-4_ The Dallas Post
| EDITORIALS
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Dallas, PA
Wednesday, October 16, 1996
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Let's hope cross burners
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didn't understand
their hateful message
It is ironic that the day alter former Alabama governor George
Wallace presented an award to the black woman he barred
from the University of Alabama 33 years ago, a cross was
burned along a country road in Dallas Township.
For now, we'll trust this was simply the misguided act of
someone too young to recall the {turmoil of the 1960's civil
rights movement or the decades belore when the Klu Klux Klan
was active. Anyone who was alive and aware at those times
knows the significance of cross burnings; a virulent message of
intolerance for non-white, non-Christian people. Intolerance is
probably too mild a word. The sociopaths who danced around
flaming crosses while wearing while robes and hoods also
carried out horrific attacks on blacks and Jews, including but
‘not limited to burning their homes and lynching them.
‘Klan leaders have always made quite a show of their bravado,
often parading down main streets and attracting media cover-
age [or their gatherings. But under their cloaks they were and
still are cowards, afraid to show their faces and take responsi-
bility for their actions. By their furtive nature, they showed that
in even their own limited intelligence, they understood what
% sii
they were doing was immoral.
‘America is a much more tolerant nation than it was when
George Wallace stood on the university steps and prevented
qualified black students [rom entering. As Wallace has grown
to understand that people of every race and color must be
treated with dignity and respect, so have millions of his fellow
citizens. We need only look at the murderous turmoil in the
former Yugoslavia to be reminded of the miracle ofl diversity
~ America represents to the world.
"George Wallace matured [rom an ardent defender of racial
separation — in his 1962 gubernatorial address he pledged a
policy of “segregation now, segregation tomorrow and segrega-
tion forever” — to one of conciliation. We hope whoever burned
a cross in Dallas makes the same journey, and in a lot less than
30 years.
f
Publisher's notebook
|
The debasement of ethics in sport has nearly reached
~ bottom, aided by a spitting baseball star and an excited 12-
year-old. At least I hope it doesn’t get much lower than it has
~ during the baseball playolls.
First, of course, was Roberto Alomar’s shameful reaction to
“an’umpire’s call, which he followed with hurtful personal
' remarks about the man's family. The baseball hierarchy’s
feeble response validated the general beliel that money is
evetything in sport. That was bad enough, until Jell Maier
reached over the right [ield wall at Yankee Stadium and
deflected a fly ball that. if not caught, would surely have
resulted in a double at best instead of the home run called by
the nearest ump.
Neither the young fan's catch nor the ump’s bad call disturbs
me all that much. What I find thoroughly distasteful is that the
“bay is now considered some sort of hero for interfering with a
play that ostensibly brought the Yanks a 1-0 playoll lead. This
~ is@afar cry [rom my days as a Yankee fan, when we relied on the
" patting prowess of Mantle and Maris, Whitey and Don's pitch-
; ing and the slick fielding of Richardson and Kubek to win
~ games, not interference [rom [ans. have to think the Pinstripes
of: the 50's and 60's would have been embarassed — not
overjoyed — that it took a missed call to win. I don't think the
outcome should be changed, even though it’s clear the homer
should have been an out. But I do think we ought not celebrate
winning by chance or error, reinforcing the incorrect nostrum
that winning is the only thing. In sport, which is at its heart a
diversion [rom real life and not a reflection of it, playing well and
honorably is the most important thing.
Letters, columns and editorials
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The Dallas Post
Published Weekly By Bartsen Media, Inc.
P.O. Box 366, Dallas PA 18612
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Charlotte E. Bartizek
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
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LETTERS
PTO leader asks board to reconsider Westmoreland decision
Editor:
I was quite shocked and dis-
mayed at the Dallas School Board's
decision to erect the Westmoreland
replacement elementary school at
the Dallas Campus site next to the
Middle School. The 5-to-4 vote
itself underscores the lack of clar-
ity of the decision. On a matter
that will impact our children and
the district for the foreseeable fu-
ture I would have hoped that the
board would have continued to
analyze the issues and alterna-
tives until a clear consensus be-
came apparent.
