The Dallas Morning News dallasnews.

com VIEWPOINTS _ Saturday, October 3, 2009 21A

Immigration
reform is
a moral issue
Time to Honor the
differences
among us
My fellow Republicans, it is time
for us to embrace an adequately
moral solution, says Victor Medina move on? We’re too quick to dismiss
each other out of hand,
says Eric Van Steenburg

S I
ince we are in the middle of Hispanic know how to make half the
Heritage Month, it is the perfect time for we
who call ourselves Republicans to take a Why do we hesitate to forgive public people reading this column
immediately dismiss everything
long-overdue moral stand. Even though I’ve been that I’m about to say. All I have to do
a member of the GOP ever since I had the chance blunders? asks Richard Kyle Lester is state my political leanings.
to vote, I often disagree with those of our party In today’s American culture,

who oppose immigration reform for our
neighbors in Mexico and Latin America. It is high
time for our party, and our nation, to rectify the
situation.
Former President George W. Bush took an
unpopular stand while in office, proposing a
temporary-worker status to address the illegal-
immigration problem. He also proposed reducing
the wait time for citizenship to six months. The
opposition he faced from his own party is some-
thing the GOP has yet to atone for.
The issue has become so politicized that we
have lost sight of the core issue: We as Americans
have a moral obligation to make the freedoms we
enjoy accessible to all.
As an Oak Cliff resident, I, like many others,
know that the characterization of illegal im-
migrants as malevolent hoods who scoff at our
laws is incorrect. And immoral. Most only seek to
provide for their families and enjoy a life that
most of us were blessed to have at birth and now
often take for granted.
Oak Cliff is a prime example of how Latino
culture can better a community, and yet too many
here are forced to live in shadows and fear. We
have a moral obligation to change their situation
for the better.
Bush once said: “Family values do not stop at
the Rio Grande. … Immigration is not a problem
to be solved; it is the sign of a successful nation.
New Americans are to be welcomed as neighbors
and not to be feared as strangers.”
The recession now forcing Americans to re-
think our priorities has been a reality in Mexico
for years. The situation is so dire that many have
no choice but to come here by any means possible
to provide for families back home.
Would we not disregard borders to provide for
our own?
Allowing temporary work visas and reducing
the wait for citizenship would decrease the num-
ber of illegal immigrants, ensure that they pay
taxes and follow the law, and make it easier for
them to integrate into society. It is ironic that the
concept of life, liberty and the pursuit of happi-
ness is defined in our Declaration of Indepen-
dence as unalienable, yet many today seek to deny
those rights to “aliens.”
My family has called Texas home for four
generations, and yet they have seen the struggles
Latinos new to this country have endured.
As a young girl, my mother and her family
moved to a small town near Flagstaff, Ariz. One
night, their neighbor, an illegal alien who worked
the nearby fields, came looking for help for his
pregnant wife, who had labor complications but
had been turned away at the local hospital. The
wife delivered the baby, a little girl, stillborn at
home. With no other options, my grandfather
helped them bury her at the foot of a mountain.
Nearly 60 years later, the situation is better.
After all, it is illegal to deny emergency care to
illegal immigrants.
But working toward more positive changes
should not be a Democratic or Republican posi-
tion; it is a moral one.
Until we realize that freedom comes without
strings attached, we do not deserve to call our-
selves Republicans. Or Americans.
Victor Medina of Oak Cliff is a
freelance travel and sports writer
and a Community Voices volun-
teer columnist. His e-mail address
is vic@victormedina.com.
T
he other day I was watching a rerun of
an old show called Forgive or Forget.
The basic premise of the now-canceled
series is to bring on someone who has caused
some sort of conflict with a former friend or
relative, hear out their story and then ask the
person they hurt if they’re willing to bury the
hatchet.
At the end of the show, a large door to the
left of the stage opens. If the person who was
hurt is standing behind it, it signifies that they
forgive their offender. Sometimes it works out
and they reconcile, but other times the pain is
just too deep. The heart can only take so
much.
I’ve often wondered what it would be like if
we took the show’s format to a new level and
placed some more widely familiar names
against the hurt they have caused. I’m not
talking about famous criminals or divisive
politicians, but something a little closer to
home.
Officer Robert Powell presents the perfect
example. The young public servant cemented
his status as “most hated man in D-FW” on
March 18 when he pulled over Houston Tex-
ans running back Ryan Moats for running a
red light near a Plano hospital.
What followed was, by all accounts, one of
the worst judgment calls in policing history.
To recap, Moats was speeding to see his
dying mother-in-law when he ran a red light.
When Powell pulled him over in the hospital
parking lot, he disrespectfully detained Moats
for 13 minutes, in spite of the circumstances
surrounding the traffic offense. Unfortunate-
ly, Moats’ mother-in-law passed away while
Powell continued his tirade. His defense, in a
nutshell, was that he was attempting to con-
trol a difficult situation while enforcing the
law.
It’s hard to be forgiving with a story like
this. But that’s exactly what I want to chal-
lenge here.
Without a doubt, public officials are placed
on a higher moral pedestal than almost all
other working professionals. As Powell
learned, there are serious consequences for
betraying the public trust. The ability to move
on, however, is what usually comes after
accepting those consequences.
We should all be familiar with the rest of
Powell’s story by now. He resigned under
pressure and faded into our memories.
However, he’s now back in the news. Re-
porters found him in the small panhandle
town of Stratford, Texas, trying to restart his
career.
The residents of Stratford aren’t very
understanding of his past, either. Many have
called him a racist or bigot, and most simply
want him out of their city.
He lost his job and, even worse, his dignity.
It seems as if he can’t even move without the
media keeping track of him. Bearing that in
mind, is it realistic to think that he might do it
again? I tend to think not.
So if this were an episode of Forgive or
Forget, could I stand behind the door of for-
giveness for Powell and allow him to move on,
to continue policing elsewhere?
To be honest, I don’t know the answer.
Powell’s incident with Ryan Moats makes me
a wary citizen.
But issues such as these warrant more
thoughtfulness than I think we generally give
them.
With that in mind, I’d like to ask all of you
the same question. If you were a Stratford
citizen, would you stand behind the door of
forgiveness for Robert Powell?
Richard Kyle Lester of Fort
Worth is a public administra-
tion graduate student at UNT
and a Community Voices
volunteer columnist. His
e-mail address is pennric30@hotmail.com.
DEAN ROHRER/NewsArt.com
knowing where someone stands
politically allows those on the other
side to ignore anything that person
says, has said or will say. Suddenly,
anyone who has an opinion that is
different from yours is wrong.
Forget the facts. Forget the histo-
ry. Forget discussion, discourse,
dialogue or debate. Today, the opin-
ions of one side are categorically
correct, and anyone who disagrees is
just plain wrong. So wrong, in fact,
that those on the wrong side can be
summarily dismissed without justifi-
cation.
An example. Recently, Gov. Rick
Perry made his first comments on
the possibility that the state of Texas
executed an innocent man in a case
from nearby Corsicana. Perry, a
proponent of the death penalty,
dismissed a five-year study conduct-
ed by people who know more about
arson investigations than he ever
will.
In his dismissal of the facts, Perry
said, “I’m familiar with the latter-day
supposed experts on the arson side of
it.” To punctuate his dismissal, Perry
made quotation marks with his
fingers in referring to the “supposed”
experts.
Who was Perry dismissing? Just
seven of the nation’s top arson ex-
perts who found no evidence that the
fire was set intentionally. The author
of the study, a renowned scientist,
strongly accused the investigators
who handled the case of misreading
the evidence and basing their conclu-
sions on a “poor understanding of
fire science.”
But these seven arson experts
dared question a Perry political
belief, so they had to be dismissed.
Worse, this week, just days before a
hearing was to be held on the case,
Perry pre-emptively replaced three
members of the Texas Forensic
Science Commission, forcing an
open-ended delay in the airing of the
facts of the case.
That sure is a lot easier than
having to discuss whether an in-
nocent man was executed.
My personal favorite dismissal is
reserved for those who criticize the
media. Despite scores of research
that has proven otherwise, a majority
of Americans say the media is politi-
cally biased. According to a survey
recently released by The Pew Re-
search Center, 74 percent say news
organizations tend to favor one side
or the other when it comes to politi-
cal and social issues.
This idea of media bias didn’t
become universal until the early
1970s, when President Richard
Nixon created the White House
Office of Communications, devel-
oped his “enemies list” of anyone
who disagreed with him, and dis-
patched Vice President Spiro Agnew
to accuse the media of liberal bias.
The belief in a liberal media
ultimately led to the creation of the
Fox News Channel and an AM radio

Why is our government meeting in a church?
Commissioners Court is especially troubling.
Since 2002, the Rev. Trey Gra-
too cozy with right-wing ham has been the pastor of First
pastor, says Bill Baumbach Baptist. Graham, a social conserva-
tive, broadcasts a talk show on a
place of service in God’s kingdom.
My desire is to persuade followers
of Jesus Christ to live for the Savior
outside the walls of the church,
letting their faith guide their poli-
too close.
I would be equally concerned if
the commissioners scheduled one
of their meetings at the headquar-
ters of any other political group —
dial that is crowded with conserva-
tive communiqués, thus giving
liberals something to dismiss as well.
The ultimate loser in all this
dismissing is our country. Instead of
solving problems collectively by
looking at differing viewpoints,
listening to differing opinions and
examining facts from differing sourc-

I
s Thomas Jefferson’s famous
“wall of separation between
Church and State” still relevant
in modern-day Collin County?
I wonder.
Earlier this month, the Collin
County Commissioners Court met
in special session to hold a budget
hearing and conduct other busi-
ness. They did not meet in their new
Jack Hatchell Administration
Building. Instead, they went to
church.
The meeting was held at First
Baptist Church in Melissa.
I find the choice of a church
troubling, when there are many
other suitable government build-
ings in northern Collin County. And
I find the choice of First Baptist
Christian talk radio station that
commingles political and spiritual
themes.
For example, a recent program
featured a discussion of President
Barack Obama’s health care plan
and the upcoming race for Texas
governor.
Graham’s blog, Faith Talk, often
includes interviews with govern-
ment officials and questionnaires
filled out by candidates for local
office. It also takes a stand in local-
option elections. During the last
presidential race, Graham wrote
several articles praising Sarah Palin
and criticizing Obama.
In 2006, Graham wrote on his
blog: “As a pastor, my calling is to
help others find God and find a
tics. I believe our county, state and
nation would be well served by
having faithful Christian believers
in positions of political influence.”
Last year, the Commissioners
Court appointed Graham their
county “chaplain.” It also paid him
to moderate workshops designed to
formulate new mission statements.
You don’t have to be a knee-jerk
ACLU’er to be concerned that the
Commissioners Court is meeting at
First Baptist. It’s led by a political
activist who advocates the election
of “faithful Christian believers” and
who has worked hard to influence
policy on local, state and national
issues.
The relationship between this
church and the county is becoming
be it the NRA or ACORN.
Graham is welcome to his politi-
cal views; he has a right to them.
But the county government repre-
sents all Collin County citizens, in
all their diversity.
It must keep its affairs separate
from any church.
Bill Baumbach is a
Wylie resident and
has previously run
for a seat on the
Collin County
Commissioners Court as a Democrat.
His e-mail address is bill@baum
bach.org. A version of this column
appeared on Baumbach’s blog, The
Collin County Observer, www.baum
bach.org.
es, we dismiss anyone or anything
that doesn’t automatically agree with
our pre-determined position.
Perhaps we could learn from
President Abraham Lincoln. He
filled his Cabinet with people who
were opposed to him, and America
survived its most precarious moment
in its history. Great minds may think
alike — but opposing minds make it
right.
Eric Van Steenburg
of Dallas is the
former executive
director of the
Friends of the Katy
Trail. He is also a Community Voices
volunteer columnist. His e-mail ad-
dress is eric@katytraildallas.org.

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Gifted kids
In God’s Country
Is Monday’s U2 concert in Arlington a religious revival?
don’t need
more hours
asks Michael Landauer Quality of education matters
more, says Lisa Virgoe

U H
2’s music has great meaning, not just
to me, but to the world. When you
say something like that out loud, it
seems like cheesy fanboy gushing, I know.
But a new book by Baylor professor and lay Epis-
copal preacher Greg Garrett has validated my — dare
I say it? — religious view of the band.
Released in July, We Get to Carry Each Other: The
Gospel According to U2, discusses the pressure U2
endured in the early 1980s. Three members of the
band were part of a devout religious group that more
or less gave them an ultimatum: You can be in a
world-famous rock band, or you can be true Chris-
tians. They believed they could be both, so they left
that religious community and set out on their own
journey.
Garrett, not a Christian at the time, scored an
interview with them in 1982 but says he wouldn’t
have asked them about that decision even if he had
been aware of it. “I didn’t want to think about that
dimension of their lives,” he told me.
A lot of U2 fans feel that way even now. They
appreciate the music. Maybe they even like the social
justice themes in the lyrics. But they refuse to think of
the band as Christian, and they certainly don’t relate
concerts or listening to the music to a spiritual experi-
ence.
Some evangelical Christians feel much the same
way, but for different reasons. When Bono embarked
on an Africa-themed speaking tour in 2007, Garrett
notes in his book, some evangelicals took him to task.
Who is Bono to tell Christians how they should serve
God? If he were as Christian as he professes, he would
attend a church.
But, Garrett contends, maybe U2 is a church. To
members of North Texas’ evangelical megachurches
— institutions that dominate lives from Sunday
worship to Friday bowling leagues — that may be
hard to swallow. And to those who accuse Bono of
having a messiah complex, it may seem arrogant. But
what is the mission of a church, anyway? It’s roughly
the same as what U2 sets out to do at a revival, um, I
mean concert: “It’s to give you the tools, the energy
and the inspiration to go out and change the world,”
Garrett says.
Maybe that’s why there was reportedly some effort
to have U2 open the new Cowboys Stadium. A Billy
Graham crusade opened Texas Stadium, after all. U2
was not touring at the time, but the band will be in
Arlington on Monday, and it’ll be my second time to
see them.
My wife took me to see U2 for my birthday in
2001. They were playing an extended set of concerts
in New York City just weeks after 9/11. During the
encore, as the band played “One,” the names of the
victims were projected into every corner of Madison
Square Garden. Then, as the band played “Walk On,”
firefighters and police officers solemnly marched
single-file from the back of the arena and took the
stage.
Bono said a few words then handed the micro-
phone to a firefighter who told the crowd about the
loss of his brother. And that firefighter handed the
microphone to a police officer who told of cops his
Ten spiritual ey, kids, stay in school!
lessons from U2 That oft-used refrain soon
may have new meaning.
1. “But I still haven’t found what Earlier this month, President Barack
I’m looking for” (from “I Still Obama and Education Secretary Arne
Haven’t Found What I’m Looking
Duncan proposed extending the
For,” The Joshua Tree): Life is a
journey, not a destination; faith is
school day, lengthening the school
a means, not an end. year and adding Saturday classes.
Their laudable goal is to prepare the
2. “Hello, hello (¡Hola!)/I’m at a
place called vertigo” (From
next generation for adulthood in an
“Vertigo,” How to Dismantle an increasingly complex world.
Atomic Bomb): Contemporary Is this the way to do it? For at least
life is disconcerting, one group of students, the answer is
destabilizing; that is its no. Based on studies I have read, the
nature. Don’t expect it to be dropout rate for gifted students is
otherwise. between 5 and 20 percent.
3. “We get to carry each other” What scourge is stealing so many of
(from “One,” Achtung Baby): our smartest kids? Extreme
Our lives are for and with each debilitating boredom coupled with
other. We need each other to be agile minds that can’t let them
who we are called to be.
patiently wait for the end of class. If
4. “The goal is elevation” (from we lengthen their classroom hours,
“Elevation,” All That You Can’t how many gifted kids are likely to
Leave Behind): We are seeking
stay?
transcendence for ourselves, our
spirits, our world.
To understand how boredom feels
to these kids, imagine making a
5. “I can’t believe the news today/I
school’s fastest runner sit in a chair
can’t close my eyes and make it
go away” (from “Sunday Bloody
next to the track all day, every day,
Sunday,” War): Ignoring the while her teammates are racing past
brokenness we see is not an her. Imagine her frustration. Imagine
BUBBA FLINT/Special Contributor how she’s going to feel about running
option; we are called to bring
healing and hope, to help after a few days of that. Most likely,
unit had lost. And so on, for 10 or 15 minutes. By the
transform the world. she’ll walk off the field and never turn
time the house lights came on, no one had even no-
6. “It’s a beautiful day/Don’t let it back. By dropping out, that’s what
ticed that the biggest rock band in the world had
slip away” (from “Beautiful Day,” these lost gifted children do. Many of
quietly left the stage.
All That You Can’t Leave Behind): the boys leave to get a job. Many of the
Churches comfort the injured and the sick. They We live in a marvelous creation.
girls leave pregnant.
feed the hungry. They push us to act on our faith out Pay attention to it.
But why drop out? Why not just
in the world. And they give us strength when our faith 7. “What more in the name of
tough it out?
is weak. In his book, Garrett shows examples of U2 love?” (from “Pride in the Name of
Forget stereotypes about gifted
doing all these things. Love,” The Unforgettable Fire):
students. While some brilliant kids
As a Catholic, I’m not going to stop attending Risk everything for love; there is
may read chapters ahead and sit up
Mass, but the U2’s music has gotten me through no higher value. Love changes
front, many don’t. Some hide at the
some of my darkest times. When nothing else would everything, including us.
back or sit with the rowdy kids.
help, the band lifted me. 8. “We need love and peace”
Keeping one ear on the lesson, they
For the first 10 days that my wife was hospitalized (from “Love and Peace or Else,”
How to Dismantle an Atomic
doodle or goof off, trying to stay
with Guillain-Barre syndrome in 2003, every day was
Bomb): War and cruelty destroy somewhat engaged. Chapters remain
worse than the one before. As I prayed, my thoughts
lives and demean the human unread and homework sits at the
kept returning to lyrics from “Beautiful Day” —
spirit. bottom of backpacks, scrunched up
“What you don’t have you don’t need it now / What
9. “Sometimes you can’t make it and poorly completed.
you don’t know you can feel it somehow.”
on your own” (from “Sometimes Many gifted kids have weak time
My wife recovered, and through it all, we found
You Can’t Make It on Your Own,” management and organizational
ourselves focused on the mysterious beauty of life.
How to Dismantle an Atomic skills. They often plan projects with
And when things seemed most uncertain, those lyrics
Bomb): It’s no shame to rely on such breadth that they have no hope of
reminded me that we’re not meant to know all the others. We are made for
finishing.
answers. companionship — especially in
Bored, disorganized, dinged for too
There’s no doubt that priests, rabbis and all clerics tough times.
much detail and penalized for
— and cathedrals, temples and mosques — all pro- 10. “Walk on” (from “Walk On,” All
learning too quickly, some gifted kids
vide light for the journey of faith. But music like U2’s That You Can’t Leave Behind): You
start believing that their schools don’t
can put the spring in our step. can lose everything but what
want them. Add the social challenges
matters most. Don’t despair.
Don’t stop believing. Don’t stop
of being smarter than peers — and
Michael Landauer is The Dallas Morn-
working for the healing of the some teachers — and too many gifted
ing News’ assistant editorial page
editor for Community Opinions. This world. You are never alone. students simply give up.
column reflects his personal opinion. A University of Connecticut study
SOURCE Greg Garrett, in his book, We
His e-mail address is mlandauer@ get to Carry Each Other: The Gospel found that 48percent of gifted kids
dallasnews.com.
According to U2. who drop out are from homes with
low socioeconomic status. Imagine
how high that number will go if these
kids are forced to spend an extra
couple of hours a day doodling or,
worse, being disruptive.

