the 1st grade students could "recite." Then 2nd grade was
called, and the 1st grade retreated to the rear of the room and
so on through 8th grade. There was strict discipline. Each
student was pushed to his capacity. She drove a horse and
buggy five miles from home to school each way. Her salary
when the school had the money i was $40 a month. She was
probably the best teacher I ever hat1
There were no illiterates in my elementary school. There
were no illiterates in my high school. There were no
illiterates in my college. Yet. according to Associated Press
accounts, there are more illiterates in the United States
today than in 1900. Why? I was 50 years old before I began
reading of the increasing rate of illiteracy. I cannot believe
that this situation exists because young people are less
intelligent than they once were, or that the learning desire
has diminished. One reason for growing illiteracy may lie in
the tendency to de-emphasize the English language in public
schools, and to neglect grammar. Some modern teachers
believe the language should not even be taught. One school
would rely heavily on colloquial expression. "Relate" has
been substituted for "communicate." There is growing
emphasis on such things as body language, rock and other
ty pes of music, dress styles and hair culture as means of
communication. And. of course, television. True, the young
sirens "communication." But how can communication be
bettor conducted than through reading and writing?
9 Money alone is not the answer to better education, as
witness that S40-a-month teacher in a two-room clapboard
schoolhouse. The difference lies in the quality of teaching.
There is reason to believe that the quality of education
sutlers in proportion to the money we spend on it. Dr. Martin
Larson, economist, recently testified before Cong. Al
Ullman's Ways and Means Committee in Washington that
"The federal government now disburses about S14 billion a
year for education, although education got along very well
without any of this money before 1964. and the net result has
been that the cost of education has quadrupled." Apparently,
the more money we lavish on education the greater the
increase in illiteracy. An interesting footnote comes from
Albert Shanker. president. American Federation of
Teachers He has informed the New York Board of Education
that the 75.(ioo members of his teacher union w ill need a very
substantial raise in salary next year because "my people are
hungry." The median annual salary for teachers in New
York is 818.150.
Somehow the delusion that more money insures high
quality education must be exploded. Hopefully, it will happen
before our children become totally illiterate.
The few who attended the Pat Roberts Show at the high
school Sunday afternoon will agree that it was one of the
finest entertainment performances seen in Heppner in many
years This was a professional performance that would have
done credit to New York City or San Francisco. It was loaded
with musical talent. It was an enjoyable two-hour program.
The Heppner Lions Club underwrote the Pat Roberts
appearance on the assumption people would attend. Only 135
did. The Lions lost $000. The community lost, too, for it may
be a long time before the Lions underwrite another first-class
show.
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Taylor attended that $25-a -plate
dinner for Secretary of Agriculture Earl Butz in Pendleton
last week. Anticipating a dinner at least comparable to the
price, the couple skipped lunch and showed up with a great
appetite. The menu consisted of popcorn, peanuts and
pretzels-one bowl of each! . . . The Department of
Environmental Quality, Salem, needs $375,000 to continue
operations through July 11. If it doesn't get the money, 100
DEQ employees will be cut from the payroll, which would be
a blessing for all mankind! . . . Aa of today America's
national debt stands at (495 billion, and the interest amounts
to about $75,000 a minute . . . Oregon Legislature observers
say that the current session is the most strongly anti-business
one in recent years. Look for at least 55 new laws that will
make doing business more costly with the added cost to be
passed on to the consumer . . . The U.S. Chamber of
Commerce points out that 76 per cent of high school students
are taking courses emphasizing college preparation yet
only two out of 10 jobs today require a college degree . . . The
father of a 14-year-old son was trying to explain to him the
difference between inflation and deflation. And getting
nowhere. Finally, in desperation, he resorted to the visual aid
technique. "Son," he explained, "it's this way. Deflation is
when your mother takes off her bra; inflation is when she
takes off her girdle." . . . It's Eastertime, a very important
time of year for Christians. Non-church members have to be
introduced to religion and church members have to be
introduced to their ministers . . . Have a nice Easter, even if
the snow continues and we have to dig those eggs out of a
snowbank.
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Summer Mayor ofHardman
jobs open
for 4-H
DEAR MISTER EDITOR;
For God So Loved The World...
