overcrowding
The Dallas Post challenges the handful of parents of
children in the Dallas Elementary Schools who have
been crying ‘‘overcrowding’’ since the beginning of the
school year to come forth and produce some tangible
evidence that such a situation really does exist.
After listening to a few parents complain during past
school board meetings of too many students in classes,
The Dallas Post looked into the situation itself. And,
what did it find? Not an overcrowding situation, that’s
for sure.
After sifting through enrollment figures and class-
room statistics, The Dallas Post has seen for itself that
there is not one class in the elementary schools with
more than 30 students in it. And, with a qualified
teacher and teacher aides to help, there is no reason
why a student in such a classroom cannot learn just as
easily and just as quickly as can a student in a class of
less students.
The Pennsylvania Economy League conducted a
market survey and has determined that, even with the
closing of the Dallas Township Elementary School,
there is not and will not be an overcrowding problem in
the school district in years to come.
Is it the same handful of parents complaining about
overcrowding that complains when board members
vote to raise taxes? And, is it that same handful of
parents who complains just because their children are
not being given extra special treatment, whether they
need it or not?
We cannot help but wonder if this same handful of
parents would be the ones to complain about the
condition of the township school had the board of
education chosen to keep that school open.
Sometimes you can’t win for trying!
Thanks, Nick!
Hats off to Nick Tsioles, new owner of the Rollaway
Skating Rink on Route 415 in Dallas, for turning that
business into a ‘‘Family Center.”
Since ‘assuming proprietorship of the roller-skating
rink, Tsioles has found ways to make the Rollaway a
favorite spot for fun and frolicking of family members,
both young and old.
Tsioles makes sure youngsters stay within the rink
from the time they arrive until their parents or older
members of the family call for them. He permits no
hanky-panky at the rink and allows no alcohol or
intoxicating beverages whatsover.
Tsioles has instituted a family program which has
proven quite successful since roller-skating parties are
being sponsored by church groups, Girl Scouts and Boy
Scouts, cheerleading organizations, Parent-Teacher
associations and the like. And many Back Mountain
youngsters have already celebrated their birthdays
instyle, with a skating party at Rollaway.
It’s encouraging to see a businessman like Nick
Tsioles take such a liking to the youngsters of our area
that he will go out of his way to provide them with a fun
place to spend their time and an atmosphere comforta-
ble to their parents as well.
Take a minute to
complete surveys
Residents of both the Dallas and Lake-Lehman School
Districts are encouraged to cooperate with the adminis-
trations of both those districts in planning for the years
ahead.
Both districts have mailed questionnaires to taxpayer
and non-taxpayers in their respective districts, request-
ing they complete the questions. Answers from resi-
dents of each district will enable the school administra-
tors to plan for the future by assessing the district’s
needs and establishing its goals.
The surveys from both school districts are designed to
determine what the residents of the districts desire
from their schools and their opinions of the degree to
which the schools are doing their jobs adequately.
Residents who complete the surveys will be providing
valuable information that will show the needs asssess-
ment for the Dallas and Lake-Lehman School Districts
and will help the Long-Range Plan Committees to
establish their goals for the next five years.
Residents responding to the survey need not sign the
surveys and can remain anonymous as they wish to in
answering the questions. Their answers, however, will
provide a very solid base upon which school adminis-
trators can plan for the future.
Horse trainer
1]
Tie ALLASCP0oST
A Publication of Pennaprint, Inc.
J. STEPHEN BUCKLEY
Publisher
DAVID F. CONNER
General Manager
DOTTY MARTIN
Executive Editor
Let us go back before the first
Thanksgiving. America was a
land of plenty. Wild turkeys and
other game flourished. Edibles
such as yams, pumpkins,
squash and a wide variety of
nuts, grains and berries grew in
abundance.
The forests were lush and
green, the water sweet and
clear. The air was filled with
the scent of wild flowers. At
night the moon and stars shone
with brilliant clarity.
The Indians, or native Ameri-
cans, as they prefer to be
called; held the stewardship of
this beautiful land. They under-
stood the ways of nature and
had a mighty respect for the
land and every living thing.
One day a small ship landed
at Plymouth Rock. From this
ship came strangely dressed
people with crates and baskets
filled with wondrous things, silk
and lace and silver, tools, dishes
Toby
COLEMAN
and guns.
The Americans were cautious
and quite curious. They did not
know of a place ‘‘across the big
water’ called England, and I
suppose they didnt’ very much
care. They did know that these
people with ‘‘pale”’ faces would
need help in surviving the cold
winter ahead.
How these two very different
peoples made themselves under-
stood to one another I do not
know. Perhaps, when people
find themselves facing survival
together, their instincts take
over for the good of all.
The great chief Massasoit
instructed his people to be as
helpful to the newcomers as
possible. There was suspicion on
both sides, but the snow was
coming, and there was much
work to be done. Shelter and
warm clothing and food stuffs
has to be provided if the Pil-
grims were to make it through
until Spring.
When the harvest was gath-
ered, the Indians and the Pil-
grims prepared a great feast.
This was the first Thanksgiving.
The Pilgrims did survive to
plant in the Spring thanks to the
Indians.
As we know, after some hard-
ship and a period of adjustment,
the ‘“‘paleface’” did quite well in
America.
And how did the Pilgrims and
their descendants reward Mas-
sasoit and his people? They
rewarded them by dispossessing
the Indians of their land, herd-
ing them onto reservations,
raping the soil, polluting the
water, slaughtering the buffalo
and other animals used for food
and supplies, and fouling the
very air itself. This was how
they showed their gratitude.
Who were the real savages?
Native Americans are among
the poorest people in our coun-
try. Their suicide rate and
incidence of alcoholism is one of
the highest especially among
the young. They do not have the
same rights as other Ameri-
cans.