Social studies is no place for politics
Keep partisan agendas laughing stock.
The current draft standards in
out of public schools, U.S. history, available for review on
says Sue Blanchette the TEA Web site, establish a firm
foundation for the education of
Texas students. By and large, they
Those who control the past
provide teachers with clear
control the future.
guidelines upon which to build
Those who control the present
classroom lessons that prepare
control the past.
students to be actively involved
— George Orwell, 1984
participants in American society.
READ Blanchette’s
critique that she sent to
the TEA on details of the
standards.
educationfrontblog
.dallasnews.com
Independence and the Constitution
find their foundations in many
sources — the Magna Carta, the
Mayflower Compact, the
is hard to see a personal historical
favorite seemingly disappear from
the textbooks, but that doesn’t mean
that the ideals for which that person
stood are gone. By giving examples
that encompass a broader base the
standards provide students with a
wider view of the world in which they
live. The favorites are still there, just
waiting for independent research.
The study of social studies isn’t
The same UConn study found that
many of the gifted students who
dropped out spent less time in
extracurricular activities than peers. If
we lengthen the school day, kids will
have even less time for these
programs, meaning more gifted
students will be at risk. For many of
these kids, their after-school activities
are their lifelines, their sliver of
normal life. Increased class time will
do more harm than good.
The idea of lengthening the school
day isn’t novel but a perennial favorite
in education circles. The latest push
comes from a venture capitalist who

T
here is a fine line between
education and
indoctrination. Social studies
teachers walk that fine line daily,
determined to open their students’
eyes to a myriad of ideas while not
allowing their own political or
personal opinions to influence the
intellectual development of their
students. It is a formidable task.
The foundation for this task lies
in the Texas Essential Knowledge
and Skills, the standards provided
by the Texas Education Agency.
These standards are currently under
revision for the first time in a
decade, and they have become the
newest political football for the State
Board of Education.
It would be an intellectual crime
to allow the personal beliefs of a few
individuals to drive the standards by
which our students will be taught
social studies for the next decade.
Texas should be the national
example for sound intellectual
development in social studies, not a
Are they perfect? No. Democracy
is a messy process of compromise,
and not everyone will be pleased
with all the standards.
There are some “fine line” areas
where personal and political
viewpoints can move the standards
from education to indoctrination.
The State Board of Education needs
to tread lightly in these areas.
Religious influence
There is no question that
Christianity influenced the
development of the United States
during the colonial period. Since the
majority of the colonists were of
European origin and since
Christianity was the dominant
religion in Europe at the time, it
would be strange if Christianity did
not play a role in colonization. It was
not, however, the only major
influence.
The writing of such documents
such as the Declaration of
Fundamental Orders of
Connecticut, the writing of the
Enlightenment. These should not be
pushed aside.
Terminology
If our students are to compete
nationally and internationally, they
must be cognizant of how the rest of
the world thinks. Using terminology
that is considered outdated only
hurts the students of Texas.
Politically charged terms like
“conservative” and “liberal” have no
place in state standards. A standard
should be neutral. For example,
teach students to identify significant
advocacy groups, and allow students
to see how differences are handled in
a free society.
Quantity
We cannot teach everything.
Social studies knowledge increases
daily, and choices have to be made. It
always pretty. There are warts in our
nation’s past that should not be
glossed over. This country’s
greatness lies not only in its
sprawling land and dynamic people,
but in its recognition of the wrongs
in the past and the desire of the
nation to right those wrongs.
Social studies standards that
allow our students to examine all
sides of an issue and explore the
solutions will produce an educated
populace with the skills to lead our
country in the future. Strangle those
standards with political
partisanship, and education
becomes indoctrination.
Sue Blanchette
teaches U.S. history
at Hillcrest High
School in Dallas and
is vice president of
the National
Council for the Social Studies. Her
e-mail address is
eagle91048@ix.netcom.com.
financed a pair of documentaries, Two
Million Minutes. Each film follows a
few students from the U.S., India and
China through their “two million
minutes” between the end of eighth
grade and high school graduation.
Both movies emphasize how much
more time Asian kids spend studying
compared to their American
counterparts. But gifted kids don’t
need to study more; they need to be
challenged. They need difficult
classes, not more class time.
Can’t we encourage all students to
make the most of their potential
without sentencing our most brilliant
to detention? To paraphrase another
president, don’t leave our gifted kids
behind.
Lisa M. Virgoe is a
resident of Lucas and
a former Voices
columnist. Her e-mail
address is
lmv@purely online.com.

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The Dallas Morning News dallasnews.com VIEWPOINTS + Saturday, October 17, 2009 19A

Surprised Slow down

by what and savor
you can get senior year
Students can’t let college
for a dollar admissions consume them,
says Chase Wofford
Maybe kids today know its value
A
ttention all high school
after all, says David L. McClure seniors. I have two words of
advice for you: Slow down.

F
our score and a thousand or so years ago, No, I am not talking about how
I recall scooping up every glass cola you drive, although the advice
bottle in the house and putting them all applies there, too. I want to
in a brown paper bag to return to the store for encourage 17- and 18-year-olds to
some spending money. slow down and enjoy this exciting
I recall that the lady at the counter one time time in your life.
gave me an entire dollar. Really. An actual Sure, I encourage you to study
dollar. My mind raced as I made a list of what I hard and make good grades even if
could buy. Would it be three boxes of Cracker you’ve already been accepted into
Jacks with their special enclosed prizes? A Mad the college of your choice. I am a
magazine? A Duncan Yo-Yo? The possibilities high school teacher, and I expect
were endless. nothing less from my students.
That was so long ago. My, how times have DEAN ROHRER/NewsArt.com But some things I’ve seen and
changed. I walked into a Whataburger the heard have me concerned. I’ve seen

Show
other day. I was meeting a friend and we were some of your fellow students lose
going to sit down and have a Coke and solve the sleep over college applications,
problems of the world. The guy behind the worrying if they will get into this
counter said to me, “That’s $1.72,” when I college or that. And I’m not talking
ordered a small drink. about students who are going to
“Seriously?” I asked in disbelief. It wasn’t need a miracle to be accepted into
even served in a cold glass bottle! To order the their dream school. These are some
big cup —“the urinator” — I would have had to of the very best in the classroom,
apply for financial aid. and if, for whatever reason, they do

your math
A dollar doesn’t buy much anymore. That is, not get into College A, they surely
it didn’t, until one recent day. will get into College B.
I am a teacher, and I keep a small I know, it’s easy for me to say. I
refrigerator in my classroom. I stock it with cold am not in their position, but I was
burpsicola in nice metal cans. A student asked if just 16 years ago. I loved my senior
she could buy one from me. I told her it would year. I enjoyed the process of
cost a dollar. She smiled and told me she’d be by looking for a college, but it didn’t
at the end of the day on the way to her bus. push me to the verge of a mental
Some days go on forever when you teach in breakdown.
the public schools. Too often, you see the ills of Something seems different
society reflected in the behavior of students and
even some parents and co-workers. I remember ‘Innumeracy’ is not something to flaunt today. Too many times I have seen
students totally consumed by the
that on this day I had made the mistake of fear of not getting into a specific
reading the headlines on the computer and or to be proud of, says Julie Lewis university.
learned of a tragic murder-suicide that involved I realize how fortunate I am to

I
some younglings. I picked up the paper instead cringe every time I hear someone say, “I’m on exit signs. Have your child calculate gas teach at a school where students
and read about a local politician that had been not good at math” or “I just can’t do math.” mileage when you fill up the car, or compare value education so dearly. It is
found guilty of padding his pockets with our tax Honestly, how many people would joke price per ounce when grocery shopping to deter- certainly not the case on every high
dollars on his way to Emerald City. They about not being able to read? So why do people mine the best value. Discuss sales tax and how to school campus.
sentenced him to prison, so he’s not in Kansas joke about their math abilities? calculate it. How much are you really saving by My challenge for you, the
anymore. I watched the primetime version of Who shopping on tax-free weekend? overachievers who are visibly
On this night, after football practice was Wants to Be a Millionaire recently and could not By proclaiming you are innumerate, are you overstressed, is to cherish this time
over, parents would be coming in for an open believe the number of people who made jokes sending the message that you cannot add or and simply enjoy the process. No
house. I dragged myself into my room and about their weak math skills. Granted, I would subtract? Are you really saying you have trouble doubt, selecting a college is one of
plopped into a chair to catch my breath before be shaking in my boots if I setting up an equation from a the biggest decisions of your life,
the kids and adults arrived. I was beaten down, were in the hot seat, but can word problem? but it’s a choice involving more than
and I had little or no faith in the world as it was. anyone seriously imagine Society rallies to Everyone can do math to a SAT scores, class rankings and
Then I saw something that lifted my spirits and telling Regis, “I can’t read the certain degree, so why pro- GPAs. Too often, quality schools get
healed my heart. question, so I’ll take my $100 fight illiteracy. Yet no claim that we can’t? pushed aside because they are
Sitting on my desk, folded neatly on a and go home.” one seems to have a Should this trend continue, labeled as not as academically
handwritten note, was a single dollar bill. My Society rallies to fight where will we hear those words respected as others. But you need to
student had come by on the way to the bus and, illiteracy; those who cannot problem announcing next? From our bank teller know that the minute you set foot
finding me absent, she had helped herself to a read have many programs to to the world that cashing our paycheck, insur- on campus, your SAT score and
cold can of soda and then placed her dollar on help them learn. Most illiter- ance agent issuing our claim high school rankings become
my desk. The only one in the room at the ate adults I have come across they are math check, the nurse giving us irrelevant.
moment was this girl and her integrity. hide their illiteracy, going so medication or the mechanic Not every school is Harvard or
There it sat in all its glory. A single dollar bill, far as to lie about their abil-
illiterate. fixing our brakes? Oh, well, I Yale, but all universities provide
lying on the desktop. She had no idea what she ities or to rely on their chil- can’t do math. Ha ha. rigorous, challenging academics.
had purchased for a dollar. She bought a dren to read for them. Yet no one seems to have a It’s a scary thought, but I have heard people in All provide an education that will
truckload of faith from her teacher. She bought problem announcing to the world that they are each of these professions make the innumeracy serve you for the rest of your life.
a boatload of integrity. She purchased all of my math illiterate — or innumerate, as some have claim. I have been quick to question their ability Looking back at my senior year, I
bitterness and then transformed it into hope, started saying. before allowing them to continue with services had a few colleges in mind, but if
and all for the price of $1. I have been a big advocate of parents being a for me. one didn’t work out, I was ready for
It was sweeter than tipping up an ice-cold child’s first teacher. I am privileged to have a We need to hold each other accountable for a backup plan. I considered a few
bottle of Coca-Cola on a hot summer’s day. student for one or two years, but a parent is the messages we are putting out about educa- Texas universities and two
Maybe the world isn’t as bad off as we think blessed with the child for a lifetime. I like to tion. It’s time to start admitting that we are out-of-state schools — Arizona
it is. Turns out, you can still get a lot for a dollar. remind parents that just because students today competent people and that we can do math. State and Alabama. I visited both of
are being introduced in middle school to sub- those campuses and couldn’t say a
David McClure teaches science jects we learned in high school doesn’t mean we Julie Lewis is a /Math Interven- bad thing about either. I weighed
and coaches at Faubion Middle close the door to our influence at home. tionist at Lamar Middle School some options: Palm trees or pine
School in McKinney. He is also Teach your child every day. Have them cook in Irving and a Teacher Voices trees? Road trips to California or
a Teacher Voices volunteer with you and show them how to double the volunteer columnist. Her e-mail Florida? Big city or small college
columnist. His e-mail address recipe, make half a recipe, set a budget, count address is 2txteach- town? Dry heat or humidity? Sun
is dmcclure9066@yahoo.com. back change and understand fractions of miles ers@gmail.com. Devils or Crimson Tide?
OK, there are more important
factors than those, but don’t
overlook these sorts of things. Visit

Americans are handcuffed to their health care
Getting sick derails life
longer than some realize,
says Susan Dodia
accompanied my diagnosis was
profound, physically and emotional-
ly. And it had a huge impact on my
career. I became an indentured
servant to health insurance. I went
enough research has been done to
establish a clear link between radia-
tion and the acid reflux and esopha-
geal problems I have, or the sinus
infections I started getting about five
through my husband’s company. For
me, it has been a 20-year journey to
return to an entrepreneurial work
life.
Of course, I am following the
a campus and see if it feels right.
You’ll know the second you set foot
whether it is a place for you.
I ended up at Alabama and have
never regretted it. I wouldn’t
exchange the degree I received for
one from any other school.
I hope you’ll feel the same way
someday. In the meantime, though,

T
wenty years ago, I was
diagnosed with Hodgkin’s
disease, so I can now reflect
on two decades as a cancer survivor. I
am happy to be alive. I know I am
lucky. My disease responded well to
the treatments available at the time,
which is, quite simply, the difference
between life and death. But I must
also acknowledge that surviving
comes with a price.
I was 24 when I was diagnosed,
fresh out of college, certain that the
world was mine to conquer. I was
living my dream: working as an
entertainment agent, booking bands
around the Southwest. I was hungry,
and I found the entrepreneurial
challenge of commission sales to be
thrilling. I was going for the brass
ring.
The blow to my confidence that
back to college to get benefits under
my father’s policy. I took any medio-
cre job that had an HMO that would
be required to cover me.
After five years, I could no longer
be excluded for having a pre-existing
condition, so my job prospects in-
creased somewhat. But I had lost
critical time in my field, and I had to
stay covered.
You see, the bills and the fear
don’t end with the treatment. As
time has passed, the frequency of
tests and follow-up appointments
has declined. My worries about
recurrence have dissipated. But
because of the radiation therapy I
received, I am in a high-risk group
for breast cancer, so I have mam-
mograms and breast MRIs annually.
I take thyroid medication for life, as
the radiation “fried” my thyroid. Not
years ago, but I suspect they are
related.
My spleen was removed, so my
immune system is compromised. I
don’t eat raw oysters or sashimi,
because a good dose of food poison-
ing could kill me. I get the flu shot
every year and stay current on vac-
cines for pneumonia and hepatitis. I
stay home when I am sick, and I
resent people who don’t.
I get a physical each year and stay
on top of all of my medications, tests,
procedures and routine appoint-
ments. I go to the dentist twice a year
— I had radiation to my jaw, and I
want to avoid any problems that
might arise.
After being laid off in January, I
started my own business this year,
which I could not have done had I
not had access to a good policy
raging debate on health care reform
with keen interest. I don’t know
what I think about all the talk com-
ing out of Washington. But I do
know that the American dream, the
ideals of opportunity traditionally
held to be available to every Amer-
ican, is out of reach for many people
— not because they lack the talent or
drive, but because they have con-
cerns about their health care.
Susan Dodia of
Plano is president
of The Project
Coach, a project
management
consulting practice, a graduate stu-
dent at SMU, and a Community Voices
volunteer columnist. Her e-mail ad-
dress is Susan@theproject-
coach.com.
enjoy your senior year. Go to
football games on Friday nights. Be
loud at the next pep rally, even if you
have spent three years thinking they
are a waste of time. Join a club or
group on campus this year, so you
can make a difference before you
graduate.
Just don’t let the demands of
college applications consume your
life. You have your entire adult life
ahead of you but only one senior
year. Tap the brakes, and enjoy the
ride.
Chase Wofford of
Keller is the
journalism teacher
and newspaper
adviser at Coppell
High School. His e-mail address is
bchasew@yahoo.com.

