Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, May 14, 2008 - FIVE
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Letters to the Editor ~
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In search of additional host families Schizophrenia does not respect sex, race or religion
To the editor:
We have had a successful year and were able to ex
perience the countries of Columbia, Germany, Kazakhstan,
South Korea and Thailand through the eyes of a new gen
eration. The exchange Student Program is amazing in that
it meets the needs of people on so many levels. You may
have a need individually to open your life up to a young
person and give them an opportunity of a lifetime.
On a community level we have the chance to really
show these students how a small town operates. Most of
the students come from communities in the millions and
do not know their neighbors.
Educationally you can be a part of helping fund
new programs, possibly pay for a teacher or for some small
town schools this program is the only means to keep their
doors open. In Heppner this year we had eight students
and Mr. Stone, principal at the high school has asked for
additional students for the upcoming school year. It is so
nice to have the support of the staff. The lone School ea
gerly opened their doors this year for us as we had more
students wanting to come.
Part of the experience for these students is to play
in organized team sports and they want to leam about com
mitment to a team. As we know, sports are an important
way of life in small communities.
And last, but not least, by hosting a foreign ex
change student you and your family are able to affect our
country in a positive way globally. What an opportunity to
show the world truly who we really are in the U.S. A. These
students only know' us through what they see on televi
sion or what their media has told them. They will get an
up close and personal view of our lifestyle in the western
United States. They are ambassadors for their countries in
some part and we too have the ability to create awareness
of the American way of life.
We are a unique blend of race and religion and you
can show the world your part. We do not just touch one
life but a family, a district, and a country. The impact of
influence that we are able to provide to bring peace on a
personal level really can create a circle of life. The students
leave this program changed forever. They have matured,
broadened their scope of hopes and dreams, seeing the
possibilities for their future, making lifelong lasting rela
tionships with real families living real lives.
Many of the parents we have talked to were con
cerned at first that our communities were too small. On the
contrary, many of the students we have talked to said they
really like the small town closeness that we have. It gave
them an opportunity to meet people at every age level. They
need conversational English and the close knit families and
communities have enabled the speaking skills to increase
considerably. Things we take for granted like looking at
the stars, smelling clean air and being able to look up and
see the vastness of our great land. Rural communities are
essential and successful in giving the students the time and
ability to leam the English language.
We have learned so much about our country and
our community as we have opened our homes. There is a
slogan, “We are looking for a few good men.’’ Well our
slogan is “We are looking for a few good homes” that will
open their hearts up to a generation eager to know who we
really are. America is so diverse and amazing. Whether
you are married, single or retired, we have excited students
waiting for a chance to experience America through your
perspective.
Also through this program the students come with
their own insurance and spending money to meet their
needs during their stay. They will budget all their school
lunches, sports activities, clothing and food outside of
their homes. This way there is not financial stress put on
the host families as they open their homes.
We have two different school programs available.
Some students come for a semester only. This would be
a four to five month commitment for the host families.
The other program is for the entire school year and is a
10 month commitment giving you your summer free. So
if you are concerned about time, we have several options
that can meet your needs and yet affect a student for their
lifetime.
You will have a support group of parents that you
can call on for help and assistance. We are very team
oriented ourselves and believe if we work together as a
unit, even with our diversities, we will give these kids an
opportunity that will affect them for a lifetime.
If you have been looking for an opportunity to
make a change, to open your home and or make a posi
tive influence on someone, then come to an open house at
Willow Creek Diner, 348 N. Main in Heppner. Come and
meet our team of dedicated parents on Tuesday night. May
20, at 7 p.m. for a question and answer time. Our team of
area representatives will be on hand to answer your ques
tions. You will be able to meet our students and ask them
questions. We look forward to getting to know you.
If you cannot make it to the open house and would
like more information about the foreign exchange program
contact Kathy Marick at 541 -965-1713 or Teresa VanDoom
at 541-377-2162.
Kathy Marick
Heppner
Gazette-Times to run senior page
The Heppner Gazette-Times will once again be
running a “Congratulations Seniors” page on May 21.
Anyone wishing to extend their good wishes to graduating
Heppner and lone students by adding their name can call
676-9228, fax to 676-9211, or send an email to davidfa
rapidserve.net or stephfa rapidserve.net by Monday, May
19. The cost is $10.
Heppner High School graduation will be May 31
at 2 p.m. lone High School graduation will be May 30 at
7 p.m.