Of the many issues [| believe
were not sufficiently addressed,
first and foremost, is the loss of
the community /neighborhood at -
mosphere and the impact it will
have on the students, parents and
teachers both educationally and,
in a broader sense, morally as our
youngsters learn to take their place
in the community and the world
at large. More pragmatic unre-
solved matters include overcrowd-
ing of the campus resulting in the
lack of expandability to existing
buildings should future growth
necessitate, increased traffic to
an already congested campus,
increased bus travel time for el-
ementary students and the loss
and overuse of fields. In addition,
with the proposed site being next
to the Middle School, as the par-
ent of two elementary students I
am concerned by the proximity
and potential contact that my chil-
dren will have with 6th through
8th graders.
I do not feel that adequate con-
sideration was given to building
on the existing Westmoreland site
(although that location does have
some drawbacks) or the alterna-
Harmful lessons students
Editor:
In Pittston, officers of the local
American Federation of Teachers
undoubtedly feel that they are in
the “catbird seat”—holding a win-
ning position in the battle against
the Pittston School Board. After
all, they seem to hold all the cards.
The opposition is weak and di-
vided. The School Board is caught
between the taxpayers (who don't
want them to spend any more
money), the parents (who want
their kids in school no matter
what it costs), the politicians (who
are faced with perhaps one of the
most powerful unions they have
encountered) and the “professional
public educators” (who feel that a
“public” education is the essential
foundation of our democracy).
However, in spite of their “winning
hand”, I suggest that there's a
“joker” in the deck” that almost no
one has considered.
It's almost a foregone conclu-
sion that the Pittston Area public
school teachers will win whatever
they demand. In a very real sense
they can't lose! Unless there is a
change in law (Act 55), no matter
what the local School Board de-
cides, the teachers will be paid.
There is no penalty incurred for
striking. Consequently, in the
next decade or so, here in Penn-
sylvania, we can expect local
School Boards to regularly find
themselves forced to comply with
increasing teacher demands.
Furthermore, taxpayer resis-
tance is soon likely to be greatly
weakened when impending legis-
lation moves the burden of school
taxes from the shoulders of the
property owners (propertly taxes)
to the more easily collected in-
come tax. (Payroll taxes generally
incur less taxpayer resistance
because they are mostly deducted
before the earner ever sees the
money). Initially, the proposed
legislation would have given tax-
payers a veto (by referendum) over
tax increases, but this provision
has now been deleted.
Some analysts see the emer-
gence of the national teachers
union (the National Education As-
sociation) as potentially the most
powerful union ever. John L. Lewis
was a “piker” when maiched
against teachers. Consider: the
teachers can muster an enormous
highly motivated, well-heeled,
well-educated, very articulate (af-
terall, that's their specialty) group
of people ensconced in almost ev-
ery small community throughout
the Nation. Come election time,
who can match the telephone “get
out the vote” squads of the NEA?
But, before we all “throw in the
sponge” and meekly resign our-
selves to our fate, let's consider
some of the long-range implica-
tions of what we now face. For
example, what effect is an all-
powerful teachers’ union likely to
have on students?
In earlier years, our teachers
DA, media scored for jumping
Editor:
Reference the appropriately
titled Ghostwriter column of Oc-
tober 9, 1996, concerning press
coverage, and I would add televi-
sion coverage, of the recent double
suicide of two teenage boys from
the Plymouth area.
In addition to the distortions
from TV and the local papers, we
were also entertained by the in-
sightful and objective histrionic
performance of our own Luzerne
County District Attorney.