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Sent by: mapuan Opinion BLACK
The Dallas Morning News
The right question to ask is: Where is Spruce High headed?
Lori Welch is tired of
people focusing only on
problems in her school’s past
I
was one of the new hires last year
at H. Grady Spruce High School,
where test scores had been plum-
meting for years and attendance and
completion rates were an embarrass-
ment. When people I meet find out I
work at Spruce, they always ask how
that happened. Frankly, Dallas, I don’t
know.
When I tell them so, some people
offer their opinions: It was “adminis-
tration,” “lack of funding,” “low teach-
er quality” or “a lack of discipline.” I
don’t know how it happened, or be-
lieve me, I’d be willing to share that
with you to prevent the tragedy of a
reorganization from ever occurring
Dogs in need
People can make a difference in pets’ lives —
for good and bad, says Carey Carpenter
T
he first thing I noticed upon my
arrival was the Kaufman County
sheriff’s car parked at the en-
trance, screening those entering the
complex. I’m not sure who they were
trying to keep out: the media, the
curious community, the owners or
perhaps all of the above.
The second thing I noticed was the
sound. The cacophony arose with the
simultaneous barking of hundreds and
hundreds of dogs. The noise began
somewhat quietly, building as cage
after cage of young puppies excitedly
joined in the symphony.
Then I saw the vast number of cages
in the holding area of a county fair-
grounds normally reserved for live-
stock; they were stacked two high, laid
out in row after row with dozens of
volunteers focused on puppy care.
A section off to the side held the
maternity ward, where mothers had
just delivered new puppies, or were
patiently awaiting delivery — some
with teats that were a mass of mastitis,
infections speckling their chests.
There was an ICU and a quarantine
section made up of dogs that had
bitten the handlers, labeled “fear ag-
gressive.”
This was my first time to volunteer
in an animal rescue. I had offered to fill
in for a friend at the rescue of more
than 500 dogs and puppies nabbed
from a puppy mill. Although these
animals weren’t starving, neglect was
evident in their matted fur, dried feces,
body sores, fleas, eye and ear infections
and obvious lack of interaction with
humans. They had been born, raised
and then abandoned, never let out of
their cages.
Veterinarians had already triaged
the animals, examining and vaccinat-
ing every dog. They had written metic-
ulous notes about each. On almost
every animal’s papers, the disposition
noted was “depressed.” The hope was
that grooming and a bath would put
the pups on their way to recovery.
It was impossible to bathe the dogs
until their matted fur was shaved off,
so the groomer had to put up with the
unrelenting stench. At times, the
shearing had to be discontinued to
photograph more neglect when the
removal of hair showed a previously
hidden skin ailment, infection or flea
debris so thick the skin looked pep-
This country is suffering from the lost art of persuasion
We’re all choir-preachers
and opposition-screamers,
says Mark Bowden
W
e are living in a time when
honest discussion is often
drowned out by the noise
of partisan cheerleading. But if your
aim is to do something more than to
draw attention to yourself and
increase your ratings, if your goal is
to actually move the world in your
desired direction, I have a new word
for you: persuasion.
It is one thing to give a speech
before a cheering crowd of
supporters, to blog or broadcast to
an eager audience of the
like-minded — but it’s quite another
to address someone who disagrees
with you and actually change his
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dallasnews.com
again. I’m baffled that the people I
encounter — many whose only con-
nection to education is that they have
a student enrolled in a campus far, far
away from Pleasant Grove — are
confident that they know how the
school declined.
I’ve heard from former teachers
that it was a mysterious conspiracy to
close Spruce down all along, that it
was the rapid population shift in the
Grove, or that somehow the “good”
students had been sent to other cam-
puses and only the “bad” ones re-
mained. I’m not at all sure about these
theories, given the resources that went
into keeping Spruce alive last year.
What I do know is that when I first
encountered Spruce’s few Advanced
Placement English literature seniors,
the “Spruce way” was not working.
What I found were some advanced
More than 500 dogs were rescued from a Kaufman County puppy mill in
August. Many were severely matted and suffered from infected wounds.
pered with dark dots.
There was a small, apricot-colored
poodle with hair matted so tightly that
she whimpered when her fur was
touched, as the hair pulled on her skin
caused excruciating discomfort.
I suspect every volunteer focused in
on a pup or two who tugged at their
heart strings. I fell in love with “B-63,” a
sweet little female Yorkie whose mats
on her coat weren’t serious enough to
require an entire body shaving. In-
stead, I lovingly bathed her and then
laid her on a table to clip the knots out
of the tips of her fur.
While working on her, I witnessed
her amazing transformation. She
visibly relaxed as my hands clipped her
hair and gently and rhythmically ran
my hands over her soft fur. When I
returned her to her cage, she wagged
her tail, jumped up a bit and started to
play with her cellmate.
I made it a point the rest of the day
to stop by her cage between tasks, and I
was always greeted with a lick on my
hand and a friendly tail wag. Proof of
how scarred these dogs were came
when I leashed her up to take her out-
mind. The former is what we get
from partisan mouthpieces and the
latter is something of a lost art. The
former is easy; the latter is hard.
Hard, but not hopeless.
My first encounter with the
basics of this lost art was a man of
my father’s generation who had
begun his working life as a
door-to-door vacuum cleaner
salesman. I told him that sounded
like a very difficult and unpleasant
job, knocking on doors and trying to
sell something most people already
had.
“Not at all,” he told me, as I recall
the conversation. “It was a great job.
… The challenge was turning ‘no’
into ‘yes.’ I was good at it, and I
learned lessons that have helped me
throughout my life.”
The quick lessons he offered I
VIEWPOINTS
senior students who thought missing
15 days of school wasn’t that big a deal.
This will not be the case in Spruce’s
future.
The reorganization had to be done.
Say what you will about Dallas ISD’s
problems over the years, but putting
Spruce into the capable hands of
principal Lucy Hakemack and her
hand-picked staff was a smart move.
In one year, test scores rose from some
of the worst in the state to some of the
best in Dallas. Even attendance im-
proved, now that we’ve stated the
obvious to the Pleasant Grove com-
munity: Students who are in class
every day know more.
Hopefully, now that test scores
have come up dramatically, we can
debunk the myth that Spruce cannot
be run the same way as Blue Ribbon
schools.
KATHY MILANI/U.S. Humane Society
side. I carried her out, but the moment
her paws touched the grass, she pan-
icked, dug in her heels and tried to
retreat back to her cage. She had never
before experienced the feel of grass
underneath her feet.
I later learned that a judge gave
custody of the dogs to animal rescue
organizations. The first day the animals
were put up for adoption, a line of
people wrapped twice around an ani-
mal rescue building. Families patiently
awaited the opportunity to offer these
scared and timid little guys their first
chance of real freedom, in homes where
they would be loved endlessly, taught to
trust the human race and have a “hap-
pily ever after” ending to a life that
began so pathetically.
I pray my little “B-63” learns a new
meaning for normal.
Carey Carpenter
teaches fourth grade
at Alba-Golden Ele-
mentary School in
Alba and is a Teacher
Voices volunteer columnist. Her e-mail
address is careylynn779@yahoo.com.
later found spelled out in greater
detail in the disciplines of classical
rhetoric. Persuasion is an art. It
draws on an understanding of
human nature and a facility for
empathy, for seeing and
understanding how the other guy
feels.
In political argument this means
acknowledging upfront whatever
truth or strength there is in an
opposing point of view. It’s there.
Smart people disagree with you for a
host of reasons, some of them good.
The worst thing you can do is begin
with an insult, as do so many of the
e-mails I receive after stating an
unpopular opinion.
The salesman next would make
his pitch. My old friend’s company
had done an amazingly good job, he
said, of preparing him for every
_ Saturday, October 24, 2009
I still hear about negative episodes
on the blogs, and I recognize that we
aren’t perfect. But I challenge readers
to name one high school where every
student is on grade-level, rested, fed
and ready to learn.
Let me assure you of one thing
about our Spruce family: It takes a
special dedication to come here every
day to work or to study. If there’s one
thing I do know, it is that Spruce
teachers come to work here because
they truly love these kids. Otherwise,
they couldn’t take the beating that it is
and just earn a salary and go home,
without ever reaching our goal of
producing students who solve their
own problems and who can make
their lives better if they choose. This is
as valuable in the Grove as it is in the
rest of Dallas.
Spruce is not out of the red yet,
All children can be
seen as Balloon Boy
We watch them fly, horrified, and there’s nothing we
can do but hope for a soft landing, says Ruth Marcus
I
n the matter of Falcon
Heene, the 6-year-old boy
who stashed himself — or
was stashed by his parents — in
the attic while a frantic world
thought he was adrift in a home-
made balloon, let us stipulate a
few things:
That there is something
presumptively wrong with peo-
ple who name their children
after birds of prey; that the
Heenes, if this was indeed a
hoax, make Jon and Kate look
like Ward and June; that Andy
Warhol was right, except his 15
minutes have stretched to 30 in
the age of cable; that a constitu-
tional amendment to prohibit
parents from exploiting their
kids on reality TV shows might
be in order.
But all that isn’t what really
interests me. What interests me
is Balloon Boy’s flight as meta-
phor for the process of par-
enting.
You might say it doesn’t take
much to command wall-to-wall
cable coverage, and that would
be a fair point. Any random
freeway chase will fill up the
time nicely if there is helicopter
footage available in real time.
Yet it is the threatened child,
for obvious reasons, who truly
grabs our attention: the toddler
trapped in the well, the third-
grader snatched from her bed-
room, the teen gone missing —
and, as my colleague Eugene
Robinson tartly pointed out a
few years back, the blonder the
better.
If you are a parent, you know
— in one of those ways that you
try to shove out of your con-
sciousness, because there is no
point thinking about it — that
this sort of thing could happen to
you. That no amount of vigi-
lance, really, can shield our
children completely from ran-
dom acts of violence or fate. The
ancient branch that falls at
precisely the wrong time. The flu
that should merely have side-
lined but ends up killing. The
tractor-trailer, out of control. To
have a child is to know the cer-
tainty of joy tempered by the
omnipresent possibility of loss.
conceivable obstacle to the sale.
“It was very rare for a customer to
offer a reason not to buy that I could
not answer,” he said. “If they already
had a vacuum cleaner, this one was
better. If they couldn’t afford it, we
had easy payment plans. You name
it, whatever objection they raised, I
was ready.”
This is the hardest lesson for
advocates to learn. To persuade, you
must anticipate and refute
objections. It means exposing your
convictions in advance to thorough,
skeptical scrutiny. This is a lot
harder than making emphatic
statements of belief designed,
consciously or not, to draw cheers
from those already in your camp,
which is what passes for political
argument for the loudest voices in
public debate.
A21 _ 10-24-2009 Set: 19:06:16
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21A
though. Unbelievably, we inherited
the dropout rate from years ago,
ranking us “Unacceptable.” Being the
family we are, though, we are not
giving up.
When you hear that it can’t be done
in the Grove — or any low-performing
campus — the same way it is done
elsewhere, don’t listen. We’re doing it,
and we’re done looking backward.
Personally, I am far too over-
whelmed with this important work to
worry about how it got this way or
why.
Lori Welch teaches
French and AP Eng-
lish literature at H.
Grady Spruce High
School in Dallas. Her
e-mail address is loriewelch@gmail
.com.
Which gets us to Balloon Boy
as metaphor. The silvery balloon
hurtles through the air. It bobs,
sickeningly. A child, or so we
think, is inside, unseen. There is
nothing to do but watch, horri-
fied, and hope for a soft landing.
This is the essence of par-
enting. You must send your child
out into the world, even though
you know she is going to get
bruised. There will inevitably be
the party invitation that doesn’t
come, the team that isn’t made,
the once-close friend who snubs.
You can’t stop this; in truth, you
shouldn’t if you could. In The
Blessing of a Skinned Knee,
psychologist Wendy Mogel
describes the phenomenon of
parents foolishly “trying to
inoculate their children against
the pain of life.”
By treating children “like
we’re cruise ship directors who
must get them to their destina-
tion — adulthood — smoothly,
without their feeling even the
slightest bump or wave, we’re
depriving them,” she writes.
“Those bumps are part of God’s
plan.”
OK, but did God have to deal
with a high school freshman?
Accepting the plan does not
answer the harder question of
what freedom to allow when. I
have been experiencing this
recently with our newly in-
dependent daughter. I welcome
this independence, yet I fear it.
Can she get a ride to the restau-
rant with the older girls on the
soccer team? No. Can she go to
the party at the house of a kid
she doesn’t know and he doesn’t
go to her school but he’s a friend
of a friend? Not unless she is
willing to submit to the in-
dignity of having me call the
parents.
The balloon strains against
its mooring. You give the ropes
some slack. Someday, too soon,
you will have to let it float free.
Washington Post
columnist Ruth
Marcus may be
contacted at
marcusr@wash
post.com.
Being persuasive is hard, because
it demands you consider, even if
only momentarily, for purposes of
argument, you might be wrong. It
requires broadening your mind. To
refute opposing points of view
capably (and winningly) means you
must first be willing to listen to
them. To really hear opposing points
of view, you must make yourself
open to them.
There’s a catch here. Sometimes
you might find that after really
“hearing” an opposing viewpoint,
you can’t refute it. Then you must do
the unthinkable: Change our own
mind. Grow.
Mark Bowden most recently authored
“The Best Game Ever.” His e-mail
address is mbowden @phillynews.com.
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The Dallas Morning News dallasnews.com VIEWPOINTS Saturday, October 31, 2009 19A

Just forget the

fancy formulas Big D’s Confessions
of a curious
They do nothing to help administrators
TAG kid
big turnoff
predict teachers’ success in the
classroom, says Mark Harrington
These teaching methods

I
’ve been exposed to educational debate and could be effective for more
discussion since I was a boy. In the 1990s my
father retired after a 40-year career, and my students, says Hailey Sowden
family now has third-generation teachers enjoying the

A
challenges and rewards of the classroom. t my school, TAG (talented and
This is my 11th year in DISD. It is my good fortune gifted) testing started in the
to teach at Seagoville High School, where for the past first grade. The first grade —
three years, my colleagues have elected me as their before most kids know multiplication,
representative to Superintendent Michael Hinojosa’s how to prepare a bowl of cereal
Inside Track Committee. without spilling the milk, or even how
This May, 100 percent of my students passed the to spell the word cereal.
exit-level TAKS, and I was chosen by the National Yet after scoring high enough on an
Endowment for the Humanities to be one of 15 assessment involving an amorphous
teachers from the United States to spend five weeks squiggle and instructions to draw
this past summer studying at the University of London something from it, I found myself
and The Netherlands Institute for Advanced Studies. whisked away with the rest of the
Yet I recently learned that DISD doesn’t believe newly minted TAG kids to a pull-out
that I am a good teacher. class called “Explorations.”
Unlike some of my colleagues, I won’t be the Now, 10 years later, these kids are
recipient of money that is intended to attract quality BRAD LOPER/Staff Photographer the high-achievers. Every one of the
teachers to low-performing campuses. Why? Because National Merit Semi-Finalists at my
DISD has a remarkable ability.
Yes, DISD has devised a formula that rates teachers City won the parking-ticket battle but lost school is a TAG kid. These are stu-
dents who spend most of their time in
on what students “should” have achieved. The end the company of other TAG kids, under
result of this formula is a rating called CEI — the war, says E. Kyle Steinhauser the instruction of trained TAG teach-
Classroom Effectiveness Indices. While this sounds ers.