Letter to the Editor:
In my lone community I have recently observed
with growing alarm at how easy it is to hold those individu
als diagnosed with schizophrenia to a higher standard of
conduct and accountability than we do others.
Schizophrenia is not a respecter of sex, race, or
religion. It can affect anyone usually in the mid teens to
early 20’s. Schizophrenia is one of the largest causes of
disability in the U.S. but through improvements in medi
cations and a heightened understanding of brain function
it is also becoming a very treatable illness.
As a parent of children within the susceptible age
range, I am deeply concerned with how some the commu
nity has begun to view one of our own w ho has recently
been diagnosed with schizophrenia. To those who know
her, we can look on the past year and in view of the diag
nosis see that everything makes sense now'. It is difficult
to pin point an exact beginning of the symptoms because
they came on gradually but most of us have no doubt been
made aware of the exact day that they escalated to point
of requiring police intervention during school hours and
on school property. The student was placed under arrest
and taken into police custody. In view of w hat took place
at the school this was the appropriate action to be taken at
the time. Should there be consequences for the behavior?
Absolutely. The student did receive consequences through
the judicial system and was eventually hospitalized for
treatment of her illness. However, contrary to popular be
lief, she has never been formally expelled from school. So
as far as I understand it there is no legal reason she cannot
participate in the graduation ceremony, and 1 would assert
that she has been restricted due to fear of public sentiment
and lack of ‘backbone’ of those making the decision. If
there is a legal reason to restrict participation in graduation
then say it, other wise those making the decision should
seriously reconsider or maybe you are comfortable with
slander, defamation of character and discrimination of the
mentally ill.
So how far do we go to “punish” her, make her
“sorry” for what she did? In the acute phase of schizo
phrenia, delusions, hallucinations, paranoia have complete
control over the person and in fact the person themselves
can not differentiate between those symptoms and reality
as you and I may see it. Often times no memory of that
specific event even exists once the symptoms are under
control. If it is remembered it is often a source of great
embarrassment and humiliation to this person. If a student
with a medical illness that can temporarily alter mentation
had a similar episode we would undoubtedly find it a great
deal easier to have compassion and acceptance in our hearts
than for the student with a mental illness. Instead we teach
our students to continue with “status quo’ behavior and not
compassionate understanding.
I have heard that some have voiced strenuous
opposition to allowing this student to participate in the
graduation ceremony even to the point of restricting their
child from the ceremony if she participates. Then I would
say, put your ‘money where your mouth’ is and do it. Stop
making a circus out of what should be a time of celebration
in honor of high school completion. How sad I am to think
that in a community that prides itself on banding together
in times of crisis has not seen fit to do so at this time. Is
it so difficult to understand the pain this family feels as
they watch their child suffer through no fault of her own?
Why is their personal tragedy less acceptable than that of
a family that suffers with a terminally ill child who also
can not be blamed for their illness? I would suggest that
their pain isn’t different just more publicly acceptable then
mental illness (remember, if you have children in their mid
teens to early 20’s this could be you). I have lived in this
community for 10 years now and I know of other students
(usually with the knowledge that they were breaking the
law ) have been charged with crimes during high school
and have been allowed to participate so why the change of
rules now? Most of these students did the right thing and
took responsibility for those actions and I applaud them for
that. However, this student, at that time, was not capable
of understanding w hat she was doing and as far as I know
the legal action was halted due to the diagnosis.
Maybe we are not aw are of how prevalent mental
illness is in our society and our communities (even those
with small populations like lone). In researching current
statistics on the internet I found that approximately 2.2
million American adults or approximately one in every 123
people in the U.S. are dealing with schizophrenia. World
w ide it averages about 1% of the population. (National
Institute of Mental Health; CureResearch.com). So it is safe
to say that at the very least, there are two to three people
in the lone community who are currently living with this
serious and persistent mental illness. So my question is: if
mental illness, schizophrenia specifically, is so prevalently
among us, why does so much stigma and discrimination
against those diagnosed continue to exist? We are bom
barded with images of ‘psychotic killers’, but violence
perpetrated by people with a psych illness is rare and most
likely to take place if the illness is left untreated (either by
being undiagnosed, as in this case, or in non-compliance
with a medication regime) or if the person is under the
influence of drugs or alcohol(schizophrenia.com).