Cigoreffe smokers pay
$258,000 during 1974
What changes, if any. have
residents of Morrow County
made in their smoking habits
in recent years?
Have they cut down on
ngarrites"' Are they smoking
morr or less than people in
oihrr parts of the country?
For a time, following the
Surgeon General's report,
issued about in years ago. that
smoking was a hazard to
health and was responsible for
4Ui lung cancer deaths a
year, some local people swore
off completely, some cut down
on the number they smoked
and some turned to cigars and
pies as a substitute.
More recently, however,
devpiic ihe barrage of medical
reoris in subsequent years
linking cigarettes with heart
diM'ase and other illnesses,
they have been puffing away
at a near-record rate
Figures released bv the
government, by the Tabacco
Tax Council and by others
depict the trend in each
sivtion of the nation
Cigarette sales in Morrow
County in the past year came
to approximately 654.000
packs, according to a break
down of regional totals report
ed by industry sources
In terms of the local popula
tion over age 18. this was
equal to L packs per person,
It uas a higher rale than
was found in most areas. The
awrage throughout the Unit
ed Stands was 214 packs. It
wa Wl in the Pacific Stales
tthotigh most health
authorities believe the case
against smoking has been well
proved, the tobacco industry
maintains lhal the evidence is
merely statistical and that no
cause and effect relationship
has IxH-n prnperlv documented
IVspite the steady increase
in taxes imposed on cigarettes
hv federal, slate and many
local governments, making
smoking more costly, sales
hae lieen on the rise in the
last (e ears and are within 2
li r cent ol their all time high.
The biggest increase since
ri?" has been among teen-age
girls The are now smoking
nearly as much as the hoys.
llo miii h docs the average
Morrow County smoker smth1
tor cigai rues' Approximatelv
":! a vear. it is estimated.
The total bill, for the
community as a whole, was
cIom' to s.riR.ooo last vear.
Applications from college
age persons for short term
employment this summer in
two Oregon Stale University
4 II and youth programs are
now being accepted, accord
ing to Mike Howell, Morrow
County Extension agenl.
About 50 students, both men
and women, are needed to
serve as counselors during the
6oth annual 4-H Summer
School at OSU, June IS Ihroun
21. Counselors must have
completed one year of college,
and preference will be given to
older, more experienced
applicants w ho are former 4 H
members.
Experience in counseling is
desirable, but not necessary.
The job pays $70 for the week,
plus room and board.
The counselors will work
with groups of about 30 4 11
members who will be housed
in OSU residence halls during
summer school,
In addition, applications are
also being accepted for II staff
positions in the 4-H depart
ment al the Oregon State Fair,
Employment will begin either
Aug 17 or 18 and continue
through Sept 2.
The slate fair staff will
receive $H a day plus room.
Applicants must be college
students or out of high school
for at least a year, The student
stalf members help with
j exhibits, various 4-H events
and stitrrvise high school
students on the teen staff.
Persons interested in one or
both programs may obtain
application forms from the
Morrow County Extension
oilier or from the State 4 H
olfue. o Extension Hall.
Oregon Slate University.
I leadline for applying for both
summer school and stale fair
positions is April I.V The same
loin) is used for both pro
grams Selection of both summer
school and state fair staffs will
he made in Mav,
oTIt; I'ttFt lMTS
UK i ONSOI IIMTF.tl
There w ill be a consolidation
of voting precinct for the
Hliw Mountain Community
College budget election to be
held May fi
Precinct 2. 6. 7. 8 and 9 are
consolidated Voting will lake
place in the nuilftpurpinf
room at lleppne
School
Elemenlarv
The mail pouch
Two workshops on
home gardening
To help reduce your month
ly food bill this year, consider
home vegetable gardening,
savs Mike Howell. Morrow
County Extension agent.
To offer help and update
gardeners on latest techniques
two vegetable garden work
shops are planned. One will be
held April I at the Riverside
High School and the other
April 2 al Heppner High
School. Room 10. Both work
shops will start al 7:30 p m.
Garden planning. seed
selection, transplanting tech
niques, garden equipment,
fertilizers, pesticides, and in
sects, plus more, will tie
covered in this workshop.
