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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.