I can't help but think that this
effort to “blame” Satan, the oc-
cult, and other mysteries of the
universe for all that is wrong in
the valley is just another
smokescreen to divert our atten-
tion from the countless other little
corruptions going on around us.
tive of the current Administration
site. While the Administration
site would have additional demo-
lition costs (estimated at $100,000
to $200,000 by the architects),
these costs are minimal when con-
sidering the total estimated project
costs of $6 to $7 million dollars.
This site would also alleviate con-
struction disruptions to the other
schools while maintaining many
of the benefits described above
including a separate “commu hy:
feeling to the school.
Frankly, the only proponents I
have heard of building the new
elementary school on the Dallas
campus were certain members of
the school board and the only
reasons which were promulgated
were costs and ease of adminis-
tration. I remain disappointed at
the decision and would have hoped
that we could have done better for
‘
were among the most respected
members of a community. They
were seen to expend their lives in
the best interests of youngsters
and their communities. As schol-
ars they were often far more edu-
cated and knowledgeable than
most and their views were given
great weight by community lead-
ers. Indeed, in most communities
they were truly the “pillars”.
But, by banding together in a
giant and militant union, present -
ing imperious demands to their
communily School Boards. and
threatening to strike ‘and shut
down the schools, the teachers
have moved from their status as
“community pillars” to just an-
other “organized rabble” trying to
disrupt the community. Respect
for teachers must inevitably
tumble with the advent of the
picket line.
Education” are found to have “feet
of clay” For some hapless teacher
trying to impart a bit of learning to
a cynical and reluctant student,
the downfall is likely to be truly
dismal and discouraging. I sug-
gest that the unwitling lesson be-
ing taught is: “Only in union is
there strength.” Won't students
“get the message” and thereby be
encouraged to join “gangs” to get
what they want from bumbling
educators and a stubborn soci-
ety?
Lost in the shuffle is any idea
that teachers are “professionals”
Sounds to me like job for an-
other czar at the federal level and
at least a minor task force at the
local level. This could prove to be
another one of those unwinnable
wars similar to our actions in Viet
Nam and against drugs that will
make some of us very rich. I can
just picture the eyeballs of the
select few on the task force turn-
ing to dollar signs now. That's
The former “Gods of
our children. I appeal to the school
board to reconsider.
Having said my piece, I would
like to thank the school board for
listening to the community in its
decision to make the new schoola’
K-5 environment and its comrhit-|
ment to move Westmoreland fam-'
ily intact. I believe these were the
most crucial decisions. [ would,
also like to thank all the parents, |
teachers and community mem-'
bers for their involvement and
support.
As a Dallas resident,
PTO, 'l look forward. to working
with the school board, teachers,
parents and community to help
make this new school the best il
can be.
Ae»
Ellen Smith:
Shavertown
learn from teacher strikes
whose value to a community is to
be determined by a community
School Board in the free market
parent -
and president of the Westmoreland”
for goods and services. Instead of
the individual being valued on the
basis of contribution, he is made,
part of a group whose services are ’
valued primarily on length of ser-
vice, number of hours spent in
education courses and credentials
thereby earned. Actual teaching
ability is rarely considered. The
end result is that many in the
community, though without any
official teaching credentials, are
better educated,
skilled in their chosen fields, and
are even better teachers than the
self-described “professionals”.
In the end, as the power of the
more highly
teachers unions expands and |
prospers, il may be expected that °
the quality of education will
steadily decline. As public schools
deteriorate, those seeking a qual-
ity education will gravitate towards
private schools or home school-
ing. Those who can't afford these
options may (if they are at all
a
employable) find their employers.
conducting classes which teach
the basics they should have
learned in school. In large cities,
like New York, this is already com- }
mon practice.
Think about it! Hasn't union-
ization doomed public education? |
Hugh P. King |
Dallas
on Satanism bandwagon
scary.
Once again Paul Rismiller and,
The Dallas Post have led the charge
for reason and logic, concepts in
this time and place which are as
hard lo grasp as common sense
and responsibility. Keep up the
good work.
John P. Bergevin
Dallas
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