The foul treatment of these
first Americans is a national
disgrace. During our celebra-
tion of Thanksgiving let us
remember these people and find
a way to set things right for
them at last.
(Toby Coleman, a Back Moun-
tain resident, is a columnist for
The Dallas Post. Her columr
appears regularly.)
By NANCY M. NOONAN
A new teacher in Pennsyl-
vania with several years’ expe-
rience in another state told me
recently that she was impressed
with the dedication of the teach-
ers with whom she works.
As one example, she pointed
out that teachers at her school
are scheduled to report to work
at 8:45 a.m., but she prefers to
arrive about 45 minutes early.
She exclaimed to me, ‘I’ve
been surprised to to see teach-
ers’ parking lot nearly full with
other early-arriving teachers.”
I’m not at all surprised. I
know how hard the vast major-
ity of the Commonwealth’s
teachers work.
In fact, a recent study con-
ducted by Penn State University
for PSEA proves the point and
expels the myth of the teacher’s
seven-hour day.
The survey, the Pennsylvania
Profile of Education Project,
demonstrates that, on the aver-
age, teachers spend at least 10
hours of their personal time
during the school week prepar-
ing lesson plans and correcting
papers. That’s a conservative
estimate, because the survey
did not ask about time spent on
school work during the week-
end.
The case in point demon-
strates something else - the
need for reduced class loads
and increased on-the-clock prep-
aration time.
As convinced as I am of teach-
ers’ commitment and devotion
to their work, you can imagine
how upset I was with a recent
allegation from a so-called
“think tank” that public school
teachers are ‘‘uninspired, dis-
pirited.”
1 know better - from daily
contact with Pennsylvania’s
teachers and from the revela-
tions of the Penn State-PSEA
study.
Overall our teachers indicate
they are ‘‘satisfied” with teach-
ing . in general and with the
personal fulfillment they get
from teaching.
Those who have higher levels
of satisfaction cite community
support, effective discipline pol-
icies, and adequate time to pre-
pare as the reasons.
On the other hand, our teach-
ers are less satisfied with school
governance, their salaries and
benefits. And, as the Carnegie
study indicates, teachers desire
and need more autonomy in
educational decision making
affecting the environment in
which they work.
This week as we celebrate
American Education Week, the
opportunity to improve the
status of the profession looks
brighter than ever before.
Opportunities for improved
public education abound.
The recent action by Congress
and the General Assembly,
resulting in record-setting
appropriations for education, is
heartening. The General Assem-
bly also is well on its way
toward approving a major
teacher-based professional
development bill. And prepara-
tions are being made to launch
major reforms in school fund-
ing.
I’m confident that through the
dedication of our teachers who
are inspired and spirited and
with community and legislative
support, Pennsylvania will meet
the challenges and make our
public schools among the best in
the country.
As the AEW theme suggests,
we are United for Excellence.
(Nancy M. Noonan is presi-
dent of the Pennsylvania State
Education Association.)
By CLYDE DUPIN
Christians have always been a
thankful people. It is a part of
the Christian spirit to be thank-
ful. The Bible is a book that
reminds us to give thanks what-
ever the circumstances of life
may be.
Thanksgiving Day is a
national holiday in the United
States commemorating the har-
vest of the Plymouth Colony in
1621. This day of thanksgiving
and praise to almighty God
followed a winter of great hard-
ship.
It was President Abraham
Lincoln who officially, in 1863,
proclaimed the last Thursday of
November as a day set apart
for the national giving of thanks
to almighty God. This has
always been a religious holiday
since it is a time to give thanks
to our God.
Today, every American should
pause to give thanks for our
abundance in this great nation.
All we have today in material
and spiritual blessings comes
from God. We should be thank-
ful that we have peace in our
land and hope in our heart. We
should give thanks for a coura-
geous President who has a
strong faith in God. We should
count our blessings.
The secret of happiness is
having a grateful and thankful
attitude. Today and everyday,
we should express our thanks to
God and to caring friends and
family who bring joy to our
lives.
If you pause to think; you will
say, ‘‘Thanks.”’
(Clyde Dupin is author of a
national column entitled “Reli-
gious Viewpoint.”’)
DEAR EDITOR:
The Center for Defense Infor-
mation reports that sales of war
toys have risen 600 percent
since 1982. Last year adults
spent over one billion dollars on
war toys, buying 218 million - or
about five for every child in the
country. War toys are the lead-
ing category of toys sold,
making up five out of six of the
best-selling toys, all of which
are promoted by TV cartoon
shows.
Many child-caring profession-
als believe that war toys teach
the value of domination, glorify
killing and conquering, and pro-
mote racisms and sexism.
Hanukkah and Christmas rep-
Christmas Candlelight Tours
of the Swetland Homestead, 885
Wyoming Avenue, Wyoming,
will be conducted on Friday and
Saturday, December 5, 6, 12 and
13, 1986, from 7 to 9 p.m. and
Sunday, Decemer 7 and 14, from
2 p.m. until 4 p.m. Visitors will
be taken back in time as they
catch glimpses of a Christmas
celebration from 100 years ago.
For more information or for
group reservations, call the
Wyoming Historical and Geolog-
ical Society at 823-6244.
resent liberation, light in the
darkness, justice, and the
mercy and love of God toward
individuals. Since we cannot
give these attributes to one
another, we exchange tangible
and powerful symbols in the
form of gifts. War toys repre-
sent death, darkness, violence
and lack of freedom. The chil-
dren we love deserve better
symbols! The children we love
deserve games and toys that tell
them they are, and can be,
special and unique and creative
people.
MARY A. THOM
NORTH BRANCH FRIENDS
MEETING