Hirdine Tullis. Home Exten
sion Program assistant, will
do a special part of the
program on selection and
raising of herbs. A slide
presentation will also be
show n on community gardens
which has useful facts to home
gardeners in this area.
Dick Sargent al the
Coast -to-Coast store has
donated discount coufxins
good Inwards purchase of any
law n and garden merchandise
in his store. These are free to
all who attend the Heppner
workshop.
1
Jj W Li
"At A Critical Time Like This I Feel The
Best Thing Congress Could Do Is Go Home."
kiu i Ht
The Master Planners and Designers out of Washington are
either alter our guns or our land and with this will go all our
voters rights
The rigtil ol private properly, guaranteed to the people
under provisions ol the Fifth Amendment, and respected as
luixlainciii.il lo individual freedom since Dec. 15, 1791, is
Ix-mg overturned by land control planners in Washington.
Though deleated by Congress in May. 1974, the Udall Land
Use Hill has again surfaced and is scheduled for passage
during the current session.
The states are falling into line with the federal land control
plan by appointing land use commissions which carry out the
dictates of the federal government. A stunning example is
Colorado House Bill No. KW2. "Enacting the 'Land Use
Planning and Urban Service Area Act of 1975'." In addition to
transferring control of private property lo federal agencies.
Hill wi seeks lo change the form of government by merging
counties into planning districts, eliminate representative
government in Colorado, and make American citizens wards
of Washington. Similar legislature has been enacted, or is
being considered, by every stale legislature.
Those w ho control our land or our guns or our vote, control
the jH'ople
For fads behind the national crisis write for a free copy
of. 'The New Federalism and Land Control." Committee to
Hestore the Constitution. 9WI Savings Building, Ft, Collins,
Colorado 80521,
CARL M. MARQUARDT
Lexington.
EDITOR:
Please renew Mont Bundy's subscription for another year.
I note a definite change of personality in the editorial and
other columns of your paper these last two years or so.
Arc you a Whig or a Tory?
LOLAGULKER
Warren, OR.
(ED, NOTE Neither, and none. I stick pins In effigies of
political parties, especially donkeys and elephants.)
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5 THE GAZETTE-TIMES
S MOK ROW COUNTY'S NEWSPAPER
8 Box 337. 1 leppner, Ore. 97836
Subscription rate: $fiperyearin
Oregon, $7 elsewhere
Ernest V. Joiner, Publisher
it
S)
! J Published every Thursday and entered as a
: spcond-class matter at the post office at
; Heppner. Oregon, under the act of March 3, 1879.
Second-class postage paid at Heppner, Oregon.
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I don't know If it has anything to do with the price of
groceries and the 17 million Americans that ore using food
stamps, but It seems everwhere you go folks are talking
about food. The fellers gol on this train of thought Saturday
nighl al the country store,
Clem Webster retried where he had saw by the papers
thai young folksal churches have started holding fasts. They
git together and don't eal for a day or so. and they round up
sponsors who pay them so much fer ever hour Ihey don't eat.
(lorn said he wasn't convinced about how much good the
money these fastings raised could do fer starving people In
Africa, but the idee of gltling two or more Americans
together and not eating could turn the hole social structure of
the country around.
Clem was of a mind thai everlhing we do, from the hot dog
at the ball game and the popcorn al Ihe picture show to the
state dinners fer visiting kings and commissars is built
around food
These young folks thai don't eat al Ihe church find somepun
else lo do. went on Clem, and they may even go back to
talking to one another. If this notion of meeting and not eating
catches on. Clem said, politicians in this country can expect
direct benefits. You announce so-and-so is going lo speak at a
rally and you ain't likely to find folks scrambling fer front
row seats. But you say the speaking will foller the barbecue,
and you ain't able to stir the faithful with a slick. The
candidate alius has to eal some of the food, and unless he Is
blessed with cast iron innards he's shore to run into problems
afore his campaign is over.
General speaking. Ihe fellers were agin noallng
meetings Zcke Grubb declared that covered dish suppers at
Ihe church was the best way to keep the body and soul
nourished that's ever been, and he said he was prepared to
come nut foursquare agin any change in this arrangement . If
the Good Urd hadn't intended us lo have covered dish
suppers, allowed Zeke. he wouldn't of give us casseroles and
20 differunt desserts.
