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Viewpoints Our Views Another rating On the front page of this issue, readers can find yet another story about the ranking of schools in Georgia. This particular ranking is based on how recent high school gradu ates do at technical schools in terms of taking remedial courses. A few weeks ago, the result of rankings based solely on the per centage of students passing the Georgia High School Graduation Test made news. After a review by Houston County School Superintendent Charles Holloway, it appears like ly there will be some action taken against Houston County High School personnel for dabbling in the process relating to taking the graduation test. Apparently someone at Houston County High told some marginal students they could not take the test during the spring testing period. This may have helped drive up the scores at HCHS. In any event, when the scores were released earlier this year, Hous ton County earned its way into the top 50 in Georgia. This scene simply confirms what some have suspected for years that at some schools, the test score is most important. At HCHS, a higher test score results in greater prestige for the school. In other communities, a higher test score average pulls pressure from faculty and admin istrators. The release of this information to media,outlets aX&Wfrlne state* makes ”the per centage of seniors passing the test that much more important. Meanwhile, the latest test fig ures released seem to be a good indication of the work going on at Georgia high schools. Simply, can students going to vocational-tech nical schools pass basic require ments. Some schools scored as high as 100 percent of their recent graduates in tech schools passing without remedial class. Almost the same number of schools stood out at the other end of the spectrum they didn’t have a single graduate who did not need academic help to pass basic classes. The pecking order in Houston County reflected some different test results. Warner Robins was the top finisher in the county, and 104 overall. Houston County finished second in the county and at slot 107 among the state watchers. Northside was third, tied for 149, and Perry High was fourth, tied with several schools for 218. Elberta finished among the last grouping. A lone graduate of Roberta in technical school required remedial work. This test, along with those tests which give results of graduates during their freshman year in col lege are important not just for rankings, but as a direct measur ing tool of what is really taking place at that school. Here a good results means faculty members are doing their best to provide their students with enhanced learning experiences. Houston Hone Journal P.O. Drawer M • 807 Carroll St. Perry. Ga. 31069 email home|rn@hom.net (912) 987-1823 (voice) (912) 988-1181 (fax) Bub Tribble..... ?T. President Jj Johnson ...Editor and General Manager Ellen T. Green Advertising Director Phil Clark , Sports Joan Dorset! Lifestyles LaNorrfs Fleming News Alllne Kent Sports «•'«i.i.ii Pauline Lewis ..Lifestyles Rob Mead News and Circulation Charlotte Perkins ..News and Composition Andy Stuckey Classified Susan R. Thomas Hookkeeping Our Policies Unsigned editorials appearing in larger type on this page under tin* label Out Views reflect the position ol the Houston Home Journal. Signed columns and letters on this page (and elsewhere in ibis newspaper) reflect the opinions of (he writers and not necessarily tnose of this newspaper Signed letters to the i-diioi an- wel Rocker challenges First Amendment standards My sister-jn- law walked through the door, looked at me, and said. “Have you heard about the doth Rocker stuff yet?" 1 told her no. I hadn’t. She threw the pages of the Atlanta Constitution at me and I read, with shock, what Atlanta Brave Rocker said during an interview for a Sports Illustrat ed story. Later, when 1 returned home. I grabbed mv copy of Sports Illustrated and read the lengthy article. Yes. Rocker did, if lie was quoted correctly, say all ol the things which have been attributed to him in the past week. Rocker comes across as a brash, angry young man who calls out for a lightening rod to stabilize him. Public opinion seems split about the young Braves pitch er and what to do. In his con versation. Rocker took swipes at almost everyone in the country. He shared opinions about the large number of now living in the country who don’t Speak English as their first language Some believe Major League Baseball should take action. Others think the Braves will act quickly to settle the matter. Some observers believe Rocker may well be through as a major league pitcher. 1 have two major problems Bob Tribble Home* Journal President A prayer for your future The Millennium is upon us and we will soon know if all the computer glitches have been solved, if we will have electricity, heat, water, food, and so forth. I have always felt the persons who made the computers are much “bigger" than the eomput ers, and God is certainly “big ger" than both, so why should we worry. The following prayer is mak ing its rounds around (he email circuit. If makes for good read ing. The prayer covers many of the concerns some folks face right now. and serves as a reminder to let God take care of things. Tiie author is unknown. May you get a ('lean bill of health from vour dentist, your cardiologist, your gastroenterol ogist, your urologist, your proc tologist. vour podiatrist, your psychiatrist, vour gynecologist, your plumber, and the IRS. May your hair, your teeth, your face lift, your abs, and your stocks not fall; and may your blood pressure, your trigliceridcs. vour cholesterol, your white blood count, and your mortgage interest not rise. May you find your way to travel from anywhere to any where during rush hour in less than an hour, and when you get there, may you find a parking spac e. May Friday evening. Dec. 31, find you seated around the din ner table, together with your beloved family and cherished friends, ushering in the new year ahead. You will find the Page 4A with the Rocker scene. First, I find his language choices and the attitudes they represent to be totally unacceptable. I have offended some guests in my home with my unhappiness when they used the “N” word. So on the one hand. I'd like to take Rocker to the woodshed and help him understand some of the facts of life. The other hand, however is where the hangup is. Although Rocker was interviewed for a story in Sports Illustrated, he did not speak