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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 18, 2004)
Page 2 The INDEPENDENT, November 18, 2004 Why limit excellence to athletic activities? The success of the Vernonia High School football team is exciting for the whole community. They have demon strated that hard work and cooperative efforts can lead to outstanding results. What would happen if the same amount of effort were applied to academics? This question isn’t just for stu dents, either. Just as volunteer coaches have supported the football program, would it be possible to develop a system for vol unteer coaches to help with mathematics or science or music or history or language arts? There are many quali fied people in the community who don’t hold teaching cer tificates, but who could provide support for academics in the same way they provide support for athletics. Such a system would be able to utilize far more people than the district can afford to hire. Think about it: There may not be state competition for academic excellence, but it would be exciting if we could help our students successfully complete all requirements. It would be exciting if our drop-out rate fell way below the state average and if more of our students went on to advanced educational opportunities. Reasons for giving thanks It’s easy to ignore the every-day things we consider ordinary. This Thanksgiving, please consider the fol lowing: If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep...you are richer than 70% of this world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish som eplace...you are among the top 8% of the w orld’s wealthy. If you can read this, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world who cannot read at all. If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation...you are ahead of 500 million people in the world. If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death...you are more blessed than three billion people in the world. The Bill of Rights, a document worth re-reading Amendment I Congress shall make no law respecting an establish ment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assem ble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Amendment II A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the secu rity of a free Stale, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. Amendment III No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law. Amendment IV The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, sup ported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. Amendment V No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or oth erwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private proper ty be taken for public use, without just compensation. Amendment VI In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confront ed with the witnesses against him; to have compulso ry process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence. Amendment VII In suits at common law, where the value in controver sy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the com mon law. Amendment VIII Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. Amendment IX The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. Amendment X The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