very scientific, these ratings do not reflect what
actually occurred. CEIs are no more than numbers for
those who put their faith in mathematical formulas.
Nowhere in the formula are adjustments made for
human foibles that are beyond the control of the
teacher. You won’t find a place for hunger and neglect.
There isn’t a place for the youngster who found out the
day before a test that she was pregnant and that the
father was now involved with someone else. The CEI
tells you nothing about the boy in row three who came
home from school to find his dad had taken his own
life. No place for that.
I guess we are to conclude that these life-changing
events don’t affect student performance.
DISD isn’t alone in the drive for such ratings.
Across the nation, those who administer our public
schools are working hard to find answers about why
urban school districts are failing to produce young
men and women who are literate and able to compete
in the global marketplace. Unfortunately, these
administrators aren’t willing to tell us the
uncomfortable truth: Answering that question would
require us to do some soul searching that might lead us
to conclude that all of us are responsible for the failure,
and all of us must be part of the solution.
Many times I’ve shaken my head at measures such
as CEIs. Why do teachers allow those with little or no
understanding of the profession to continue to review
them in such punitive ways?
Imagine doctors being told that every patient must
be cured. How about requiring lawyers to win every
case?
Such expectations wouldn’t make sense, and the
men and women in those fields wouldn’t tolerate such
idiocy.
Teachers don’t have the time or the energy to fight
that battle. They’re too busy doing all they can to help
our young people make it through the difficult and
important formative years.
This can’t go on indefinitely. Good teachers,
dedicated people who want to give their lives to assist
the young, will continue to leave the profession in
search of careers where they are valued and treated
with professional respect. Our children will be the
lesser for it, and so will we.
Mark R. Harrington teaches history at
Seagoville High School and is a
Teacher Voices volunteer columnist.
His e-mail address is
margravemark@yahoo.com.
I
t’s over. I quit. I persisted as long as I
could, but I finally had enough.
I used to roll my eyes at legends of
the eternally provincial Amon Carter, the
patron saint of Cowtown puffery, who
would only come to Dallas as a last resort
and who allegedly brought a sack lunch so
he would not have to patronize any Dallas
restaurants. But the Cardinal of Cowtown
may have had a point.
A few weeks ago, the wife and I headed
out for a rare date night sans rugrats. We
skipped the great restaurants in Frisco, and
we drove past the Shops at Legacy in Plano,
which offers virtually any cuisine and qual-
ity one might desire. Instead, we trekked to
Big D. The 30-mile drive was worth it for
our favorite restaurant, Monica’s Aca y Alla
in Deep Ellum.
Once there, I passed several neon-flag-
waving men selling parking spaces for one
of the ample lots along the street — so
urban!
A fantastic dinner, great margaritas and
wonderful music ended with a $35 premi-
um for my troubles. Not to tip the hard-
working waiters. This check was made out
to the ungrateful, clueless city of Dallas for
a parking ticket.
I have no issue with the justice of the
violation. I failed to see the meter or to
consider the possibility that a major city
would have active meters on weekends.
Every major city I have visited suspends
parking meters after 6 p.m. and on week-
ends.
But why is the city of Dallas charging for
on-street parking on Saturday night in a
deserted part of town? Why target people
trying to give CPR to a struggling entertain-
ment district?
I have lived in cities smaller and larger
than Dallas, and I have visited hundreds
more. No major city makes it more difficult
to visit than Dallas. The Texas-OU game
makes this clear annually, whether it is
parking scams or the disaster that is DART.
Conversely, Austin provides ample, free
street parking, and Sid Richardson’s for-
tune continues to provide free parking to
anyone who will visit downtown Cowtown.
Meanwhile, Dallas insists on scarce and
expansive parking and then wonders why
downtown is dead.
Zina Fernino, a spokeswoman for the
city, said a study done a few years ago in-
dicated that parking demand in Deep
Ellum was light during the day and heavy
during the evenings, hence the meters and
enforcement. She also stated that the en-
forcement was a public service because it
kept the restaurant and bar employees from
monopolizing on-street spaces. This is a
problem that seems to have escaped other
cities.
Rather than writing parking tickets, the
city should have uniformed officers patrol-
ling Deep Ellum to give people a sense of
security and encourage visitors. Again, look
west, where Richardson’s oil money also
supplies private security to help keep down-
town Fort Worth safe. Dallas should copy its
neighbor: Provide free parking and better
security near entertainment zones, and
people will visit — and spend!
The success of Dallas’ new Arts District
projects will depend on people coming,
staying and patronizing local businesses
before and after seeing a performance.
Many people will visit once, but the hassle of
finding parking and avoiding street people
may ensure that it is a singular experience.
With the people-friendly suburbs build-
ing better restaurants and nicer amenities,
there will be no reason to go south of In-
terstate 635. Until Dallas makes visiting
easier, I’ll be one of those folks staying away.
I no longer will suggest downtown
Dallas when other friends want to go to Fort
Worth. I will not pass wonderful restau-
rants in Collin County to patronize old
favorites in Big D. If I can help it, like Amon
Carter, I will avoid spending a dime in
Dallas. She won the battle for my $35, but
she lost my heart.
E. Kyle Steinhauser of
Frisco is a technology
marketing manager at a
publishing company. His
e-mail address is ekyles@
gmail.com.
How could a test that most of these
students took in first grade so accu-
rately predict future achievement?
Was this fate of high achievement a
pre-existing condition within these
kids that was luckily discovered by a
test and an attentive teacher, or did
the TAG teaching method instill it in
them? Which came first, TAG classes
or the TAG kid?
TAG means more than just “tal-
ented and gifted.” It is, at least in my
school, a social structure, a learning
style, a type of person. Whenever
someone in a TAG class does some-
thing exceedingly creative or eccen-
tric, someone will inevitably deem this
action “TAG.” Interjecting opinions
into class discussion is TAG. Writing a
research paper as a narrative is TAG.
Teachers shaving problems off assign-
ments to keep the students from
getting bored is TAG.
How could a child not become
creative and passionate about learn-
ing when they are put in classes where
the opening activity every day is a
brainteaser and where activities range
from trying to fish out some trinket
from a glass bottle using only a tooth-
brush or a vegetable, to writing a book
report using geometric shapes?
Now, in high school, my TAG clas-
ses involve fewer toothbrushes and
more discussion. A teacher once men-
tioned how TAG kids tend to be more
involved in their discussions than
regular kids. That makes sense. We
should know how to have a discussion
by now; we’ve had lots of practice
discussing things — literature, why
the seasons change, politics, why we
must discuss things at all — for ages.
I went back this year to discuss the
TAG system with this same teacher,
and he told me something surprising
and perhaps encouraging. This year,
he gave the same assignment to one of
his standard classes, and although
many didn’t know what to do with the
freedom of the project, a few of the
students liked it, succeeded and,
better yet, asked for more. Also, when
the next TAG-ish project was as-

He’s my son, but these are his battles to fight
Sometimes it’s hard to stay And then 17 years of bottled up
parental competition reared its ugly
on the sidelines, though, head.
says Lynne Sipiora I am ashamed to say this, but I
wanted him to win.
that he could hang on to, when the
inevitable day arrives and he is no
longer king of the hill?
The truth is, I could argue either
side with equal passion.
The band played, and off we
marched. They called each candi-
date’s name along with that of his
parent. I squeezed his arm, and he
patted my hand, and I remembered
signed, more of the kids took it and
ran with it with newfound gusto and
motivation, into new TAG-ier territo-
ries.
If this limited exposure to TAG
teaching methods and projects led to
even more desire to do creative, unin-
hibited things, maybe exposure to
these same sort of activities and teach-

I
swore I would never live
vicariously though my children.
I would encourage and support
their interests and activities, but I
wouldn’t live or die by their
successes or failures. They were
separate entities after all, and the
umbilical cord had been cut.
I kept that promise for a long
time. I wouldn’t write their essays or
build their science fair projects. I
was unmoved by the teacher that
they insisted hated them, and I
watched countless soccer games
without ever offering any helpful
hints from the sideline.
My three children have regaled
me with stories over the years of
who did what to whom. I always
listen — it is a mother’s job — but I
never jump into the fray. I counsel
with a practiced attitude that con-
veys a sympathetic yet “this too shall
pass” kind of philosophy.
And then my son was a senior.
And then my son was nominated
for homecoming king.
I certainly had nothing against
the other four nominees — they
were his friends, good kids from
good homes — but I really, really
wanted him to win.
Sure, I had always thought the
whole homecoming court an archa-
ic tradition that encourages petty
popularity contests between a
bunch of kids already filled with
adolescent angst. What exactly does
it measure, anyway? It has nothing
to do with academic achievement or
any special skill in any special area.
Not only that, rumor had it the
whole process was hopelessly cor-
rupt — with Student Council mem-
bers being bribed with Big Macs
and a voting process reminiscent of
a Florida election.
On the other hand, what parent
wouldn’t welcome their child being
crowned anything?
Wasn’t it a measure of effective
parenting that he was so highly
regarded by his peers? And
wouldn’t it be a self-esteem boost
The truth is, I was preparing
appropriate rationalizations for
either outcome.
At halftime of the homecoming
game, mothers were instructed to
line up with their sons and accom-
pany them across the football field
for the election results.
I held my son by the arm and
looked at this decent kid who,
though not yet a man, was now
certainly a guy. He wore a shirt, tie
and jacket with high-top sneakers,
and I remembered that he’d worn
Velcro shoes for far longer then he
should have, because teaching and
learning to tie was not something
either of us accomplished until he
was 8.
I kept my arm tucked in his, even
while he flirted with the queen
candidates and goofed off with the
kings. Everyone laughed at some-
thing he said, and I remembered
the years of speech therapy when I
had to bribe him into the office each
week with a new Matchbox car.
how as a baby he would pat me on
the shoulder as I carried him on my
hip.
The winner was announced, and
I hugged my son hard.
He hugged me back and headed
toward his friends, while I headed
back into the stands.
A friend says: Every mama bird
thinks hers sings the sweetest.
I thought I was immune from
that. Turns out I’m not.
Isn’t the whole homecoming
court an archaic tradition that
encourages petty popularity con-
tests between a bunch of kids that
are already filled with adolescent
angst?
Well, isn’t it?
Lynne Sipiora of
McKinney is exec-
utive director of
the Samaritan Inn,
Collin County’s
only homeless shelter. Her e-mail
address is lsipiora@tx.rr.com.
ing methods over longer periods of
time, say, since the age of seven, would
help to form more self-motivated and
passionate learners today.
Now, I realize that everyone learns
differently and performs differently,
and a test, especially a one-day PSAT
test, is no way to measure academic
success or desire to learn, but it seems
to me that just the general passion in a
TAG class discussion shows that
something is going right.
Perhaps by introducing a bit more
TAG-style teaching to all kids, our
schools would see better results, ei-
ther in testing or in the much more
important sphere of real life, where
creative thinking, problem solving
and motivation apart from grades
really matter.
Hailey Sowden is a
senior at Highland Park
High School and a
Student Voices volun-
teer columnist. To
respond to this column, send an e-mail to
voices@dallasnews.com.

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8B Sunday, October 4, 2009 C dallasnews.com The Dallas Morning News

Community opinions A forum for readers in Dallas County

SOUNDING OFF
Comment on the following topic on our
blog: dallasnews.com/opinionblog.
Should students spend more time in
school? At what level of government
should the decision be made about
lengthening school days or adding
more instruction days to the year?
Michael Hopkovitz
Insurance Industry
Pricing and Analytics
Professional, Far
North Dallas
Adding additional
classroom time for
reading, writing,
math and science are
excellent reasons to
add to the cost of
educational services.
But we’re not maxi-
mizing the educa-
tional use of the
school day now.
Faith Davis Johnson
Eighth-grade U.S.
Studies teacher, John
B. Hood Middle
School, Dallas
Research-based
evidence supports a
correlation between
higher achievement
and longer instruc-
tional time for stu-
dents. It seems log-
ical that students
spending more time
in school, receiving
quality instruction,
will holistically bene-
fit our society.
Homecoming: Ready or not
It’s a rite of passage for mothers, too, says Elaine Kollaja of Dallas
M
y daughter has a date for the
homecoming dance. She is ec-
static. I am petrified. She may be
old enough for this, but what about me?
What, exactly, is my role in today’s
exaggerated high-school social scene? I’ve
checked, and Emily Post provides no guid-
ance whatsoever on this momentous rite of
passage. Too bad, because I could really use
some help. To do too little will make me
seem as though I don’t care, and to do too
much will make me seem like a helicopter
Hailey Sowden mom living vicariously through her child’s
Senior, Highland Park social engagement. Like so many other
High School, Dallas parenting challenges, it’s a tricky balancing
While I do relish in the
act.
wonders of long The first question on my mind is The
summers, students in Mum. Who buys it, and how extravagant
other countries are should it be? Mums are a very important
studying while Amer- part of the Homecoming scene, and big
icans play. Still, for business for our school’s PTA. Mum Moms
many kids, summers have been toiling for months cutting rib-
don’t end up being a bon and assembling the elaborate corsages
time to explore, to that both girls (and boys!) wear to the big
read or to pursue
game. WILLIAM “BUBBA” FLINT/Special Contributor
non-school related
Friends who grew up in other areas of
activities, but three
long months to forget
the country seem perplexed by the hugely outfit was for homecoming, I was skeptical. Of course I’ll have to clean the house, and
last year’s material. beribboned mum; I take it from their “Do freshmen go to the homecoming perhaps even paint the front hall. But should
attitudes that our custom is a peculiarly dance?” I asked. She accused me of doubting I serve snacks to the other parents? Cock-
Texan affair. I wasn’t previously aware of her ability to land a date. But truly, I never tails? Maybe I’ll have one now.
the cultural disparity and thought all high doubted her success for a minute — her The only saving grace in this whole affair
school girls everywhere spent homecoming dating prospects are what keep me awake is that my daughter’s date can’t drive yet, so
day wearing corsages that make them nights. Many, many things seem to start there’s no worry about her riding off alone
resemble a Kentucky Derby winner. But earlier now, and I clearly still have some with a boy who has borrowed his mom’s nice
what I personally find unusual is the trend distance to travel in catching up with the car for the big night. At this point, unsu-
Karen Kimball in large armband corsages, complete with times. pervised car travel might actually put me
Substitute teacher, ribbons and teddy bears, for the guys. Finally, there’s The Pre-Dance Photo Op. over the edge. Instead, I assume we parents
Richardson ISD When I was in high school, a young man I’ve seen caravans of cars lined up at neigh- will be pressed into chauffeur service. At
would rather have been boiled in oil than
Lengthening the bors’ homes around this time of year and least I hope that’s what everyone has in
alight from his pickup truck sporting such
school day would asked myself, “Who died?” Nobody, fortu- mind. I really don’t want to have to pitch in
probably be counter- an accessory. nately. The traffic jam was just the dance for a limo. Not yet. We all need to save some-
productive for both Then, there’s The Homecoming Dress. attendees, along with their parents, gather- thing for the kids’ weddings, or at least for
students and teach- Fortunately for me, this particular detail ing at one photogenic house to snap dozens the Senior Prom.
ers. A longer school was settled before I even knew it was an
year would do no of pictures in finery they’ll never wear again,
issue; I was thus saved much wailing and with dates they may not even be talking to Elaine Kollaja of Dallas is a
harm but is probably
gnashing of teeth during hours of fruitless next week. graduate student in the SMU
unnecessary. Since
our country’s begin-
shopping at NorthPark Center. This year, by some mysterious lottery, we Master of Liberal Studies
ning, all decisions My daughter found the “perfect” dress have been designated as photo hosts. While program. Her e-mail address
about education have and shoes during the summer and bought I’m flattered that my home has been deemed is elainekollaja@yahoo.com.
been the domain of them with an optimistic eye toward the worthy of the honor, I’m also a bit nervous.
Visit her blog at www.scratchpaper-eck. blog
the states and should future. When she announced that the spot.com.
remain so.

Voices: The above Voices volunteers are regular

contributors to this forum.

