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Viewpoints Our Opinions Action Was A Big Mistake School Board Chairman Zell Blackmon Jr. has seemed to have the magic touch when il comes to public relations since he took office. He is a favorite with the press because he has kept everything he could on the table. When he didn't there was a good and legal reason why. He has been a good source of information for this newspaper. He has been open and forthcoming. In other words, we like him. But be and other board members are on die hot seat with Perryans because they have decided to build two new middle schools in the Warner Robins area while saying Perry can get by with some additions to the present middle school. Last week a meeting was held at which a large number of Perryans showed up to present their case for a new middle school south of Highway 96. Someooe noticed that WMAZ-TV (Channel 13) did not have anyone at the meeting and called the TV station and asked why. Allegedly someone at the station said that Mr. Blackmon had asked them not to cover the meeting. You can imagine bow this went over with Perryans. Fortunately, one TV Station-Channel 24—did cover the meeting, but Channel 13 is the big boy in Middle Georgia news. It was, in our opinion, a public relations mistake on the part of Mr. Blackmon if he did, indeed, ask Channel 13 not to cover the meeting. Perryans had a right to have their views receive the widest of coverage. Mr. Blackmon has submitted an explanation of the board's reasons for selecting the Warner Robins area for both middle schools. But these reasons are not being received well here. The issue is one that will be pursued vigorously, according to local civic mid business leaders who have contacted us. And They Did Right Thing Some area daily newspapers have been coming down hard on the county board of education for discussing persons for whom they might name a school in executive session. The board's attorney has advised them that they should discuss these people in private, because it would do harm to the people whose names might come up and be rejected. We agree. Individuals who might have no knowledge of being considered should not have their names bandied about loosely...nor should they be subjected to publicity and perhaps ridiculed if board members decided they were unworthy of the honor. Some things must..and should...be done in private and this is one of them. So What? ffs Only Money Congress has been told that the Social Security Administration is paying disability payments to millions who have gone back to work. The administration has ignored a 1980 law requiring annual reviews of between 400,000 and 500,000 persons receiving these benefits every year. So far in 14 years the Social Security Administration has ignored the law and has conducted a total of 50,000 reviews. _ Consequently a total of $1.4 billion has been paid out to people who are heafiKy and have gone back to work. Doesn't it make you proud of these people? Something to think about: There will be many agencies just like this one handling your health care if President Clinton's plan is adopted. *7c**te&rfoun*uxt tywi better *7o ScCttvt. Editor Houston Times-Journal P.O. Drawer M Perry, GA, 31069 Houston Times-Journal P.O. Drawer M • 807 Carroll Street • Perry, Ga. 31069 Phone: (912) 987-1823 Member Georgia Press Association-Na ional Newspaper Association " dva£t rua- bx+l <u\ - £*iaa CJCAACtAA- t&AAAo|{ OV to- OAAAmXf-t, a/\d to- p-cixlco/v tivA 9 O.vAA/VJTVArvt' O/ AA/iACA- <^axaacl/v<aA< Your right to read this newspaper is protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. Our Goal The Houston Times-Journal is.published proudly for the citizens of Houston and adjoining counties by Houston Publications Inc. . Perry Ga. Our goal is to produce quality, profitable, community-oriented newspapers that you, our readers, are proud of. We will reach that goal through hard work, teamwork, loyalty, and a strong dedication towards printing the truth. Bob Tribble Daniel F. Evans Julie B. Evans President Vice-President Treasurer Our Staff Brigette Loudermilk Editor and General Manager Eddie Byrd Advertising Director News: Brenda Thompson, Pauline Lewis, Bill Overton Advertising:Teresa M. Gailan Classified Advertising: Melanie Bullington Bookkeeping: Judy Hubert Circulation: Donnie Forehand Our Policies •Signed Letters to the editor welcomed. Please limit to 300 words and include address and phone number. •Liability for an error will not exceed the cost of space pccupied by the error. •We cannot be responsible for return of pictures or material unless stamped return addressed envelope is included. The Houston Times-Journal (US PS 000471) is published semi-weekly for SIB.OO per year by Houston Publications, Inc., 807 Carroll Street, Perry, Ga. 31069. Second Class Postage paid at Perry, Ga.,POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Houston Times-Journal, P.O. Drawer M.PerryGa. 31069 ‘Dumbing Down’ Of-Education Outrageous Idea IF THEY won't or can't learn enough to make good grades, just change the way you give grades...that’s the message being sent by the College Board, which oversees the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores. The College Board has decided to inflate grades so that today's students will look better in comparison with their predecessors. It is just another step in a long term trend to lower educational standards to the lowest common denominator. At a time when there should be more emphasis on a search for excellence, the message being soil to today's students and teachers is that they should worry less because they are making better grades than ever before...even if you have to tinker with the grades to make it come out that way. Chester Finn, former assistant U.S. secretary of education, had this to say about inflating SAT scores: "The College Board is administering the largest dose of educational Prozac in the history of the country." From now on students will score higher than their predecessors while actually knowing less. It's all in the name of diversity and, as the Board says, "making scores easier to understand." Those of us who consider a good education the most important thing we can give to our children recognize this as a major setback to quality education. It bodes badly for the future of public education when it becomes national policy to give "feel