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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (April 15, 1962)
MEDFOHD MAIL TRIBUNE, MEDFORD, OREGON SUNDAY, APRIL IS, IS6I ... Communications ... Ll!ri io lht Editor mult br th nam and tddrtts ' el ih writer, although undai certain cireumstaneis the us of a pen name or Initial tor publication i permiwible. The Mall Tribune reiervot the right to edit all lettert with a view ta clarification and condensation. Leiten submitted tor publication mutt not exceed 400 words. The letters printed in this column do not necessarily represent the views at the papen In tact the contrary is etten the case. Editor's note: Our usual 400 word limit on communication! is waived In the case oi the following letter, because of its special interest, and because of the writer's belief that the Mail Tribune had reported several of his talks badly. Faulty Reporting To the Editor: Here on my return from hospital, your re cent report which was en titled: "Children Shouldn'tBe Taught That Life Is Easy, Ex change Teacher says," was brought under my notice. This report is intended to be an account of my speech on the condition of education in the State of Victoria, Australia, which speech was delivered to a large and responsive au dience at the Eagle Point PTA about March 7.1. . Whilst my family and I are greatly beholden to the mem bers of your staff for many kindnesses, I take strong ex ception to that portion of your report which quotes me as saying that Victorian school children are two years ad vanced academically over their American counterparts. I object for two reasons. Firstly, I did not make that statement. Secondly, I deem the statement offensive to the fine people of this valley for whom we have a real affec tion. Your selection of the headline is apposite, since I have noticed that many of my students display: "a lessening of willingness to pay the price necessary to excel." (I) (Med ford P.S. General Philosophy . . . 1960) I said that more than half of my 120 students at Medford achieve at somewhat less than a Victorian 8th grade level in the basic skills of English Ex pression, to wit Spelling, Vo cabulary and Sentence Struc ture. Their basic concepts of Geography are hazy and the world outside the USA is, to the majority, a closed book. However, my speech did not Imply that I had taught all the children of the USA, let along Victoria. God forbid! I next pointed Out that my own statement could easily be a reflection on my failure to arouse and develop the intel lectual core of my erstwhile Medford scholars. Finally, I emphasized and underlined the d 1 f f e r ent assumptions which delineate American from Australian education. You good people believe that: "All men are created equal..." whilst we say that: "Some men are more equal than oth ers." Had your reporter added these qualifications no harm would have ensued. While I am doing my Willie Woodpecker act, may I add to the list of corrections with a couple which made my Scots bluid boil even after two generations In hot Aus tralia. At the December meet ing of the American Associa tion of University Women, I was reported as saying: "American students are very easy to interest whilst Aus tralian students are much more cynical." I also said that Australian students are train ed to make critical evaluations but when they fall, they tend to become cynical. Again I am reported as say ing that: "Australia does not have a mandatory age for re quired school attendance." This is arrant nonsense be cause the six states do specify certain span of years during which children are required to attend school (or their par ents jailed), but that many prefer to come to school earli er and leave later than the mandatory span of years. Then you report me as saying that: "Australia is mainly European and seldom mentions South East Asia in the newspapers." An contraire, I displayed the cultural and literary sections which are a feature of Aus tralian newspapers and asked th ladles to find items about S. E. Asia. There were none! On the other hand, the news columns of our papers follow 8. E. Asia closely and this is scarcely surprising since we live in an explosive sector of the Earth. Culturally, Austra lians are Europeans, but we are well apprised of the prob lems of South East Asia. My point was that we must build cultural links with the East. A starting point would be the Inclusion of Indonesian as a compulsory foreign language In Australian schools for all pupils. Finally, your report of my speech to the February meet ing of the Ashland Human Rights Association, where I once again ran amok and said: "the Australian Aborigi ne is Ignored in markets (I think you meant shops), seg regated at the movies and ruled nut of rodeos." This Is quite Inaccurate. With some rare. I specified the town of Alice Springs. Northern Ter ritory, for the first malprac tice and It is In that town where one attends the movies either on "black" or "white" nights. Must be awkward with technicolour: At Mnree, New South Wale. and at Kathar ine, N. T., the local parents hive enforced segregation In the playgrounds of the pri mary schools. In my home state Victoria, rodeo man agers often find specious rea sons for refusing aboriginal entrants admission to riding events. You have taken a num ber of instances and from them drawn a generalization which is quite unwarranted. I don't mind attacking my own dear country, when she lets herself down, but it's plain nonsense to make three swans mean Summer. I have subscribed to your paper since I first arrived in this valley and shall continue to so do, because I appreciate your editorial Integrity and the careful attention you ren der to education. We should say together: " I am in a place where I am required to speak the truth and so I do, Impugn whomsoever it llst eth." Yours faithfully, E. R. A. Miller Department Leader, Teachers' College, Frankston, Victoria, Australia (Fulbright Exchange Teacher 1981-1882 A.D.) Now at: 08 Blgham dr., Central Point, Ore.' Significant Address To the Editor: Those Inter ested in our nation's No. 1 public health problem, the mental illnesses, may like to know that Dr. Arthur Fiem- ming's address here Monday evening, April 18. appears likely to be most significant. The report of the Joint Commission on Mental Illness and Health, on which Dr. Flemming will speak, has been described as the most important document of recent years, comprehensively deal ing with mental illness, and as setting the modus operandi for the next decade. The joint commission sub mitted its report during