William Olsson of Dallas: The government’s

remedy for anything that doesn’t work is “more of it!”
Conquering another culture
Victor Aves of Dallas: Some students are already English is more than just words, says Susan Wildburger
spending up to 12 hours at school when you include

extracurricular activities. Other countries have stu-
dents coming to school in the evening and on week-
ends at all age levels. The decision needs to come
from each individual ISD in anticipation of funds for
these additional resources. What good is a federally
mandated program for longer school days when
DISD, for example, is not fully capable of staffing
schools due to the budget shortfall?
Donna Lackey of Dallas: If students require more
time in school, it should be decided at the school lev-
el with the state and parents picking up the tab. Stu-
dents in the DISD magnet schools don’t require
year-round school. Year-round school might be nec-
essary for some, but it will affect family time for
many trying to push vacation time from work into
shorter summer spans for kids.
Harvey Richman of Dallas: Considering the re-
cord of the DISD administration, it may not be pru-
O
n the last day of a five-week course
over the summer, a multitude of
feelings overwhelm me as I look at
my students. I need to say something, but I
wait. Then one of my students stands and
says he has been chosen to speak for the
class. He delivers a speech of gratitude for
my efforts, my teaching,
my patience and tolerance
of them. He thanks me for
relating to them.
I proudly notice that
the speech is orated in
perfect tense, correct verb
conjugation — that of
standard American Eng-
Voices
lish, and my student chose
Teacher
perfect replacement words
for the ones commonly used.
accents, and I tell them what I have learned:
“An accent is not a problem unless it in-
terferes with pronunciation.” Also, that they
should talk in their own voices, not in some
Americanized version of themselves. To do
that, they need to understand that what they
are learning is more than just a second
language. They must conquer the permeat-
ing usage of a third language — the language
of the larger culture — with all the typical
language expressions.
I was fortunate to come into this country
with a broader education, cultural back-
ground and the ability to speak English (the
British kind, but English nonetheless). But
the language of culture is the harder thing to
master. People only become aware of their
culturally determined traits and values
when they are directly exposed to other
one language is no strange endeavor; it is
daily life. Bilingual people are better able to
see things from two or more perspectives
and to understand how other people think.
But here, being bilingual is rare and may
even be seen as a negative by others.
We need to be more tolerant of people
who speak with accents — people who speak
more than one language. I tell my students
that over the years I have encountered many
people who have commented on my accent
during conversations, and I wonder why
people feel the need to do so.
As my students prepare to leave, I tell
them one last thing: “Labels are just that,
temporary, and they peel off after a while.”
Susan Wildburger teaches
English as a second lan-

dent to expose students or teachers to them any lon-
ger than necessary.
Mellen West of Dallas: More time in schools is
meaningless if it is not productive time. More good
could be done with smaller class sizes, rigorous in-
struction of reading, writing, science and math com-
bined with liberal arts, foreign language study and
physical education. What level of government
should make the decisions? The one that has to pay
for it.
Audrey Pincu of Dallas: Instead of extending the
school day and year, why not take what we have and
make it better? We have AP classes for the “smart”
kids. Why not offer other enrichment programs for
all children? If the government wants to interfere,
they can provide more funding for the schools and
higher teacher salaries.
Cherie Bell of Dallas: Public schools should be
open year-round and should have been for decades
now. All the time students have off from school, and
from consistent learning, is a detriment to their fu-
ture and ours.
SIGN UP
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added to the e-mail list, send your full contact informa-
tion to communityopinions@dallasnews.com.
I remember how I, too, craved for toler-
ance when I first came to America almost 30
years ago. As an ESL teacher, I have to relate
to them; it is my duty.
I share with my students how easy it is for
people to put labels on them due to their
RAISE YOUR VOICE
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side the Metro section.
Voices volunteers
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Off feature that appears
on Sundays, in which the Voices and other
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To get an idea of what topics Voices write
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cultures.
When people are exposed to other world
views, they recognize their own sometimes-
misconstrued world views, and they may
become more sensitive to the ideas of others.
For people in Europe, mastering more than
Apply in four easy steps:
1. Write a little about yourself and put
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guage, most recently at
Brookhaven College as
adjunct faculty member. She
is also a Teacher Voices volunteer columnist.
Her e-mail address is susanwild14@gmail.com.
LETTERS
Rename zero tolerance
Re: “Schools relax rules on ‘zero toler-
ance’ — New state law ends policies that
sometimes harshly punished good stu-
dents for mistakes,” last Sunday news
story.
I laughed out loud at the headline in
the Metro section. What happened to
“zero tolerance” being exactly that: zero
tolerance?
Let’s just rename that policy to “who-
ever it happens to and how rich and/or
willing their paents are to fight it” policy.
Debra W. Drewry, Dallas
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Community opinions A forum for readers in Dallas County

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Comment on the following topic on our
blog: dallasnews.com/opinionblog.
Going forward, do you trust City
Hall to prevent the kind of
corruption involving developers
Exceptional neighborhoods
This weekend’s Oak Cliff home
tour will reveal them to you,
says Debra Witter
very much in transition. He and I had a nice
(electronic) dialogue about the frustrations
that had caused him to respond the way he
had — mostly the constant struggle to get
attention from the city of Dallas on code
For example, the Beckley Wood neigh-
borhood will be featured for the very first
time in the tour’s 35-year history. The tour
organizers also wanted to focus on smaller
homes that have been transformed by their

that was exposed in the recent
federal trial?
Susan Sanders
Wansbrough
Attorney, Lake
Highlands
Developers were in
bed with local poli-
ticians long before
Don Hill came along;
those involved were
just sophisticated
enough to disguise it.
Sometimes the city
got some benefit, but
the developers and
politicians almost
always reaped the
biggest rewards. I
don’t expect things to
change, because
there is no incentive
to change.
I
recently wrote a column about the
glories of Oak Cliff. My piece was in
response to what another Community
Voices columnist had written, which I felt
was unduly negative about Oak Cliff and
the involvement of its residents in helping
improve their neighborhoods. I got some
interesting responses. Most of them were
very positive, but one guy really took me to
task.
He didn’t use these words, but in es-
Connor Mighell
sence accused me of being a shallow yuppie
Junior, Cambridge
School of Dallas
who needed to get out of my privileged
enclave and see the real Oak Cliff. He also
Despite the distinct challenged me to write about Oak Cliff
lack of checks and without talking about the Bishop Arts
balances surrounding
district, hills and trees, diversity, etc. —
the City Council’s
what he called the Oak Cliff clichés.
approval of devel-
opers, which needs to I have to admit that really stung, as I
be addressed, I be- thought it was an unfair reading of what I
lieve Don Hill is the had written. My first reaction was just to
exception rather than ignore it, but instead I e-mailed him back
the rule when it and, with as much restraint as I could, told
comes to our local him just that. I’m really glad I did. Turns
government. The vast out he is the president of one of the neigh-
majority of city offi- borhood associations in west Oak Cliff — a
cials can be trusted to
charming neighborhood but one that is still
do what is best for the
city.
enforcement issues. He talked about how
sometimes he just wanted to live somewhere
neat, clean and easy, where constant vigi-
lance wasn’t required.
I sure hope he sticks it out, because people
like him will determine whether the Oak Cliff
that I know and love — the neighborhoods of
North Oak Cliff and, yes, the booming Bish-
op Arts area — becomes a truly representa-
tive image of the face of Oak Cliff to the rest
of the city.
The Old Oak Cliff Conservation League is
a nonprofit umbrella organization for 23
neighborhood associations covering nearly
10,000 households. Their Web site says they
work “to promote Oak Cliff to the wider
community as an exceptional place to live.”
I like that characterization. “Exceptional”
can mean “superior,” but also can mean
“rare” or “deviating from the norm.” I think
that applies well to the neighborhoods that
are part of the league.
But don’t just take my word for it. This
weekend is the league’s annual home tour.
This year’s tour has taken pains to highlight
some of the neighborhoods that don’t get
quite so much attention.
owners, not just the grander homes in Kess-
ler Park and Winnetka Heights. You can get
more information at ooccl.com.
Going on the tour is a great way to see Oak
Cliff — not just the homes themselves, but
these neighborhoods I’ve been talking about.
As you drive (or bike) between the houses,
you’ll see beauty, and you’ll see challenges.
You’ll see that much has been accomplished
in Oak Cliff, and that much remains to be
accomplished.
My critic was right — those of us who live
in the neighborhoods that have made it, so to
speak, cannot ignore the bigger picture. Nor
can we afford to be complacent about our
own neighborhoods. Reclaiming a neigh-
borhood that has been allowed to deteriorate
is a long, slow process, and one that requires
vision, patience and stamina. Unfortunately,
a neighborhood can be destroyed much more
quickly and easily. All it takes is doing noth-
ing.
Debra Witter of Oak Cliff is an
attorney and a Community
Voices volunteer columnist.
Her e-mail address is debra
witter@tx.rr.com.

Customizing the classroom

Candace S. McAfee
12th-grade A.P. U.S.
Government teacher,
Those with learning differences
motor sensory issues. We were also asked to teacher ratio. The real problem is that so
Faith Davis Johnson
deserve change, says Kristy follow a set of instructions while distractions many American children do not enjoy
Eighth-grade U.S. Gudmundsson of Dallas were played from a tape player to simulate school, so they are not motivated to do well.
Studies teacher, John audio processing difficulties. But making classes easier or more challeng-

I
Skyline Center, Dallas B. Hood Middle have always loved school. I am an eager I was amazed at how much more difficult ing is not the answer. Instead, schools
School, Dallas participant in class discussions; I always these complications made each task, as well should more aggressively separate students
I think Mayor Tom do my homework; and I study hard for
Leppert has some
as how much concentration each task re- based on learning style so that each student
I do believe City Hall is
tests and quizzes. My efforts have generally quired. In the dyslexia simulation, I had to learns in the most productive way possible.
good ideas about on the right track. The
accountability and
been rewarded, so school and I have a pretty focus so hard on just reading each word My cousins found exactly the type of
Mayor and City Coun-
ethical standards. I cil members seem to
good relationship. correctly that I was unable to answer simple classroom setting they need at Shelton,
trust him. The defen- work well together But last week I got the chance to see comprehension questions about the passage. which is a perfect fit for them. But not every-
dants’ claims of and appear to have school through the eyes of students who have I cannot imagine how frustrating it must one has access to or can afford such an edu-
innocence when they the best interests of very different educational experiences than be to deal with such obstacles in class every cation, so public schools should learn from
have you on tape — the citizens of Dallas my own: students with learning differences. day. Not only is every assignment a struggle, schools like Shelton and offer better solu-
unbelievable. Do they in mind. The renova- My two cousins recently moved to Dallas. but you could work for hours on something tions to children with alternative learning
think we are stupid? tions in the Arts One has ADHD, the other has dyslexia, and and still not get it right. It must be exhaust- styles.
District are an in- both began attending the Shelton School this ing. Students would be taught the same mate-
dicator that funding is year. So far, the school, which specializes in
being aligned in the
As part of the simulation, the teachers rial, but those with learning differences
teaching students who have learning differ- treated each “student” in the room as a would receive the individualized approach
appropriate places.
ences, has been great for them. Every year student might be treated in a standard class- they need. If more students felt confident in
the school hosts a learning difference sim- room. When the exercises were completed the classroom, more students would be
Voices: The above Voices volunteers are regular ulation night where they invite parents and incorrectly (as most of them were), we were motivated to try their best. In America we
contributors to this forum. guests to come experience what it is like to chastised and told to pay more attention. believe that a person can achieve anything
have a learning difference. It is no wonder to me now why so many he sets his mind to. Let’s give our schools the
At the simulation, the Shelton teachers students, many of whom have these learning ability to enable students to succeed.
Betsy Whitfill of Dallas: Like many people, I’m provided us with a variety of exercises de- differences, grow to dislike or even blow off
losing the trust I’ve had in government at all levels. signed to replicate the challenges students school. For most people, it is easier to claim Kristy Gudmundsson is a
Dallas City Hall is no exception. I would like to see with learning differences face in a typical not to care than to try and show weakness. junior at Hockaday School
more critical thinking among council persons and a classroom. We were made to read aloud There’s been a lot of talk lately about in Dallas and a Student
view to the greater good for the whole city, rather passages that had all the words written reforming our schools. Americans are falling Voices volunteer columnist.
than putting money over everything. Dallas needs to backward to simulate dyslexia. While watch- behind other parts of the world academi- To respond to this column,
be a place in which people want to live, not just work ing only our own hand’s reflection in a mir- cally, so some think we should lengthen the send an e-mail to voices
and make money. ror, we had to copy some text. This simulated school year or decrease the student-to- @dallasnews.com.

Cathy Doyle of Dallas: This is the perfect oppor-

tunity for our City Council to pass an ethics bill with
teeth in it, and I certainly hope they take that oppor-

Going places with DART

tunity. Unfortunately, this “pay for play” has been a
way of life in South Dallas politics for some time. I
wonder if it will really change unless a real outsider
is elected there. And how would he get himself elect-
ed? Bus and rail improvements to take side trips on the way to and from Fair visits and convenience for special
work, or even to go to lunch. I am fortunate groups of people is one thing, but for many
Bob Dewberry of Dallas: These convictions keep it strong, says John in that I have the option to use DART or to people, DART is the difference between
should scare the bejabbers out of any officeholder drive. However, many people do not. having a job and being unemployed. One of
considering felonious actions, so this was a good
Guilford of Oak Cliff
One recent morning, I noticed a young the bus routes I often take goes up Preston
week — not a bad one. We can expect a higher de-

gree of honesty as a result of the trial. I feel those
convicted are far from representative of our political
environment.
Janice Schwarz of Dallas: Not really. A large part
of the problem is the low salary paid to City Council
members. When you have a full-time job at a lousy
wage, it is tempting to use your power to improve
your lot.
Roy H. Kinslow of Dallas: It will happen again.
The players will be careful for a while, but the same
forces are in place to allow it to happen. New faces
will come on the scene who will not have a fresh
memory of the Hill, Fielding and Lipscomb events,
and they will have the hubris to think they can be
cleverer and not get caught. The 14-1 system lends
itself to this sort of thing. A strong mayor system
would be even worse.
SIGN UP
W
hen I first moved to Dallas 20
years ago, there was a continual
argument about what DART
should be: a bus company or a regional
transportation network. I remember going
to the State Fair of Texas in 1995 where they
had a mock-up of a DART train that you
could walk through. I remember thinking
that the metroplex was at a crossroads in its
development.
In my North Texas lifetime, DART has
managed to become both a bus and train
network and has done so quite successfully.
Most urban planners will tell you that
mass transit needs a high density to really
thrive. With the exception of the commuter
bus routes that DART runs from cities like
Glenn Heights, Rowlett and Farmers
Branch, DART’s greatest successes are
within the boundary of, say Loop 12, where
the density is the highest.
man in a motorized wheelchair on the train.
He moved and spoke with great difficulty,
but his smile and sheer determination were
inspiring and contagious. As we approached
Union Station, the driver helped him cross
onto the small elevator that lowered his
wheelchair onto the ground. I can imagine
that without the services of DART, life for
people with physical handicaps such as this
man could deteriorate into an isolated,
immobile existence.
Another of the enhancements that DART
has made recently has to do with bicycles.
There are now bicycle racks on the front of
buses. It has been my experience that if the
weather is halfway decent, there is a bicycle
on these racks about every five or six buses.
In addition, the new train cars have racks
for bicycles. This is the best of both worlds:
You can take DART to get through the heavy
traffic areas, then jump on your bike when
Road, from downtown to North Dallas. At
about 9 in the morning, this route is
jammed with eager, energetic women mak-
ing their way up to wealthy North Dallas
homes where they work, apparently as
nannies and cleaning ladies. I venture to say
that without DART along Preston, many of
these jobs would be difficult to fill.
There is always a lot of conversation
about how DART could be better than it is.
Frankly, it is hard not to compare our DART
to a city like Chicago or New York, where the
subway system is mature, extensive and
well-used. It is important to realize that
DART, especially DART rail, is still a very
young system. It’s just a teenager. And as
with children, the more we invest in them
now, when they are developing, the more
productive they will be when they grow up.
John Guilford of Oak Cliff is

These responses are from readers who have asked

I am a DART rider. I live in Oak Cliff and you get to White Rock Lake or the Katy an engineer and a Commu-

to receive the weekly Sounding Off question. To be

work in North Dallas. I take a train and a bus
almost daily. I have a stepdaughter who
added to the e-mail list, send your full contact infor-
takes the DART train to and from school
mation to communityopinions@dallasnews.com.
downtown every day. I routinely use DART
Trail. nity Voices volunteer col-
This year, for the first time, we can take umnist. His e-mail address
the DART train to the State Fair of Texas. It is jrg65@aol.com.
will drop us off right at the front gate.

HOW TO SEND A LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Letters should be 200 words or fewer and include the writer’s name, address and phone number for verification purposes. Only the name and city of the writer will be published. Letters will be edited
for length, clarity and style. Send by e-mail: communityopinions@dallasnews.com. By Fax: 972-263-0456. Or by Mail: P.O. Box 655237, Dallas, Texas 75265. For more information, contact
Michael Landauer, assistant editorial page editor for Community Opinions, at 214-977-8258 or mlandauer@dallasnews.com.