Speaking of church suppers. Bug llookum brought on a
heav y delwite with a question about how (0 eal corn on Ihe
cob Bug said he had saw in one of these columns on manners
that you hold your head still and move the cob, but Bug said
he alius had moved his mouth along the rob, mowing as he
went.
After some discussion, il was Isaac Cornfodder, thai don't 4
sxak up much, lhal set the matter straight. Isaac said he'd "
bieen rating corn on the cob. man and boy. teeth and no teeth,
for mgh on lo 70 years, and that he had found lhal moving the
head in one direction while moving Ihe corn In the other
direction at the same time gives Ihe best speed and
efficiency,
His motion carried unanimous.
Yours truly,
MAYOR ROY,
Ideal host for
the World
Council of
Churches
l I KSTF.lt MSMlt
According to Tubingen University 's famed Professor Peter
llcycrhaus. the last bin meeting of Ihe World Council of
Chin ches 1WCC1 in Bangkok In 1973 was "a masterpiece of
manipulation "
('rudely dispensing with even the basic rules of
parliamentary procedure, the whole conference was a
well planned experiment in group dynamics." he recalled.
II Dr Bverhaus and other distinguished delegates to this
WCC ' World Mission" conference fell that it was turned into
a Siamese snow job in order to sanctify violence, they ought
to cnnicmplale the impressive staging possibilities at this
November's Fifth General Assembly of Ihe WCC in Nairobi.
Kenya
This site selection should effectively stifle any opposition to
the current WCC program of financing black African
terrorist organizations. Why? Because Kenya's police, as
well as the nation's only political party, are controlled by the
original Mau Mau, President Jomo ("Burning Spear")
Kenyatla
England's Punch Magazine has just reported that
Kenyatla has. among other manifestations of Kenya
"Uhuru" 1 freedom 1;
-Proven to tie a union busterby issuing a presidential
decree banning all strikes.
year, when students al Nairobi University dared
complain about Ihe quality of the food, Ihe dormitories and
Ihe administration (no violence in the protests), Kenyatta's
government promptly closed down Ihe entire university,
subsequently requiring the entire student body to apply for
re-admission months later-and excluding 19 student
leaders.
-When Lord (V'font of the British Broadcasting
Company dared to criticize Kenyatta, he was declared a
"prohibited immigrant." and barred from Kenya. This had
, Ihe desired chilling effect upon the local and foreign press.
It is possible that there may be some intrepid WCC
delegate who will dare to ask about these conditions. If so.
there are additional questions which should be posed about
Ihe Kenyatla government. These queries should be made
publicly before the delegate is awarded a special side trip to
Uganda, the land of enchantment (and a close-up view of
"Big paddy" Amin's crocodile pond). Some salient questions
are;
-Whal precisely are the details of Mrs. Jomo Kenyatta's
"partnership" regarding the ruby mine discovered by two
Americans, John Saul and Elliot Miller-and why was Saul
deported so soon after Mrs. Kenyatta was let in on the deal?
-How does Kenyatta's massive expropriation of Indian
property (which together with other aspects of "phased
withdrawal" has caused more than 100,000 Indian refugees
from Kenya) square with the charter of the so-called
Organization of African Unity? That charter reads;
"It is the inalienable right of all people to control their own
destiny; freedom, justice, dignity are essential objectives."
How. for that matter, does Kenya's brutal treatment of its
Indian community differ essentially from Hitler's expropria
tion of Jewish assets? It is hoped (but under the
circumstances not expected) that Asian WCC delegates will
raise this compelling question.
There is one Kenyatta ruling which is on the light side. If
any WCC delegates are by chance inclined toward
streaking beware. For the ingenious Kenyatta policy Is to
deport streakers in exactly the same stale of dress as when
apprehended.
This intriguing regulation brings to mind the famed WCC
film in which a clergyman electrifies a drowsy congregation
by stripping to the buff and then leaping about the chancel.
Just how Burning Spear will deal with WCC exhibitors or
viewers of this classic ecclesiastical film has not yet been
announced.
t