 |
  |
|
 |
||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||||||
|
ACHIEVEMENT GAP? Now that tempers have cooled on the alternative schools issue, I hope I can be forgiven for summarizing it, lest we forget that the causes are still out there. Color is one of them, sort of. Superintendent George Russell is African American, chief parent instigator Nancy Willard is a single mother of three children adopted out of third-world countries, raising them in the south hills, and the editors of EW are aging hippies self-exiled in a sleepy liberal college town in an ignored corner of the country. All are desperate to fabricate a cause to match their personal frustrations. The younger, whiter school board quite predictably didn't sign on to their fantasy revolution. What about the achievement gap? It's minuscule compared to what existed in Detroit or Atlanta in the '60s and its real cause is the economic gap of the various Eugene neighborhoods. Two-thirds of the families who drive their children to other schools drive them to other neighborhood schools, not to alternative schools. In the school board's survey, only a tiny fraction of parents said that they would take advantage of busing if it were offered. Clearly, having one's children walk to school is more important to some people, while slightly better grades is more important to others. What really bothers George and Nancy is the choice system itself — and parents having the audacity to have varied priorities. If there is any real injustice, it's the enrollment cap, but it's important to remember what removing it would mean: more alternative schools, not less. Alternative schools represent a product whose manufacturer can't meet the public's demand. If the flood-gates were released, what would their share really be? Maybe the Don Quixotes of this town should be careful what they wish for. Twenty years ago, Chrysler Chairman Lee Iacocca was on televisions telling us that where a car was made is more important than how well it was made. Some people believed him. Some people still believe him. But the quality of American cars has risen remarkably in those two decades and the future of education in Eugene will follow the same course, no matter how dramatically some people resist it. Steve Downey, Eugene
IT'S BACK What is back is referring to or labeling females as "chicks." It seems to me many women worked many years educating men, boys, the media, image makers, authors, that women are mothers, daughters, sisters, lovers, friends and employees, but not "chicks." Unfortunately, the label is now in a movie title and put on one of the most sacred of activities — reading. That's right, "chick lit." Local Progressive Talk KOPT 1600 AM Edition host Liz Kelly stated she's reading "chick lit." Trying to be more progressive myself, I've come up with "babe books," and for men of course, "rooster reading." And when you aren't busy reading, be sure to tune into the regressive language and labeling on the local progressive talk show. Sheila Sheldon, Eugene
WHOSE STANDARDS Both Eugene and Springfield residents will recognize this scenario: A committee works long hours preparing recommendations to improve equity in their school district. The school board is expected to pass the plan. A large group of like-minded citizens storms a meeting. They state essentially that everyone needs to think and be like them, and offer to be part of a solution that translates to: People who are not like them need fixing. The board lets them stop the process. Springfield right-wing Christians indicated that they set the standard for morality for all students and families. They wanted to participate in finding a solution only if it included changing the bottom of their hierarchy — silencing the voices of queer youth. Eugene alternative school parents indicated that they set the standard for education for all schools. Now, the only solutions that everyone can agree on involve changing the bottom of their hierarchy — the neighborhood schools. Role reversals illuminate our elusive hierarchies. What if parents of queer youth demanded the curriculum omit reference to heterosexual couples (including presidents and first ladies) because it endangers the morality of their children? What if neighborhood schools offered to help alternative schools improve by adopting unique advantages of neighborhood schools? No one group has a monopoly on creating hierarchies; we all support them — sometimes we're in "higher" groups and other times in "lower" groups. When we recognize hierarchies, we can stop listening to top-of-the-hierarchy perspectives that produce their signature results: conflict, disruption, and lack of solutions that work for everyone. Charlotte Childress, www.cluelessatthetop.com
MATTER OF CHOICE The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag ends with the words "with freedom and justice for all." The religious right wants to deny that right to people with whom they disagree. Wade Richardson, a candidate of the religious right for the Springfield School Board, is on record as opposing a proposal to include sexual orientation as a protected class in the Springfield School District's harassment statement. Mr. Richardson stated sexual orientation is a matter of choice and that gay, lesbian and transgendered people choose their sexual orientation. Furthermore he stated that "homosexual lifestyle is both a tax burden and a health burden on society." Mr. Richardson has accused the present school board of having a pro-homosexual agenda, views the increased number of Hispanic children in the Springfield as a "challenge" rather than an opportunity and, when asked if he would support the district's Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, stated that he would not. Al King is on record as supporting the board's approach to diversity and stated that the district's final anti-harassment policy must provide protection and dignity for all students, including gays and lesbians. If you believe as I do that the effort by the religious right to impose their own religious views on all students in the Springfield School District is the wrong course of action, then please vote to re-elect Al King, Bill Medford and Jonathan Light to the Springfield School Board on May 17. Dennis Shine, Springfield
WE ALL PAY As a (small "d") developer, let me remind Mr. Pittman ("Subsidized Sprawl" news brief 4/21) that all expenses incurred in the construction process are simply passed on to the end user, the homeowner and consumer. Developers are in it for the profit, that piece of money left over after all the bills are paid. When fees are raised (SDCs), the price of the product goes up. We really don't make money off the fees. We make it from the goods we produce. Much of our community's infrastructure (sewer, water etc.) has been in place for many years and will continue to increase in size and expense as long as we as a community grow and consume. We all are part of this expanding organism and share the fiscal responsibility to maintain its burden. It's really not an "us and them" scenario. We all live here, we all pay. Chris Stebbins, Eugene designer & builder