B1011CB010PQ
B1011CB010PB
B10 C 10-11-2009 Set: 18:47:38
Sent by: ewaddle News BLACK
12B Sunday, October 18, 2009 C dallasnews.com The Dallas Morning News

Community opinions A forum for readers in Dallas County

Comment on the following topic on our

blog: dallasnews.com/opinionblog.
Teaching teenagers
What North Texas politician do Yes, there are heartwarming moments, says Victoria John of Dallas

you trust the most?
Susan Sanders
Wansbrough
Attorney, Lake High-
lands
Angela Hunt is the
only local official I
trust. She truly seems
to have the communi-
ty’s best interests at
heart. The more the
mayor and other
council people op-
pose her, the less I
trust them.
Candace S. McAfee
12th-grade A.P. U.S.
Government teacher,
W
hen I tell strangers I teach middle
school, they respond with praise
or pity. They either call me a saint
and tell me there’s a special place in heaven
for me — or they say I’m crazy and a glutton
for punishment.
“How do you deal with all those raging
hormones?” “Young teenagers are disre-
spectful and unruly.” “They are belligerent
and rebellious.”
Connor Mighell The comments echo the ancient orator
Junior, Cambridge Cicero’s words regarding corruption during
School of Dallas the Roman Republic: O tempora o mores —
translated as, “Oh the times! Oh the cus-
Rep. Jeb Hensarling’s
strong stand on toms.”
cutting government Too often, the news today regarding
earmarks and lower- teenagers is negative. However, experience
ing taxes for all citi- has taught me that when you seek the best,
zens has certainly you find it. It’s not always easy, but teaching
earned my respect. middle school students is most worth it.
He does not get
As a Latin, drama and musical theater
involved in extrane-
teacher at Lakehill Preparatory School in
ous matters, but stays
focused on eliminat-
Dallas, I enjoy variety each day.
ing unnecessary and As individuals, my students are insight-
irrational spending. ful, interested, motivated and full of reward-
ing surprises. As a group, they cooperate
with respect and eagerly volunteer for sig-
nificant community service projects, in-
cluding a monthly trash cleanup at White
Rock Lake.
Recently an eighth-grade Latin, drama
and musical theater student brought his
Faith Davis Johnson
Eighth-grade U.S.
Studies teacher, John
prized cowboy hat, a special gift from his
grandfather, to my classroom for safekeeping
prior to his performance. I thought back on the
four years I had known him, and a kaleido-
scope of his unique qualities swirled into view
— joining younger students at lunch just be-
cause he enjoyed their company, sharing heart-
warming family stories, offering math tips to a
friend in the hall between classes. Moments of
kindness, respect, honesty and tolerance.
As he turned to leave, I called his name and
shared, “You are such a neat and thoughtful
young man. I have really enjoyed knowing and
teaching you.” He turned, and with his familiar
smile responded, “Thank you. I love Latin and
drama.” He paused and added, “It’s because of
you. You make it fun.”
“Oh the times! Oh the customs.”
In drama class, a first-time performer
walked hesitantly onto the stage to present a
pantomime for 19 of his peers. Reaching the
center, he looked at his audience and froze as
he quietly mused, “So this is what stage fright
is.”
He then launched into one of the best pan-
tomimes I have ever observed. It even brought
to mind the exceptional skill of the famous
mime artist Marcel Marceau. With creativity
and humor, this student morphed into a pre-
historic man attempting to start a fire. He
communicated the essence of his story through
silence and well-executed movement. It was
amazing. His supportive classmates responded
with a standing ovation. How many people
spend a Friday afternoon being entertained by
talented young people?
“Oh the times! Oh the customs!”
Last year the seventh- and eighth-grade
drama class performed a one-act version of
Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream
for the annual winter program. The actress
playing Quince had been reluctant to perform
her character as directed. When she finally
complied at the performance, she experienced
audience revelry and applause.
Later, she shared: “Ms. John, at first, I
didn’t want that part. But I didn’t complain
and gave it my all. Now I’m so glad I had the
part of Quince. I really enjoyed it and learned a
lot!”
“Oh the times! Oh the customs!”
These are not isolated cases. I have taught at
Lakehill for 10 years, and students still surprise
me. In the words of American composers
George and Ira Gershwin, “Who could ask for
anything more?”
Victoria John is a middle
school Latin, drama and
musical theater teacher at
Lakehill Preparatory School in
Dallas. She is also a Teacher
Voices volunteer columnist. Her e-mail address is
VJohn@lakehillprep.org.

Give an animal a second chance

Skyline Center, Dallas
I trust Tom Leppert,
and I trusted Lee
Jackson when he was
county judge and
Alan Walne when he
was on the city coun-
B. Hood Middle
School, Dallas
Sen. Royce West has
been a formidable
champion of the
constituents of his Adopt a pet from a shelter today, says Cynthia Herschkowitsch of Dallas
district. His work in

cil. I have high stan- bringing the Universi-
dards for elected ty of North Texas
officials and their system to the south-
public stewardship ern sector, providing
and not too many meaningful intern-
meet my standards. I ships for young
have helped some people through the
candidates get elect- Conrad project, and
ed and deeply regret- speaking at Career
ted my decision to Day programs are
help. statements of his
commitment to
education.
Voices: The above Voices volunteers are regular
contributors to this forum.
Susan Scott of Dallas: The ones that have yet to
run for office and be elected, or at this point, maybe
Kinky Freeman.
Sharon Pedevilla of Dallas: Former mayor Lau-
ra Miller. She called it as she saw it and was criticized
as a result.
Ellen Raff of Dallas: I trust Angela Hunt from
City Council, because she has been willing to break
from the “group think” that seems to dominate un-
der Mayor Leppert. I also like Carol Kent, my repre-
sentative to Austin, because she keeps in touch
through e-mails and updates, and she is open to
feedback.
Thelma S. Clardy of DeSoto: I trust State Rep.
Helen Giddings.
Donna Lackey of Dallas: It’s really sad that too
many run on an agenda and can’t be trusted. Even
though the candidates need our vote, they seem to
be owned by those with money who give to their
campaigns.
Ed Weymouth of Addison: John Carona. He
seems to be ethical and works in the best interest of
the citizens of Texas. I do not always agree with him,
but, then, I do not always agree with my wife, either.
Martin Greenberg of University Park: None
Kurt Freeman of Dallas: I trust Jeb Hensarling;
he gives a straight answer to questions without try-
ing to run a game on us.
Beverly Lowry of Dallas: I would elect State Rep.
Dan Branch to any office he seeks.
Bob Dewberry of Dallas: Rep. Will Hartnett. He
is smart and effective in Austin and he represents us,
responds to us and informs us well.
Alan Kazdoy of Dallas: Don Hill. I am sure that
everything he does from now until his sentencing
will be strictly kosher.
Roy H. Kinslow of Dallas: U.S. Rep. Sam John-
son without a doubt. He’s been there, done that and
has the scars to prove it.
SIGN UP
These responses are from readers who have asked
to receive the weekly Sounding Off question. To be
added to the e-mail list, send your full contact infor-
mation to communityopinions@dallasnews.com.
I
t happened again this year, as it has so
many times before: A student came
running into the school where I teach,
gingerly carrying a kitten.
He thought it had been attacked by a dog
and, thinking its leg was broken, wrapped a
makeshift bandage around its tiny rear leg to
give it support. Since its injuries didn’t seem
life-threatening, I secured it in the storage
room of a very accommodating colleague
until my classes were over.
During lunch, I e-mailed my old friend
Jonnie England and asked for advice. She, in
turn, forwarded my appeal to her animal-
rescue network. Within an hour, I had two
offers of help — one from a local organization
that uses a foster network and promotes
adoptions on its Web site and at pet shops; the
other from a shelter that offered to take the
kitten immediately.
In the meantime, I drove the kitten to my
vet in Farmers Branch for an assessment. Two
X-rays and $161 later, we had the diagnosis: a
broken pelvis and possible nerve damage,
causing the right rear foot to knuckle under,
injuries more consistent with being hit by a
car than a dog attack.
For the rest of the week, I dutifully gave the
kitten his medicine, changed his litter box and
played with him to ensure that he was social-
ized for his eventual new family. I also talked
to volunteers from the two organizations that
Thank you for reading this column
We all need to express our
gratitude to others, says Daley
Epstein of Dallas
I began my first day of work in Washing-
ton, D.C., the same way I ended it, with a trip
along the Red Line. That day, just an hour
after I disembarked from my train, the Red
Line crashed and killed nine people. As I
heard the news, I realized: There could have
been 10. It hit me how grateful I was to be
alive.
Gracias, thanks, todah, merci, danke,
thank you. Whether one word or two, it’s not
hard to say and does not take much time.
However, today’s fast-paced society just
can’t seem to find the time to voice gratitude.
Appreciation says a lot about a person’s
character. It shows a lack of self-absorption
and recognition for others’ thoughtful ac-
tions. But too often we fail to display such an
admirable trait.
As I walk out of a public building, I hold
open the door for the person right behind
me. Since the place is bustling, a few more
people follow behind and walk through the
opened door. Before I know it, 20 or 30
people have exited. How many thank you’s
had offered to help. The lady from the shelter
offered such a glowing description of the
facility, its volunteers and its adoption pro-
gram that, on Saturday, I prepared my little
broken kitten for the trip.
I was expecting kitty nirvana. But from the
moment we entered the shelter, I knew I
wasn’t going to leave him there. The smell was
terrible, the litter boxes were full and cats
were everywhere. I’ve never seen so many cats.
They all seemed healthy, well-fed and happy,
but I was shocked by their sheer numbers.
In the isolation room, I quickly realized,
these cats in here are actually sick. My little
guy is just broken. A big, beautiful, blind cat
was nosing around my carrier. My heart
melted.
The shelter manager told me that if I left
my kitten there, he would develop an upper
respiratory infection. I said that I would foster
him, so they took pictures to display on their
Web site.
I cried all the way home, grieving for all of
those beautiful cats who, because they are
older, are probably going to spend their lives
in this no-kill shelter, rather than in loving
homes.
How does this happen? It’s certainly not
the shelter’s fault. The people are hard-work-
ing, unbelievably dedicated and understand-
ably overwhelmed. I also know that a variety
of catastrophic events have coincided to make
do I hear? Perhaps one. On a good day.
The next night I am out to dinner at my
favorite Italian restaurant, enjoying warm
ravioli covered in marinara. Every few min-
utes, the waiter walks by and inconspic-
uously refills my water glass. Barely notic-
ing, I continue to converse with my friend
and enjoy the meal. It is only after I am at
home, reading in my pajamas that I realize:
I should have thanked the waiter whenever
he refilled my glass.
Perhaps it is a sense of entitlement that
takes the words “thank you” out of our vo-
cabulary. We take for granted deeds that are
actually acts of kindness, assuming that
things should be handed to us on a silver
platter. Most of us need a reality check: We
are fortunate in so many ways and fail to
properly recognize and express our grat-
itude.
Another sign of inadequate gratitude is
the lost art of thank-you notes. With the
evolution from paper to electronic, much
writing is becoming obsolete. Yet, thank-you
notes retain their sophistication and signif-
icance. After receiving a gift, it is still proper
etiquette to sit down and scribble down a
few appreciative thoughts. Yes, this does
take more time than saying thank you, but it
their job harder than ever: the flagging econo-
my, hurricanes in recent years and a spate of
seizures from puppy mills.
So now, I’m fostering the little broken
kitten that I am calling “Cassidy,” as in “Hopa-
long.” He seems to be improving. He is eating
and playing; he only drags his foot when he
gets tired.
But I am still agonizing over the animals in
our shelters. When I asked the shelter manag-
er if they needed volunteers, she said, “We
have plenty of good volunteers.” What about
donations? “Donations are up, too.” “What do
you need, then?”
“Adopters,” she said, “Adoptions are way
down.”
So, if you have room in your heart and your
home, please go to your local shelter, and say,
“Give me the oldest animal you have, or the
one that’s been at the shelter the longest, or
the blind one or the kitten with the broken
pelvis. I want to give an animal a good home
and a second chance at a happy life.”
They all have sad stories. It’s up to us to
write their happy endings.
Cynthia Herschkowitsch
teaches at South Oak Cliff
High School in the Dallas ISD
and is a Teacher Voices volun-
teer columnist. Her e-mail
address is CHerschkowitsch@dallasisd.org.
really isn’t that challenging. I don’t pretend
to be a devotee of thank-you notes, but I do
recognize that they are meaningful.
It seems ironic that those who do exhibit
gratitude aren’t exactly considered role
models. Both at the beginning and at the
end of a performance, the audience hears
the words, “Thank you for coming; I hope
you enjoy/enjoyed the show.” If performers
can extend common courtesy, why can’t we?
Have we reached such a low point that the
only time we express gratitude is when we
are acting? I hope not.
It is time for us all to abandon our egotis-
tical ways and take a second to think and
thank. Parents, friends, teachers — they all
deserve our gratitude. We need to become
more proactive and turn those two words
into a habitual saying. People really do
welcome another’s gratefulness. Everyone
likes to be appreciated.
Daley Epstein is a senior at
Yavneh Academy of Dallas
and a Student Voices volun-
teer columnist. To respond
to this column, send an
e-mail to voices@dallas
news.com.

HOW TO SEND A LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Letters should be 200 words or fewer and include the writer’s name, address and phone number for verification purposes. Only the name and city of the writer will be published. Letters will be edited
for length, clarity and style. Send by e-mail: communityopinions@dallasnews.com. By Fax: 972-263-0456. Or by Mail: P.O. Box 655237, Dallas, Texas 75265. For more information, contact
Michael Landauer, assistant editorial page editor for Community Opinions, at 214-977-8258 or mlandauer@dallasnews.com.

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Community opinions
We asked our Teacher Voices …
How do you know a student will be successful?
Debbie Gallagher | Computer teacher, Daniel
Intermediate School, Duncanville ISD — I always
tell students that two things have to be present to
learn a new skill — the desire to learn and
practice. If either is missing, they will not be
successful. As students mature, the desire must come from
within, not as a result of fear of being punished for not doing a
task. I also teach a college class, and on the first day I meet with
my college students, I have them fill out an information sheet
telling me about themselves. I ask what they want to get from the
class. One student wrote, “I expect to get an A in this class.” That
student will be successful, as opposed to the student who wrote
the word “nothing.”
Julie Lewis | AMI/Math Interventionist,
Lamar Middle School, Irving ISD — I know
that students will be successful if they choose to
not only invest their best effort, but also to
develop a passion for what they are learning.
Parents and teachers have to set high goals, but they must
understand success should be measured simply by comparing
where the student’s abilities and talents start and where they
end. We are all unique individuals and have different talents
and abilities. I think success is a unique combination of best
effort, passion and personal growth. We must also remember
that a successful outcome should be something the student
chooses because it makes him or her happy and proud of
their investment in the accomplishment. That will leave
them inspired to achieve more.
Candace S. McAfee | 12th-grade A.P. U.S.
Government teacher, Skyline Center, Dallas — I
can tell if students will be successful: They have a
strong work ethic, take personal responsibility
and are able to handle setbacks and adversity
well. Life is not always easy, and there are no guarantees. Setbacks
and adversity are facts of life. Unexpected life occurrences, such
as a death of a parent or a family member, are difficult to
overcome. Sometimes missing an assignment or not fully
understanding concepts can send a student to the low self-esteem
pit. If a student can overcome these challenges, he or she will
usually be successful. A solid family support system is a help, but
if the student is confident and possesses inner strength, he or she
will be successful.
We asked our Student Voices …
What makes a teacher effective and memorable?
Nandita Singh | Sophomore, Hebron High
School, Carrollton — Funny and motivating
teachers with hard tests and even harder finals
are always the most effective and memorable.
They are able to create a relaxed learning
environment for challenging subjects such as AP classes or
higher-level math. If a student feels accomplished after
“surviving” a hard class, he or she not only remembers the teacher,
but also is thankful for newfound knowledge and confidence.
These teachers also have enthusiasm and interest in what they
teach. Teachers with the perfect blend of passion and interest for
their job — and for the minds that they are responsible for
molding — are the teachers who ultimately impact their students’
lives the most.
Connor Mighell | Junior, Cambridge School of
Dallas — Remember the substitute teacher in the
film Ferris Bueller’s Day Off? “Bueller? …
Bueller? …” Thankfully, I haven’t
experienced anything like that. Most of
my teachers have been good, but those who are truly
memorable have a clear, infectious passion for their
subjects, like my former Latin teacher, Mrs. Gerard,
who knew just about everything regarding her
language and its beautiful history. She was always
searching for more information. The most effective
teachers I have had engage their students. This can be
done without “dumbing the curriculum down,” as Dr.
Hahn, my current physics teacher, has shown. He inserts
interesting, relevant demonstrations into his lectures. If
the material isn’t engaging, the teachers risks losing their
classes, no matter how much they enjoy what they teach.
Michelle Vongkeo Ashmore | Senior, Royse City
High School — More often than not, great
teachers pay attention to their student’s daily
lives. Most think it strange that I have some of
my teachers’ private phone numbers, but it’s not
only for convenience. It’s for when I need help with my own
personal problems or want to let them know about fantastic news.
When I read my e-mail telling me that I was going to be a Voices
columnist, the very first person I told was my teacher, Mrs.
Krumnow. If teachers are able to gain the confidence in their
students as people, they gain it also as teachers. To those select
few do we students reserve our greatest efforts.
HOW TO SEND A LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Letters should be 200 words or fewer and include the writer’s name, address and phone number for verification purposes. Only the name and city of the writer will be published. Letters will be edited
for length, clarity and style. Send by e-mail: communityopinions@dallasnews.com. By Fax: 972-263-0456. Or by Mail: P.O. Box 655237, Dallas, Texas 75265. For more information, contact
Michael Landauer, assistant editorial page editor for Community Opinions, at 214-977-8258 or mlandauer@dallasnews.com.
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A forum for readers in Dallas County
Karen Kimball | Substitute teacher, Richardson
ISD — Recently I substituted in a kindergarten
class. It was the third week of school, and one
student stood out: He entered the classroom, put
his things away, and sat down at his table to
complete his morning work. Throughout the day he listened,
followed directions and did his work carefully and correctly. He
was proud of his job as “door holder” and was always ready and in
place when the class left the room. He answered questions
correctly and creatively (not copying the
answers of others). He was polite, kind and
friendly to students, and well-liked by
everyone. I may never see him again,
but I am convinced he is well on his way
to success — in school and in life.
WILLIAM “BUBBA”
FLINT/Special
Contributor
Faith Davis Johnson | Eighth-grade U.S. Studies
teacher, John B. Hood Middle School, Dallas —
You know that students are on the path to
success when you give an assignment, and they
go a step further. For example, if the assignment
is to be handwritten, the student types it instead. Or if you’ve
given the student a task to complete based on a lecture in class,
and he or she includes analysis on a concept you haven’t covered
yet — and it’s right on target. You know when they ask you to
write letters of recommendation and then promptly follow up in
writing, complete with an advanced “thank you.” You know when
students remember what you have taught — and then use the
same method to share with others what they learned from you.
Kelsey McKinney | Senior, Booker T.
Washington High School, Dallas — Teachers can
influence their students’ thought processes. An
effective teacher finds a way to force his or her
students to re-evaluate their ideas and really
decipher what it is they believe. However, the ability to teach
students does not necessarily make a teacher memorable. To
become memorable, teachers must remain a real person to the
students. These teachers have the ability to engage in intelligent
conversations and effectively incorporate their personalities into
their teachings. They do more than teach; they influence their
students’ lives. Only a memorable teacher makes a connection
strong enough for each student to begin applying what he or she
has been taught.
Viviana Cruz | Junior, Newman Smith High
School, Carrollton — My AP biology teacher, Mr.
Hembree, was also my freshman bio teacher. He
made such an impact on me that I specifically
went back to take any course taught by him.
Some say he was like a college professor because his coursework
was so hard, but he actually cared and remembered his students. I
think a teacher who treats you like a person rather than an ID
number and doesn’t underestimate you makes a great teacher.
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The Dallas Morning News
Susan Wildburger | Brookhaven College
adjunct faculty/ESL teacher — Albert Einstein
once observed, “Education is that which remains
after one has forgotten everything he learned in
school.” Study skills are, for me, what makes a
student successful. The successful student will have been taught
time management and will have a routine and structure set forth
by a parent. I can tell when a student comes to my class prepared,
ready to exercise that vital skill of note-taking, has all the
materials needed, homework ready to be turned in and an eager
and sincere interest in listening. As a parent, I believe that parents
who instill a sense of pride in their children and provide children
with support daily produce, in many ways, successful students in
the classroom.
Victoria John | Latin, drama and musical theater
teacher, Lakehill Preparatory School, Dallas — In
the words of Plato: “Good actions give strength
to ourselves and inspire good actions in others.”
Students prevail through the awareness and
practice of three qualities: flexibility, accountability and
responsibility. A flexible student adapts easily to new situations
and accepts change as a positive and necessary process for
growth. An accountable student learns from poor choices and
builds character through increased honesty to self and others.
Having been held accountable for actions, the student learns to
make better choices while serving as a positive role model. A
responsible student keeps agreements and, through consistency,
builds esteem and self-respect. Acting with flexibility,
accountability and responsibility allows the student to overcome
personal challenges and achieve success.
Cynthia Herschkowitsch | Teacher, South Oak
Cliff High School, Dallas — You’d think, after 35
years of teaching, I would be able to spot a
successful student without fail. But while my
intuition is pretty good, I can’t claim l00 percent
accuracy. Every kid is different. Some are late bloomers and
surprise you. Others come in full-throttle and then fade. But in
general, I have found the following to be true: The successful
students come in the first day of class, prepared to work, pencil
and paper in hand. They are attentive and look you in the eye. I
rarely, if ever, have to remind them to “stay on task.” I know we all
have our bad days, but the successful student is one who leaves his
problems outside the classroom door.
Brianda Reyes | Senior, South Garland High
School — Teachers’ effectiveness is not measured
by the amount of homework they give every
night or how many students passed their class;
it’s measured by their passion for teaching. We
don’t remember the teacher who had pop quizzes all the time or
the one who always gave out reading assignments. We remember
the teacher who pulled us out after class to discuss why our grades
were so low, the teacher who stayed after school just a little longer
to help us learn the lesson thoroughly, the teacher who praised us
when we did something right and did not pick on us when we did
something wrong. We want — need — praise and remember the
teachers who are generous with their enthusiasm, their attention,
their care, their understanding.
Kristy Gudmundsson | Junior, Hockaday
School, Dallas — Humor. In addition to passion
and enthusiasm, a good sense of humor turns an
otherwise good teacher into an outstanding one.
When I think about all of my favorite teachers
over the past 12 years, most of them share something significant:
They made classes fun. Learning is most effective when emotions
become involved, and just as acting is about connecting with an
audience, teaching is about connecting with students and making
them excited to come to class. Witty lectures keep students alert,
engaged and eager to participate. Jokes germane to the subject
make facts more memorable and interesting. While a mundane
class can make even the most interesting subject boring, a fun
class can make the dullest subject captivating.
Avery Hurst | Senior, J.J. Pearce High School,
Richardson — My favorite teachers have been the
ones who truly get to know each individual child.
If you are just a student at a desk, there is no way
to connect with what your teacher is saying. If a
teacher becomes a “friend” with his or her students, it becomes a
better level for them both to learn on. It is also effective if the
teachers don’t feel the need to “stoop down” to their students’
level. If students feel like we are being talked down to, it makes us
want to rebel more against anything they want us to do. If we are
treated as an individual on the same level as our teachers, we are
more likely to live our lives as learners.
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 10B Sunday, October 4, 2009 E dallasnews.com The Dallas Morning News

