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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 16, 2008)
Page 2 The INDEPENDENT, October 16, 2008 The INDEPENDENT Published on the first and third Thursdays of each month by The Independent, LLC, 725 Bridge St., Vernonia, OR 97064. Phone/Fax: 503-429-9410. Publisher Clark McGaugh, clark@the-independent.net Editor Rebecca McGaugh, rebecca@the-independent.net Mentor Noni Andersen Printed on recycled paper with vegetable based dyes Opinion Vote yes on Measure 5-192 In 1998, Columbia County voters passed a five-year levy to fund our county’s Columbia 9-1-1 Communica- tiosn District service. When 9-1-1 came back five years later, in 2004, they hadn’t needed all the money ap- proved in the 1998 levy so they lowered the rate they asked for to fund 9-1-1 through 2008. How often do you see that kind of fiscal responsibility anymore? Five years ago, Columbia County voters (probably you in- cluded) voted to renew the levy at the reduced rate of .29 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. We all know how much gasoline prices, grocery prices, water and sewer rates, etc. have gone up in this past five years. Yet, 9-1-1 is still asking only for the same .29 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value (about $58.00 a year on a house assessed at $200,000). 9-1-1 says it can operate on that and even improve service. They have won awards for their budg- ets and fiscal responsibility so, if they say they can make do with that amount of money, it’s believable. It’s good to know you can call 9-1-1 at any time of the day or night when you, a friend, a loved one or a neigh- bor needs help, and it will cost you less than it did in 1998. If you, your loved ones, friends and neighbors all vote yes, 9-1-1 can keep working for us. Each day Co- lumbia 9-1-1 gets about 10 calls per hour, or 230 calls per day, from people who need help here in Columbia County. This 9-1-1 levy is too good a deal to pass up – please vote yes on Measure 5-192 and keep the good Colum- bia County service we get now. And speaking of what happens during emergencies, last week Vernonian Tim Jensen was driving on Hwy 47 when someone coming towards him lost control of their car and hit our local fellow. Jensen was driving a Jeep with a hard top. The top flew off, the seat belt broke at the buckle and Jensen went flying out of the vehicle as it rolled. In his words, he landed and then lay there with his head in the mud and water (it was rain- ing that day) and the blood. That’s when his roadside angel for the day showed up and held his head in her lap, and out of the water, for about 20 minutes until the ambulances and emergency vehicles got there. Jensen was Lifeflighted out but is now home recover- ing. We want to thank the Good Samaritan who stopped and helped. So, thank you, Kelly Davis. Out of My Mind… by Noni Andersen Several of this November’s state ballot meas- ures spring from the fertile mind of Bill Sizemore, who earns his living by (surprise!) getting meas- ures on the ballot. He so often tells educators how to do their jobs, how to pay teachers and even how their unions should operate, that it would appear he must be qualified to do so. Ap- pearances are deceiving. Sizemore isn’t a teacher and doesn’t have a degree in education. He does seem to have a su- periority complex so deep and abiding that he knows how a classroom should be run. I’m not a teacher, either, but as a daughter, sister, spouse, daughter-in-law and friend of past and present teachers, I have been a closely connected ob- server of that very complex profession since be- fore Sizemore was born. Those decades of observation have led me to seriously question the efficacy of standardized tests as a measure of successful teaching and ask how teachers can be evaluated for “merit pay.” Good teachers want students to develop the kind of intellectual curiosity that becomes a springboard for lifelong learning. While academ- ic performance at grade level is a necessary standard, it is only part of a much broader meas- ure of success. Let’s compare two imaginary situations: Teacher A has a class of 25 fifth graders in a school district where the average annual income is $74,000 per family with one parent working. They aren’t rich, but they have some discre- tionary income and time to volunteer in the school. Teacher B has 25 fifth grade students in a school district where the average annual income is $44,000 per family with both parents working. They aren’t poor, but they have little discre- tionary income and little time to volunteer. Now, assume that these imaginary teachers and students have comparable abilities: Which teacher will be more successful on the basis of standardized tests? Studies have repeatedly shown that parental involvement in the school is a major element of academic success. So, with all other elements being equal, parental involve- ment will determine that Teacher A is more “suc- cessful” than Teacher B. The example above doesn’t account for cir- cumstances that adversely affect students, such as inadequate school supplies, uncomfortable classrooms, learning disabilities, illness, poverty, etc. Each teacher’s classroom is unique. There are a few exceptional teachers, and there are a few inadequate teachers. Regardless of the chosen profession, most people are not exceptional, but they work hard and should be paid well. We expect teachers to educate our children regardless of conditions, including over- crowded classrooms, lack of support staff or preparation time, and much, much more. Teachers aren’t left unobserved; they are reg- ularly evaluated by their supervisors. Consider- ing the responsibility we ask our teachers to shoulder, they nearly all deserve merit pay, but not on the basis of standardized tests. Please vote No on Measures 58 and 60.