REFORM OVERDUE The UO and the College of Education (COE) have been very irresponsible. The COE has a policy called the Infusion of Diversity into College Courses and Course Documentation Policy. This policy is not being followed because, according to Dean Kaufman, it cannot be "operationally defined" and therefore is not "enforceable." This is unacceptable. Not only is the COE refusing to follow its own policy, but for years a discriminatory environment has been allowed exist within the COE. I personally know about discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation, and disability. For years people have been trying to change this, but have so far met with no results. Within the last two years five different groups have made multiple attempts to address these issues through the university's official channels. This includes an affirmative action grievance filed by a student where it was found that discrimination had occurred, and an Ethnic Diversity Affairs Committee, which is a group within the COE specifically set up to deal with issues of multiculturalism, diversity, and discrimination. To this point nothing significant has been done. The COE and the University have abandoned their duty to provide a safe learning environment for all students. A coalition of students, faculty, staff, and community members have been working on this issue. They have proposed eight steps that the university needs to take to address these issues. The UO and COE need to remember their duty to their students and community and immediately start work on implementing these reforms. Alethia Hostetter, Eugene
HOT MAIDEN That's one hot "Earth Day Maiden" (4/21) on the cover! Into leather, rubber headgear, and sexy red lingerie — you omitted the phone number from the ad. Lisa Kennedy, Eugene
DON'T MOCK RELIGION I am appalled that EW would run an advertisement like the ODOT ad that appeared in the April 21 issue on page 9 depicting a businessman meditating. I don't understand why it is acceptable to make a joke out of the Buddhist religion. The photo and words used were mocking and demeaning, and I would really think the EW should know better. Maybe not the R-G, but you guys? I doubt I will ever see a taxpayer-funded ad making light of Christianity. How about a photo of someone taking communion and a few jokes about being bathed in the blood of the lamb? Perhaps Jesus on the crucifix with some cute caption advertising sunscreen? ODOT would never touch it, nor I'm sure would you. America's lack of respect for any religion that is not Christian is horrific. I am saddened that you are also buying into it. Kelly Hinrichs, Eugene
FIRE DATE GIRL I find the "Date Girl" section of your paper to be patently offensive. Yes, I can, and do, often choose to ignore it. It just seems so out of place to me in a paper that seems to pride itself on "consciousness raising," not "consciousness lowering." Obviously Date Girl is written by a woman that doesn't think too highly of herself, or of men. It seems to be written by someone who has an unhealthy preoccupation with the sexual side of dating. She's also arrogant and demeaning. Please fire Date Girl and put in its place a new dating section written by that awesome writer who writes your astrology section. He is thoughtful, positive, and mood lifting. Just what Eugene is all about. Ken Moss, Yachats
NUCLEAR TAILSPIN In grade school I learned that the stability of our government is based on the balance of power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. Passage of the "nuclear option" (eliminating filibuster on judicial appointments) will send us into a destabilized tailspin. Upton Sinclair warned us in his novel It Can't Happen Here that fascists CAN take over. The "nuclear option" is a huge step in that direction. Eldon Haines , Eugene
FIX MEASURE 37 Property owners and the general public of Oregon would benefit from a temporary moratorium on all Measure 37 claims until the Oregon Legislature has an opportunity to fix the law. Whether or not you like Measure 37, it has serious problems that are costing Oregonians money, treating property owners inconsistently, and destroying prime agricultural lands. Measure 37 is applied by local governments, and it is being applied inconsistently to property owners depending upon where they live. Claims in one county receive blanket waivers of land use regulations, while similarly situated claimants in another county face fees and unreceptive local officials. Taxpayers also bear the brunt of Measure 37. The Measure stands to hit us with the double whammy of extraordinary administrative costs and payouts to rich developers — not small landowners. Oregon shouldn't just waive land use laws and pave the way for erecting McMansions on Oregon's finest agricultural lands. Just because crop prices are down doesn't mean we pave over the soil. Our grandchildren should have the right to grow food for America. There's a fix for these problems. It's called Senate Bill 350, and it places a moratorium on all Measure 37 claims for one year. That's enough time for the Legislature to address some of the measure's most glaring inadequacies, and it doesn't thwart the people's intent. Contact your legislators and tell them to do their job and fix Measure 37. Currently, opportunists stand to gain by the law, while taxpayers and earnest property owners stand to lose. Jason Busch , UO Law student
AFTER WE'RE GONE Earth Day isn't just about protecting our planet, it's also about sustaining humanity. Earth will be fine. It's been here about 4.56 billion years. As for modern humans, who have existed around 150,000 years, the future is dicey. Should we continue to destroy the conditions that support nature, we will eliminate ourselves. And after we're gone, the environment, ecological systems, and biosphere of Earth will regenerate. There are approximately 6.5 billion humans. In 2050, it's projected to be 9.1 billion. This growth will exacerbate the interrelated web of life-threatening environmental problems already upon us. As we haphazardly and greedily continue to deplete resources on land and in the ocean we destroy biological diversity on which evolution thrives and which is integral to our survival. Human life is fragile and not guaranteed. While much depends on our personal choices, the decisions of enlightened leaders are most crucial. And from what I see in the White House and in Congress today, we're in deep trouble. Steven Kunert , Corvallis
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
 |
|||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