Community opinions A forum for readers in Collin, Dallas and Rockwall counties

SOUNDING OFF
Comment on the following topic on our
blog: dallasnews.com/opinionblog.
Try mind-stretching fun
Should students spend more time in Don’t tell the kids they’re learning science, says Jeri Chambers of Plano
school? At what level of government should

the decision be made about lengthening
school days or adding more instruction
days to the year?
Keturah Stewart
Math teacher, Don
Achziger Elementary,
Mesquite ISD
I believe if students
used the time they
currently have in
school efficiently,
they wouldn’t need
additional time.
However, each class-
room is different. It
would be a tough call
for anyone to make a
statewide or country-
wide decision.
“S
cience is gross. It’s boring. Why
would anyone want to do science?”
Words spoken by a child (hopefully
not a parent), who perhaps is not experienc-
ing an effective science classroom.
It’s difficult to create an engaging sci-
ence classroom. The vocabulary is intense
and extensive. The amount of content to
cover is expansive. The volume and coordi-
nation of materials alone requires a storage
Kathleen Krumnow unit. Yet many teachers get up each day
English teacher, eager to share and inspire students to em-
Royse City High brace science. How difficult their job can be
School when the community at large views science
Length of school days as a class to endure or a project to complete.
and years should be How did science become uncool to so
uniform throughout many? It’s through questioning and dis-
our country to ensure covery that we advance as human beings.
that all kids get the It’s through solving problems in a scientific
same opportunities way that we can provide food and water to
to learn. Our federal
the impoverished and establish sustainabil-
government should
ity. It’s through the precision of research
not be involved with
the process unless
that we truly can find the cure to cancer, the
they are going to vaccine for H1N1, the protocols to overcome
implement higher traumatic brain injuries.
standards with higher It’s through creativity and ingenuity that
pay for teachers. we learn how to be more effective caretakers
of our planet. Science is not only cool, it
matters a great deal.
Many efforts abound trying to set norms
for engaging and interactive experiences.
For the last three years, Texas Instru-
ments, through the STEM Academy, has
recognized local educators who improve
student achievement in science, technology,
engineering and math.
In 2006, the Science Place, Dallas Muse-
um of Natural History and the Dallas Chil-
dren’s Museum merged to form the Perot
Museum of Nature & Science. They are in the
process of developing and building a state-of-
the-art facility in Victory Park.
Local universities have UTeach programs
designed to recruit and train teachers of
math, science and computer science.
A key to making science cool is to create
hands-on science experiences outside of the
classroom that inspire and motivate students.
Too bad we don’t have an engaging venue for
science in Collin County. Wouldn’t it be great
if instead of heading to the mall or the mov-
ies, we had a place where kids both young and
old could play with science?
Oh, wait, there is such a place — Sci-Tech
Discovery Center. After almost 10 years of
research, outreach, and temporary exhibits,
Collin County welcomes such a place. Sci-
Tech Discovery Center opens in Frisco this
weekend. And, it’s going to be GROSS. Gros-
sology, that is.
Grossology shows off the “(Impolite)
Science of the Human Body.” It is a science-
in-disguise exhibition where you’ll find the
answers to many of the slimy, oozy, crusty,
stinky questions you’d love to ask but maybe
were too embarrassed to do so. Kids will get
the chance to become a dust particle in a
giant nose, create different sounds that repli-
cate the physics of gas at the Toot-toot Center
and much more. Grossology will be a part of
Sci-Tech until Jan. 3.
The great news is that this exhibit is just
the beginning. Thanks to determination,
persistence and financial sacrifice, an army of
volunteers has been working to bring a
hands-on science experience to kids and
adults alike in Collin County on a permanent
basis.
Become part of the mind-stretching fun.
When you have a moment and wonder what
fun activity you could do with your children
and perhaps their friends, try Sci-Tech Dis-
covery Center. It’s gross. It’s cool, and perhaps
it will inspire a lifelong passion for all things
science.
Jeri Chambers teaches fifth
grade in Plano and is a Teach-
er Voices volunteer col-
umnist. She has been active
in planning for this facility.
Her e-mail address is jericham@yahoo.com. For
more information, location and hours of opera-
tion please visit www.mindstretchingfun.org.

Kathryn S. Pabst Sandy Kulkarni

English/language Chemistry teacher,
arts teacher, Lovejoy
High School
Students are hard
Allen High School

“Study time" could be

workers, but what are
they working hard at?
Two million minutes is
the time spent in four
years of high school.
What is your child
measured in both
Only in Texas — the supersized Mum
qualitative and quan- Despite my better judgment, I ably would have worked extra hours in the hot
titative manner. summer sun, laboring in the fields to save
Unless there are good played along with tradition, says enough to get whatever I could in order to “fit
research data sup- Beverly Biehl of Frisco in.” I did just that for many other reasons that
porting the exponen- today seem quite trivial if I remember them at
tial growth of learn- all.

doing with that com- ing, how can we
pared to the two decide lengthening
school days will
million minutes of a
student in China? This work?
will be their competi-
tion once the gradua-
tion gown is packed
away.
Voices: The above Voices volunteers are regular
contributors to this forum.
Linda Croupe of Mesquite: I believe in working
smarter, not harder. Forcing students to remain in
school longer does not guarantee they will learn any-
more than they do now. The focus should be on train-
ing and retaining strong, charismatic, and effective
teachers.
Kathy Minde of Richardson: No, students should
not be required to spend more instruction time at
school. We expect our students to be “well-rounded,”
which means they need time for school related extra-
curricular activities as well as church, jobs, service ac-
tivities, and just time to chill.
Janice Byrd of McKinney: I really like the idea of a
“year-round” school where you have eight weeks on
and three weeks off all through the year. It gives every-
one needed breaks long enough to be restful but not
so long that the kids forget what they just learned.
S
ome days, I wonder just what planet I
live on, but then I realize that it’s just
Texas. Now that I have a son in high
school, I’m finding out that there are all sorts
of traditions that bear no resemblance to
those of my small-town Kansas homecoming
experience.
My latest adventure began with a late-
night quest for the mythical Homecoming
Mum. I thought I had struck the jackpot
when I found a pre-made one for the low, low
price of…(insert choking sound here) … $75.
But I couldn’t wrap my head around the
concept of paying someone else to glue-gun
and staple loads of streamers, crappy-do
ornaments, and curled ribbons onto what can
only be described as an overly festooned
rosette.
I was informed that even if you got the
pre-made mum, you are expected to add lots
of other stuff to personalize it. Apparently, the
bigger the mum, the more you are loved. And
because Texans like everything big, these
things have taken on ridiculous proportions.
In fact, I was given an important piece of
advice … put a necklace on it so it doesn’t rip
WILLIAM “BUBBA” FLINT/Special Contributor
the girl’s clothing. Yep, they’re that big.
And it’s not just for the girls. The boys have
their own, albeit smaller, mum to wear on
their arms.
Because I’m a crafty gal when I want to be,
I plunked down $43 and took my booty home
to create what I thought would be the ugliest,
most gaudy piece of fluff imaginable — in
other words, perfect. A true piece of Texas art.
I’m all for traditions. I just find that spend-
ing upwards of $200 on an overgrown plastic
chrysanthemum festooned with 3-foot long
streamers and teddy bears is rather egregious.
I’m grateful that I didn’t grow up with this
particular tradition. As the youngest of eight
in a poor farming family, we didn’t have mon-
ey to lavish on many extras. Granted, I prob-
I began to wonder at the stress I had just
put on myself. A big part of it was because I
didn’t want to disappoint my son, who was
really excited to give it to his girlfriend. Be-
cause this was important to him, it was im-
portant to me.
Still, I constantly espouse the concept that
we are all one, that what happens to a part
affects the whole, and that everyone has a
value that is beyond measure. So why was I
curling golden ribbon into ringlets and stuff-
ing the mum full of bling just so my son
wouldn’t feel left out?
I guess that goes to show you how easy it is
to get caught up in the fever pitch of the mass-
es, especially if it involves your children. And
next year, I’ll plan ahead. I hear they have a
whole store in Plano dedicated to these
mums. Ah, Texas … gotta love it!
Beverly Biehl of Frisco runs a
interior decorating and feng
shui consulting business.
Her e-mail address is Beverly
@TheIntuitive Interior.com.

Cynthia Stock of Garland: Students who perform

well in school will do so regardless of the time spent
there. Those not committed to education will find
Embracing my inner German
ways to fritter away the extra time.

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receive the weekly Sounding Off question. To be added
to the e-mail list, send your full contact information to
communityopinions@dallasnews.com.
RAISE YOUR VOICE
We are accepting applications for Community
Voices, a panel of volunteer columnists who will be
regular contributors to the Opinions page inside
the Metro section.
Apply in four easy steps:
1. Write a little about yourself and put together a
list of current and previous civic involvements.
How would others in the com-
munity describe you? What is
unique about your background
and experience? Why should we
choose you?
2. Share a previous writing
sample or write something new
on a current topic. A writing sam-
ple should be 600-650 words.
3. Jot down three other topics you would like to
write about.
4. E-mail the entry to voices@dallas news.com.
Include your address and phone number. Dead-
line: 4 p.m. tomorrow.
“I
’m half Irish, one-quarter French, and
one-quarter Swedish. What are you?”
“I’m German.”
“What else?”
“Just German. That’s all.”
This conversation as a child with a
classmate always made me feel like my
heritage was well, boring — to be one thing
and one thing alone. Being able to list a
mixture of ethnicities was fascinating to me
as a child.
Lately, however, I’ve come to realize that,
in the wonderful melting pot of the U.S.,
being 100 percent something is becoming
rarer. Thus, I no longer think my singular
heritage is boring, but unique.
Last weekend I braided my hair, put on
my “got gemütlichkeit” T-shirt and attended
the McKinney Oktoberfest to celebrate my
heritage. The polka-dancing demonstration
was outstanding, with charming steps and
ornate costumes.
The announcer explained the men
slapping themselves in a dance was to
impress the women. Looked painful to me. In
the dance entitled, “How the women take
care of their men,” my favorite, the woman
became the authority, scolding the man into
submission on his knees at one point. As the
men danced, beads of sweat rolled under
their tasseled green felt hats, and the ladies
likely welcomed the air flow as they twirled
their lovely red skirts adorned with green
Oktoberfest is about more
than just beer, says Laurie
Lynn Lindemeier
aprons.
My experience was only dampened by the
behavior of the pedestrians who strolled
through the dance area. Had it been roped off
or even orange-coned, or perhaps an actual
portable dance floor provided, the situation
might have been averted.
A similar interruption of polka-dancing
happened at the Addison Oktoberfest with
folks often stumbling onto the wooden dance
floor with beer steins in hand despite the
repeated requests of the announcer and the
polite guidance of the policemen. Could the
influence of too many barley pops (my
grandfather’s name for beer) possibly have
altered some would-be German’s ability to
follow simple guidelines?
The heavy promotion of profitable beer
and wine at these festivals obscures the other
lovely German customs on display. The small
booths of traditional clothing, crafts and food
vendors were far surpassed by the numerous
beer and wine counters. Ah, the American
way to profit — drinking up the dollars.
At the Addison festival, the heavy sour
smell of beer was overpowering. Still,
German bands with their traditional
accordions were delightful, and the
policemen made valiant efforts to control the
boisterous crowds.
All that German blood running in my
veins and the time I spent in Germany as a
nanny makes me overly protective of the
lovely polka folk dance. I had hoped to polka
at the Addison celebration without beer
being spilled on me or observe the Tanz
(dance) in McKinney without 30 people
ambling through, giving new meaning to the
folk song “I love to go a-wandering.”
You may say, “Don’t cry over spilled beer,”
and yes, I may whine a bit about disorderly
crowds, but, nonetheless, I will continue to
attend Oktoberfests, search out the wurst,
sauerkraut, pretzels and apple strudel, and
hear a “she’s too fat for me” polka with great
love for Deutschland, my German fatherland.
I hope every American searches for ways to
embrace his or her cultural heritage, to add to
the richness of what it means to be American.
Ja, ja, I am 100 percent German heritage
and all-American, and as my father would
have said in his low German dialect, “Alles
gut.”
Laurie Lynn Lindemeier of
McKinney is a voice and
piano teacher and part-time
elementary school front
office worker. She is also a
Community Voices
volunteer columnist. Her e-mail address is
lindemeier-rickard@sbcglobal.net.