Mental illness of any kind has long been kept as a
secret, tightly guarded within families in order to protect
themselves from public ridicule and judgment (and I can
certainly understand why). However, times are slowly
changing. We don’t lock “them” away in attic rooms or
chain “them” to basement walls anymore. If they commit
a crime they are no longer cut out of the family album
(or school yearbook). New medications and therapies
are emerging that have provided some sense of normalcy
for the mental ill, but while modem science leads the
way for change us human beings and our prejudice have
lagged behind. Instead of being like everyone else on this
issue, why doesn’t lone lead the way in defeating stigma
and discrimination and allow our community member to
participate in her own high school graduation. The men
tally ill are not unaware. They often know when they are
being mistreated and feel great pain from this. While the
general public is good at rationalizing our behaviors, they
are just as good at seeing through it and we fool no one
but ourselves.
‘Psychiatric patients are scared, and scarred, by
their diagnoses... .They are usually terrified at their initial
consultation and feel that they are blamed for their illness
in a way that other patients, say those who require ortho
pedic surgery, are not... Stigma is borne out of fear and
ignorance. Stigma is created, not inherent, and it can and
must be eradicated.’ (Dr. Bijlani, Priory Group, UK)
Beth Heagy, Registered Nurse
lone
To the editor:
Leann Rea will make a great Morrow County com
missioner because she listens to all sides of an issue and
works well with people to achieve solutions. Those could
be the two most important reasons to vote for Leann for
Morrow County Commissioner, but there are many more
reasons to vote for Leann.
Leann is a lifetime resident of Morrow County
and has lived or worked in about every community in the
county. She has a great understanding of the entire county
and the needs of the different communities. She served
on the Morrow County Budget Committee for 10 years
so she understands the county budget process. Leann has
also volunteered with the AARP tax assistance program
for almost 10 years. She worked for the North Morrow
County Irrigation District for six years. Her understanding
of Morrow County agriculture has been enhanced by her
years of working with her family farm and with farmers
through the irrigation district.
These and a lifetime of experiences in Morrow
County give Leann the know ledge to serve Morrow County
as a County Commissioner.
Please vote for Leann Rea for Morrow County
Commissioner.
Bill Broderick
Hermiston
To the Editor:
In the early 1990’s Heppner Little League was fac
ing a dilemma. The program was expanding rapidly with
literally hundreds of kids in our community were signing
up to play. Adequate field space to practice and play did
not exist.
Morrow County Grain Growers offered the land
and Pat Kilkenny opened his heart and poured thousands
of dollars into the construction of the two fields. Heppner
High has offered a softball program and Heppner Little
League has offered baseball and softball to as many as 150
kids each year because of Pat and his generosity. Pat has
funded many projects and those that directly affect kids
and the Heppner community seem to be high priority.
This year, Heppner Little League again faced a
dilemma. Equipment, uniforms and facilities needed at
tention, some mandated by Little League International.
Funding was again a huge obstacle and again Pat Kilkenny
and his dad. Bob, asked if they could help. Pat purchased
a lawn mower, uniforms, balls, concessions equipment,
fencing, and much more. He gave a struggling program
the boost it needed at the time it needed it most.
Heppner Little League has 110 kids in its program
this year thanks in large part to Pat Kilkenny.
Craig Gutierrez
Heppner
Leann Rea listens
Little League gets a boost
lone to hold Youth Track and Field Day Morrow County Health Depart
The lone National Honor Society will hold their
third annual Youth Track and Field Day on Sunday, May
18. The track meet will take place at the lone Community
School football field at 2 p.m.
Competitors in the track meet are children 0-5
years old and up to 5th grade, but spectators of all age are
welcome.
Events include the 25 meter dash, 50 meter dash,
100 meter dash, tennis ball throw, standing broad jump,
and new this year is the one lap race. The meet is a fun
family activity and w ill take place rain or shine.
Admission to the track meet is free, but donations
are welcome. All proceeds will go to the lone Creative
Care Preschool. For more information, contact National
Honor Society advisor Ryan Rudolf at rrudolff«/ ione.k 12.
or.us, 422-7131 or 422-7401.
ment calendar
Thursday, May 15 - Heppner Clinic 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (closed
12 - 1 )
Monday, May 19 - Boardman Clinic 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (closed
12:30-1)
Tuesday, May 20 - Boardman Clinic 8:30 a m.-3 p.m. (closed
12:30-1)
Thursday, May 22 - Heppner Clinic 8:30 a m.-4:30 p.m. (closed
IM )
Monday, May 26 - Closed for Memorial Day.
Tuesday, May 27 - Boardman Clinic 8:30 a m -4:30 p.m. (closed
i: '0 -n
Thursday, May 29 - Heppner Clinic 8:30 a.m -4:30 p.m. (closed
12 - 1 )