good" education more n\n W*#*'*® -d Mjfctom v|l Your Opinion Local Dream Team Members Say: ‘Get The Olympic Spirit’! Dear Editor: Today we are one day closer to the 1996 Summer Olympics. Just think about it, the Olympics are coming right here to our own Atlanta, Georgia. I guess they couldn’t resist that Southern warmth and charm. I, along with Britt Barrett, who is also a junior at Perry High School, am a member of the 1993 Olympic Dream Team. There are also 98 other students who are members around the state. The Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games chooses 100 students each year from Georgia’s high schools. The purpose of the Olympic Dream Team is to help promote the Olympics and "spread the word”. Everyone should become involved and get the Olympic spirit. I happen to know that many people take the fact that the Olympics are coming to Atlanta for granted. This is very unthoughtful and inconsiderate, as much hard wok and determination wait into bringing the Olympics to Atlanta. The Olympics can also bring increased commerce and tourism to Georgia. Now is our chance to show the world what Georgia is all about! As far as supporting the Olympics, there is a lot that we can do. Much of the Olympic clothing that is available in stores is intended to draw revenue for the Olympics. Buying these clothes is not only a way of supporting the Olympics, but wearing them so that everyone can see them is another important way of proudly supporting the importance than learning. In reality, it is a carryover into the educational system that has been happening for years in the workplace, where businesses must hire people because of race, religion, infirmity, age, etc., rather than on the basis of abUity..odl imposed on business by federal laws. • • * THIS IS just another step along the road that some educators have been advocating for years. The controversial Outcome Based Education fits into this trend. It, too, considers "feel good" more important than real learning. I have been keeping an eye on Gwinnett County, where the OBE program has been in effect for some dme. The controversy continues there. Parents who consider schools a good place for baby sitting their children of all ages could care less. As a matter of fact they probably like OBE because their children get passing grades without parental involvement. There is a large segment of parents in Gwinnett County who feel differently. They contend that OBE "can be used to undermine parental authority as well as traditional moral and religious beliefs." • These outspoken and indignent parents are demanding that education return to the basics. One parent, at a public meeting recently, said, "Eitough of this touchy-feely stuff. Just challenge my son with good academics." There are many educators across Houston Times-Journal Wednesday, March 16,1994 the country who jump at every new idea that comes along as a substitute for basic education. This is just another in a long list of programs that is supposed to take the place of basic education. It is being received well by many parents because it groups students...the outstanding ones with those barely able to get by...and results in more uniform grades for all. One complaint expressed in Gwinnett by many parents is that their children, who have been on the fast track toward college scholarships, now find themselves with grades below their abilities because of grades based on group performance rather than individual accomplishments. * • * MANY parents in Gwinnett are outraged that their children are being deprived of a challenging search for excellence. "How anxious are you to have your children instructed in politically correct values," one parent asked, "and then graded on how well they comply with those values?" OBE has been equated with "dumbing down" of education, which has been in vogue for a long dme. As one parent in Gwinnett wrote in The Atlanta Constitution, "None of us is so lacking in compassion that we want to disregard the slower student But to prevent the best and brightest, and even average students, from striving for high plateaus of success is a detriment to the individual student and Olympics. 1 would also like to encourage everyone to tell someone you know about the Olympics. Open their eyes to the opportunity that awaits us. So go ahead, get the Olympic spirit! You'll be glad that you did. Brent Collier, Perry Preventing Abuse, Keeping Promises To Be April Focus Dear Editor: As parents we are in awe when a child is bom. We often make promises to that newborn that we will love and protect him or ha and provide a nurturing, loving environment. As caring citizens of a community, we also make promises to children to keep them safe and healthy. These promises are what the theme for April, Child Abuse Prevention Month, is all about. Promises to Keep” means that we will pledge to help parents learn to cope with the stresses of raising children, use positive discipline, build self esteem in our children and seek help when needed.* During April, the Rainbow House Children's Resource Centa will focus on child abuse and neglect and the positive prevention programs that can help break the cycle of child abuse and make life better for the children of Houston County. As Executive Director for the Rainbow House, I know that child abuse prevention programs are an effective and cost efficient way to stop child Pleas# see Laffers, page 9A Page 4A wf FoyS. j Evans ultimately to our nation.” A principal in Gwinnett was quoted as saying, "Schools no longer do what's best for the children...they do what is best for the parents.” And many parents, it seems, are not closely involved with their children. More and more expect school teachers to take the place of parents. The cry goes up from concerned parents to let each child strive for his or her greatest potential and grade all children, regardless of ability, on the basis of what they know. There should be outrage at the idea of dumbing down education and sending more who cannot read out into the world or to college. * * * WHAT ABOUT Houston County? I have talked with Zell Blackmon Jr., chairman of the Houston County Board of Education, and school Superintendent Tony Hinnant, and I have good news. Both of them recognize Outcome Based Education as just exactly what it is. They don't like it And they say they will not introduce it into our school system.