Dr. Flemming't cabinet tenure as secretary of health, education and welfare in the Eisenhow er administration, and his knowledge of it should be intimate. Unlike many reports, this one was not still born; it has and will continue for many years to Influence every one of us. For example, the report calls for a reversal of the philosophy that lead to big central state institutions, in which we guiltly "put Aunt Minnie away," and toward in creased local treatment and care, where families and friendships can be maintain ed. We working with those In need of treatment, care, or counseling are daily aware of Oregon state hospital's changing position: hospital treatment of two to three months is now common; many requests for voluntary admis sion to the hospital are being referred back to the local physician, minister, public health nurse. Guidance Clinic, etc., for help. The report examines all sides of this multi-problem, and hits hard at the stigma we attach (even yet) to those suffering from its contagion. I anticipate Dr. Flemming will examine these issues and recommendations fully. Thomas L. Goff, ACSW Psychiatric Social Worker Family and Child Guidance Clinic Simple Solution To the Editor: Why all the haggling in the higher eche lons of our Congress over the national so-called medical aid plan for the aged? As all are aware, our ex alted solons are only the serv ants of the people of our land. Which reminds us of a state ment we heard from a pro gressive minded person 20 years ago. He admitted the colossal fact that the nation's politi cians were really from 50 to 100 years behind the scien tists. Weil, presuming that was our status then, it should not always remain in the same category, providing the old axiom holds true, "we live to learn." Now all can agree to this fact, that all the oldsters should receive enough income so each could pay their own hospital and medical expenses when needed, and not have to rely on charity. How simple. And it would serve the pur pose, too. ' Bert Kissinger 820 Boardman st. Medford. Put in Control To the Editor: Anyone who knows the meaning of the word Socialism knows that the County Charter could not pos sibly bring about that types has been no paid advertising. of government, The Charter will put more control than they have at pres ent into the hands of the people of Jackson county County affairs will be con ducted in Jackson county, not in Salem where the Legisla ture convenes only every two years. The seven commissioners i Buildings Breath The television stations and the Mail Tribune have been putting forth facts as a public service to explain the intent of the Charter so that Jackson county wilt have an informed electorate. Mrs. A. H. Srhmechel, 441 Eastwood dr., Medford will meet twice a month, and county . level administration and legislation will be done then. County-level problems will be settled here in Jack son county by Jackson county residents, not In Saiem by peo ple from all parts of the state. Any so-called "advertising'' has been done, not with the Intent to advertise, but to in form the public. So far there Poets' Corner Conducted by Arnold Eugene Jenny Poetry Is the record of the best and happiest mo ments of the happiest and best minds. -Shelley, 1840 O Daffodils I Wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o'er vales and hills. When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils, Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering, dancing in the breeze. Continuous as the stars that shine ' And twinkle on the Milky Way, They stretched In never-ending line Along the margin of a bay: Ten thousand saw I at a glance, Tossing their heads in sprightly dance. The waves beside them danced, but they Outdid the sparkling waves in glee; A poet could not but be gay In such a jocund company; I gazed, and gazed, but little thought What wealth the show to me had brought: For oft, when on my couch I lie, In vacant or in pensive mood, They flash upon that Inward eye Which is the bliss of solitude; And then my heart with pleasure fills. And dances with the daffodil. -William Wordsworth O Meeting at Night The gray sea and the long black land; And the yellow half-moon large and lowj And the startled little waves that leap In fiery ringlets from .their sleep. As I gain the cove with pushing prow, And quench Its speed 1' the slushy sand. Then a smile of warm sea-scented beach; Three fields tr cross till a farm appear; A tap at the pane, the quick sharp scratch And blue spurt of t lighted match, , And s voice less loud, through its joys and fears, Than the two hearts beating each to each! -Robert Browning o Th W1I Ordrd Day How shall the day be ordered? To the sage The young man spoke. And this was his reply; A morning prayer. A moment with the Ood who sends Ihe dawn Up from the East; to thank heaven for the care That kept thee through the night; to give they soul. With faith serene, to His complete control; To ask His giildsnre still along the way. So starts the day. A busy day. Do with a will the task that lies before. So much there is for every man to do, And soon the night when man can work no more. And none but he to life's behest is true Who works with zeal and pauses only when He stretches forth his hand to help the men Who fail or fall behind him on the way. So runs the day. A merry evening. When toil is done, then banished b th care That fret the soul. With loved ones by the hearth The evening hours belong to joy and mirth; To lighter things that make life fresh and fair. For honest work haa earned Its hour of play. So ends the day. -John Clair Minot A HYBRID PRIMROSES Ground Covert DICKENSON'S GARDENS On Mil Off Highway en Old Firry Read SHADY COVE, OREGON V To the Editor; Knowing as we do or should realize, that hojscs and all buildings breathe, drawing in outside air when the temperature in side falls and expelling same when the inside temperature rises, it would be very aimpte to use the heater-cooling sys tem to prevent the smudge fallout from entering. All that would be necessary. is to arrange th air entering the heater-cooling blower, to be drawn up through water. This would hold back any impurities going in with the air, quite th same as the air-oil-bath of yotr car. It would seem to be very much worthwhile considering the financial loss from smudge, especially depart ment stores with their vast array of white goods exposed to the smudge loaded air. One thing is sure. When cleaned air is issuing from every crack and opening of a building, dirty air cannot enter. F. t. Clifford. 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