for Major League Baseball or the Atlanta Braves. He spoke for himself . He spoke using the First Amendment rights guaranteed him in the United States Constitution. There are problems with rights. Once a college professor described to me the limits of my rights they end some where between my nose and the next person's nose. If I don’t abuse my rights, I won’t make these other observers unhappy. I am a strong supporter of ! mk ' J» food better, (he environment quieter, the cost much cheaper, and the pleasure much more fulfilling than anything else you might ordinarily do that night. May you wake up Jan. 1. find ing that the world has not come to an end, the lights work, the water faucets flow, and the sky has not fallen. Let alone when you sign on, your computer is up and running and nothing is missing!! May you go to the bank on Monday morning. Jan. 3 and find your account is in order, your money is still there, and any mistakes are in your favor. May you ponder on Jan. 4 how this ultramodern civiliza tion of ours managed to get traumatized bv a possible slip of a blip on a chip made out of sand. corned. Please limit letters to 300 words and include addresses and a telephone number for verification purposes Letters are not published without verification. Let ters should be sent to P.O. Drawer M, Perry. Ga.. 31069 or brought to the news paper office at 807 Carroll St.. Perry. Our liability for an error will not exceed the cost of space occupied by the error. We cannot Ire responsible for the return of pictures or submitted materials unless a stamped, return address envelope Is Included Ouir Goal Ihe Houston Home Journal is pub Wed., Dec. 29. 1999 JJ Johnson Home Journal Editor TH£ PiAA/t/T ~ Y2.K f <%•) f f PATCH* XXX 1 ( JJ He was stex BUT OTHERS ♦GLOBAL s3oo+ billion)* / Vx our First Amendment. Why? Well, I’ve spent more than 25 years in the newspaper busi ness. The work we perform here, from the front page to this column and the many other opinion pieces in this paper, are possible simply because of the First Amend ment. Should for some reason the Rockers of this world become suppressed with their First Amendment rights, what might happen to the Houston Home Journal should someone dis agree with an opinion expressed here? Freedom of speech makes for some very strange bedfel lows sometimes. In order to protect my own feelings about free speech and opinions, I have to support the right of people such as Larry Flint to produce their smut and legal sex information. I must sup port the presence of “The Cafe" at exit 45. No. I don’t agree with the products, but I must support the right of these purveyors of smut to produce. Who is to say the Home Journal doesn’t offend some people, too. With out the First Amendment, they could close us down and put several people out of a job. With that in mind, I Find what Rocker said repulsive. I cannot imagine what got into the just-turned-25 year old wHP : -W May we relax about the future and realize that we still have a long, long time until we pass, by which time the computer may be long since obsolete and so may we. May God give you the strength to go through a year of presidential campaigning, and may some of the promises made be kept. May you believe at least half of what the candidates pro pose, and may those elected ful fill at least half of what they promise, and the miracle of reduced taxes and balanced budgets happen. May you be awe struck by God’ s sense of humor as you wrestle with the possibility that a professional wrestler could become president of the United States. May what you see in the mir lished proudly for the citizens of Houston and adjoining counties by Houston Publi cations Inc.. Peny, Ga. Our goal Is to pro duce quality, profitable, community-orient ed newspapers that you. our readers, are proud of. We will reach this goal through nard work, teamwork, loyalty and a strong dedication toward printing the truth. Member of Georgia Press Association and National Newspaper Association. "Congress shall make no law respecting ;hi establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof: or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or of the right of the people peaceably to assemble. Houston Home Journal young man who attended First Presbyterian Day and played in Perry against Westfield ath letes. This is the same Rocker who’s parents provided hous ing for two other Macon Braves a couple of summers ago when John Rocker played for the Macon Braves. One of those summer house guests was an African-American. What will happen? The argu ment about the right and wrong of Rocker's remarks may continue for some time, but don’t expect him to get a warm welcome to my house. 1 hope he chooses to temper his opinions with some human kindness and gets help with his anger. Don’t look for a warm wel come for Rocker, either, when spring training camp opens. During his interview. Rocker slammed Latin Americans. Both of the Braves' catchers are of such lineage. Most of all. I hope he eontin ues to have opportunities to speak the way he did. As long as he can speak in such fash ion. the family and community newspaper industry will remain alive and healthy. Maybe, with some help, he can control his rage and begin to find the good in humanity. That would be a joyous moment for all of us. ror delight you. and whal others see in you delight them. May someone love you ertough to forgive your faults, be blind to your blemishes, and tell the world about your virtues. May the telemarketers wait to make their sales calls until you finish dinner, and may your checkbook and your budget bal ance, and may they include gen erous amounts of charity. May you remember to say “I Love You” at least once a day to your spouse, your child, your parents, your friends, yourself. May we live as God intended, in a world of peace, and with awareness of His love in every sunset, every flower’s unfolding petals, every baby’s smile, every lover’s kiss, and every wonder ful, astonishing, miraculous, best of our hearts. Amen. and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." Your right to read this newspaper is protected by the First Amendment to the United State's Constitu tion. The Houston Home Journal (USPS 000471) la published weekly ter $21.40 per year (including sales tax) by Houston Publications Inc., 807 Carroll St., Perry. Ga., 31069. Periodicals Class Postage paid at Perry, Ga. POSTMASTER : Send address changes to the Houston Home Journal. RO. Drawer M, Perry, Ga. 31069. ISSN: 1075-1874