HOW TO SEND A LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Letters should be 200 words or fewer and include the writer’s name, address and phone number for verification purposes. Only the name and city of the writer will be published. Letters will be edited
for length, clarity and style. Send by e-mail: communityopinions@dallasnews.com. By Fax: 972-263-0456. Or by Mail: P.O. Box 655237, Dallas, Texas 75265. For more information, contact
Michael Landauer, assistant editorial page editor for Community Opinions, at 214-977-8258 or mlandauer@dallasnews.com.

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12B Sunday, October 11, 2009 E dallasnews.com The Dallas Morning News

Community opinions A forum for readers in Collin, Dallas and Rockwall counties

SOUNDING OFF
Comment on the following topic on our
blog: dallasnews.com/opinionblog.
Do you trust your city hall to
prevent the kind of corruption
involving developers that was
exposed in the federal trial in
Dallas?
Jerry Walters
Retired police officer,
Irving
City hall is limited by
political consider-
ations and private
concerns in prevent-
ing public corruption,
even if it tried.
Power and influential
ways have and always
will breed corruption.
Public scrutiny and
constant vigilance by
law enforcement are
the preventive tools
that we must contin-
ue to use.
Parents: Stress school more
Education is no longer job only for students, says Keturah Stewart
W
hen I was a kid, carefree and me and you.” academics: “I’m sorry he didn’t do his home-
oblivious to the growing pains At home, I would sit at our kitchen table, work. He had football last night, and we really
ahead, I was taught that school forever groaning and complaining about not didn’t have time to sit down and do it.” Really?
was my responsibility. Getting an education wanting to do it, and my mom made me sit
was my priority above everything else. I there until it was done. If I truly needed help, I
Please tell me you’re joking. Football, drill
team, cheerleading, karate, chess club, piano —
didn’t know how easy I had it. had it. I was encouraged to study and take care whatever — should always take the back seat
While in school, I had the privilege of of my business. when it comes to your education.
playing soccer and softball, being on the drill Going to school was the only “business” I I am not that old. It has only been 13 years
team and in the orchestra, etc. However, if I had. since I was in elementary school. What has
wasn’t taking care of my And while I was at school, going to the clinic happened?
responsibilities, those because I didn’t feel like doing my work in class If kids have changed so much in just 13
privileges were taken away, was not an option. I was told, “Girl, if I have to years, what will it be like in 20? If it’s true that
no matter how much money leave my job to come get you, and you are not “kids are the future,” should we be afraid?
Faith Davis Johnson my mother spent to enroll really sick, you’ll wish you were sick when I get Something needs to change.
Eighth-grade U.S. me in the activity. done with you.” Unless teachers get support from home, we
Studies teacher, John I was taught to always As a teacher, I have found that the stan- have to spend our time teaching students to
B. Hood Middle respect adults, even if I dards I was held to no longer apply to the respect themselves, to respect each other and
School, Dallas didn’t agree with them. If I majority of students. They are no longer held to respect adults. Without support from home,
Voices was being treated in a way accountable for their academics or behavior.
I do believe city hall is it’s up to us to teach students that being educat-
Teacher that I thought was unfair, I Excuses are always made for children’s behav- ed increases their chances of being successful.
on the right track. The
mayor and City Coun- could express my concern, ior instead of making them responsible for If more people would instill these qualities
cil members seem to but always with respect. their choices. in their children maybe, just maybe, we could
work well together At school, I was held accountable for I’ve heard students speak to teachers, my- spend more time teaching academics.
and appear to have every action, good or bad. When grades self included, in ways I would never even speak
the best interests of came home, I was either praised or ques- to a peer. Kids seem to be more defiant. I won- Keturah Stewart teaches
the citizens of Dallas tioned. “What were you doing while your der daily if they talk to their parents the way kindergarten at Don Achziger
in mind. The renova-
teacher was teaching this lesson? … Were they talk to us. When asked to do something at Elementary in the Mesquite
tions in the Arts
you listening? … Did you tell your teacher home, do they say, “No, I don’t want to,” or, ISD. She is also a Teacher
District are an in-
dicator that funding is
that you didn’t understand? … Girl, you “You can’t make me”? Voices volunteer columnist.
better get your act together, or it’s going to be I have heard every excuse when it comes to Her e-mail address is keturah.stewart@gmail-
being aligned in the
.com.
appropriate places.

Peggy vanWunnik Candace S. McAfee

Volunteering for more than a T-shirt
Administrative
assistant, DeSoto
12th-grade A.P. U.S.
Government teacher, Ask questions. Find your cause. Work your heart out, says Hanna Jacunski
Skyline Center, Dallas

I do trust my city hall
to prevent that kind I think Mayor Tom
of corruption. DeSoto Leppert has some
council members good ideas about
represent all citizens, accountability and
not just residents of a ethical standards. I
particular district. trust him, but the
claims of innocence
when they have you
on tape are unbeliev-
able. Do they think we
are stupid?
Voices: The above Voices volunteers are regular
contributors to this forum.
Jeff Fortney Sr. of Plano: The practices exposed
at the Don Hill trial have been winked at for years at
city halls across the country. The ease with which
this can occur just heightens the temptation. Let’s
not forget that the definition of ethics often changes
for elected officials — and for some, Hill did nothing
wrong — because of that different definition.
Joe Benik of Allen: Unfortunately not. Develop-
ers are such an overwhelming force in local politics
that it’s difficult for elected officials, even those who
are honest, to stand up to them. The amount of
money it takes to buy and sell local pols is but a drop
in the bucket for these big developers, and I’m actu-
ally surprised that we don’t hear of this more often. I
expect that part of the reason is that in many cases,
everybody keeps their mouths shut.
Ronald Paris of McKinney: I do trust my city offi-
cials for one reason. Because of the Dallas scandal,
they know they are under a microscope to do the
right thing.
Judith Maibie of Garland: I’d wager that most of
us voters don’t pay enough attention to the workings
of government at the local levels unless we have
I
t’s not about the T-shirt. It’s about the
cause. This is the first rule of volun-
teering.
If you are signing up with any thought
about a T-shirt, then stop right where you are.
Can you explain what the cause is? Why are
funds being raised? What is the point of this
event? If you don’t know, you need to do your
homework.
One of my pet peeves is volunteers who go
just for the hours. The
National Honor Society
chapters at various schools
are often filled with kids
who signed up just to put it
on a resume. At events,
they are lethargic and
unenthusiastic. This has
always bothered me.
Voices Should it count if you
Student don’t care?
I applaud those who
throw their hearts into their work. They
inspire and move me to do more with my life.
But more and more, they are rare in volun-
teering circles.
The second rule of volunteering comes in
the form of a quote by minister and writer
Clarence E. Hodges: “I have been the recipi-
ent of love and service, therefore I can love
From machines to ministers
You learn what supports you when you’re sick, says Ed Sizemore
and serve. There is great satisfaction in ser-
vice to others, in seeing people and their
conditions change.”
This I believe: Volunteering any amount of
time at any function is one of the most satis-
fying feelings. I truly think that if more people
give it a try, they will come back for more.
My friends and I help at events like the
Make-a-Wish-100 bike ride and the Leuke-
mia and Lymphoma Society’s Team in Train-
ing, and always want to sign up for whatever
the next function is. These experiences give a
rush of satisfaction and a wave of good karma
that are infectious and addictive. I want to
bottle up this feeling and save it for a rainy
day.
A great example is Living for Zachary. L4Z
is a nonprofit organization formed after the
tragic loss of Clark High School sophomore
Zac Schrah to sudden cardiac arrest. The
organization promotes voluntary heart
screening and education, and it advocates
passage of legislation to require heart screen-
ing in student physicals.
This group is largely made up of students
who were very close to Zac, students who
have been able to turn a devastating loss into
a chance to help and possibly save others. The
students involved in this give me hope that
the term “high schooler” might not have such
a negative, lazy connotation for too much
longer.
This gusto for the cause is exactly what I
love being a part of. I wish that I could share
this feeling with everyone.
And that brings me to the third rule for
volunteering: forward movement. Author
and professor Jon Naisbitt defines leadership
as “finding a parade and getting in front of it.”
Find a cause you believe in, and then find
people who will support that cause with you.
Every cause needs a work force. Smiling
faces, helping hands, runners, walkers, fun-
draisers, managers. If more students would
lend able bodies and willing minds, success
rates of fundraisers would go through the
roof.
No more sitting around, no whining, no
lip service from the high school helpers. We
must supply a willingness to help, a strong
work ethic and leadership. But most impor-
tant, we must express a sincere belief in the
cause, not the T-shirt.
Hanna Jacunski is a junior at
Plano East Senior High
School and a Student Voices
volunteer columnist. To
respond to this column, send
an e-mail to voices@dallasnews.com.

good code and law enforcement, along with investi-
gative journalism, in operation to root out the cor-
ruption and publicize it.
Marybeth Mank of Mesquite: I do trust the Mes-
quite City Hall to prevent corruption. We have a
great mayor in John Monaco, and he is making
some great changes in our city. I strongly believe
that he has Mesquite’s best interests at heart and is
great at leading the City Council members to pre-
vent shenanigans, such as those in Dallas, from oc-
curring in Mesquite.
Marc Murray of Allen: I don’t believe you can pre-
vent the human nature of greed.
Scott D. Goebel of Plano: As long as there is hu-
manity, there will be corruption. Having said that, I
believe Plano city hall currently has the finest repre-
sentatives anywhere — and they have earned our
trust.
Bob McIver of Garland: I trust the Garland city
hall and council to not have corruption. I believe
they have controls in place to prevent it.
T
he ordeal began on May 8. I under-
went quadruple coronary bypass
surgery. By August I had had four
major surgeries, the last being a “muscle flap”
and skin graft to repair the
wound in my chest from
the bypass. In the process,
I lost my sternum (breast
bone). After almost five
months in the hospital, I
came home just a few days
ago, on Oct. 1.
What did I learn from
Voices this ordeal? I did not, as
Community
many others have, find that
my faith in God had been enhanced. It was
strong enough all along. However, there
were several factors that helped me survive
this five-month-long ordeal.
There was a great deal of highly sophis-
ticated equipment. The first operating room
had about $3 million worth of lighting,
computers, a bypass machine and other
equipment. Another factor is the staff —
doctors, nurses, techs and various therapists.
Leaving the hospital setting now, I must
acknowledge that I had a large support
group. I had the love and prayers of family
and friends, including Christians, Jews,
Messianic Jews and even a few Muslims, in
the U.S., Canada, Europe and possibly else-
where. It was a great comfort to know that
so many people cared enough to send cards,
make phone calls, visit and lift me up in
prayer.
I will leave to others the argument as to
whether the effects of prayer are divine or
psychological; I will say only that they did
help and that I appreciate them.
I owe a great debt of gratitude to my wife,
Barbara. This ordeal has been very rough on
her as well. She kept things going at home,
called frequently, visited when she could and
constantly loved me, even when I was not so
lovable (rather often, I must confess).
Another important factor is our pastor,
Mike Waits, a Southern Baptist minister (I
am Jewish and Barbara is Episcopalian, but
Mike officiated at our wedding, and he
continues to offer good counsel). Mike sug-
gested that I made it through all this because
I do not know how to give up. Perhaps so,
but Barbara puts it in simpler terms — I am
a tough old bastard.
L. Edward Sizemore of
McKinney works in sales
and is a Community Voices
volunteer columnist. His
e-mail address is
ed3332@msn.com.

SIGN UP Get other voices columns from across North Texas and add your
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to receive the weekly Sounding Off question. To be own comments.
added to the e-mail list, send your full contact infor-
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HOW TO SEND A LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Letters should be 200 words or fewer and include the writer’s name, address and phone number for verification purposes. Only the name and city of the writer will be published. Letters will be edited
for length, clarity and style. Send by e-mail: communityopinions@dallasnews.com. By Fax: 972-263-0456. Or by Mail: P.O. Box 655237, Dallas, Texas 75265. For more information, contact
Michael Landauer, assistant editorial page editor for Community Opinions, at 214-977-8258 or mlandauer@dallasnews.com.

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Community opinions A forum for readers in Collin, Dallas and Rockwall counties

SOUNDING OFF
Comment on the following topic on our
blog: dallasnews.com/opinionblog.
What North Texas politician do
you trust the most?
Reality vs. California dreams
I’ve learned to appreciate job
security and a sound economy,
says Darrin Swartz-Larson
worn-down self. We had moved back to our
home state after nearly a decade in Texas,
and, with each passing month, we seemed to
be further and further from where we
wanted to be at this point in our lives.
You can’t see rip currents when you wade
into the ocean. Everything looks fine, like any
other day at the beach. But if you get caught
in one, you suddenly feel your feet losing
their grip on the gravelly sand and your body

A
bout halfway through our year in Up until then, each move seemed to walk being sucked out to sea by a powerful force
California, I saw a body floating in us forward on life’s path: apartment to first that can swallow you and drown you quickly,
the waves near the beach a few house — an old bungalow down the coast especially if you fight it. The way to survive,
blocks from our house. The waves were from San Francisco with indoor-outdoor they say, is to swim parallel to the shore until
gently carrying the man toward the shallow carpet in the kitchen — to our nearly new you’re out of the undertow and can make
water and then pulling him back out place in El Paso with incredible views of the your way back to land.
Connor Mighell Beverly Biehl beyond the rescuers’ reach, over and over Franklin Mountains, to our large, modern The water looked fine when we decided to
Junior, Cambridge Feng Shui consultant, again. Apparently he had been dragged out house on a double fairway in McKinney, move back to California — a little choppy, but
School of Dallas Frisco to sea by a rip current. where we sank our roots deep into the Texas not dangerous. We jumped in and swam out
I’ve known Frisco I stood on the bluff watching the prairie. a bit, and before we knew it, we were far from
Rep. Jeb Hensarling’s
strong stand on Mayor Maher Maso firemen try to pull him from the surf. It When we first walked into the place we the shore. No matter how hard we tried, we
cutting government for years prior to his didn’t feel right to just walk away, as if it rented in California’s Half Moon Bay last just kept getting pulled further and further
earmarks and election, and he’s a didn’t matter that someone was slipping July, we tried to be upbeat. This was a out. Somehow we remembered to swim
lowering taxes for all savvy politician who away from his life. People paused all along voluntary move, after all — a promotion for parallel to the shore.
citizens has certainly knows how to get the bluff, quietly trying to figure out what me and a chance to be near family and My wife finally landed a part-time job, we
earned my respect. what our city needs. happened. There was a surf kite, the
The man’s friends again. We laughed about the rented out our house in Texas, and we
He does not get surfboard that goes with it and a small pile
commitment to our dorm-sized rooms, opened the windows to squeezed our budget even tighter to stay
involved in of his things on the beach — his keys and
extraneous matters, city’s tax base while let out the funky, stale smell, and started to afloat.
promoting wallet, perhaps, things that would soon be settle in. We made our way back to shore in late
but stays focused on
family-friendly called “personal effects” and handed to We knew it would be an adjustment to July, arriving in Texas exhausted and grateful
eliminating
unnecessary and activities is amazing. someone with a heavy heart. scale back our lifestyle, but we didn’t know for another chance at the Lone Star life. We
irrational spending. A special beach rescue team eventually the U.S. economy would tank at the same were finally — finally — back on our path
arrived and pulled him to the shore, but it time, leaving us with an unsold house in and back with friends who never once made
was too late. A T-shirt used as a pillow Texas, a derailed career for my wife and us feel foolish for trying the California dream
during the mouth-to-mouth attempts was public schools for our daughter that were one more time.
placed lightly on his face, and the people on more pink slip than blue ribbon.
the bluff slowly started to move on, the vigil Whatever had been propelling us along Darrin Swartz-Larson of
over. our path seemed to downshift, sputter and McKinney is a former
I had been walking by the beach that stall at the western edge of our world. By the Community Voices volunteer
Art Fleming Nancy L. Ruder day hoping to feel something in the ocean’s columnist. His e-mail address
IT systems engineer, Preschool and art
time I saw the body floating in the Pacific
crash and whisper, its eternal rhythm, that late winter day, I was wondering if we’d is darrinslarson@sbcglobal.
Double Oak teacher, Plano which would ease my worried and net.
ever get our lives back on track.
Even though I am not I wouldn’t let any of
a Dallas resident, I them watch my purse
listen to Angela Hunt. while I went to the
I know that she is ladies room. State
controversial, but I
truly believe that she
has the best interest
of the city and its
Sen. Florence Shapiro
has earned my
respect, though. She
is a tireless worker for
Playing ‘rock, paper, scissors’
residents at her core. the children of Texas.
It’s more than a game. It’s a fun class who does an errand for the teacher if two disputes. Another fifth grade teacher and I
students volunteer? “Rock, paper, scissors.” were standing in the hall when another
way to decide, says Jeri At the end of one school year, a parent sent teacher approached with an attractive black
Voices: The above Voices volunteers are regular
contributors to this forum. Chambers of Plano me a gracious letter complimenting our jacket. It seems that she was cleaning out her
school for the way the children interacted on closet, no longer wanted it and thought one of
Rock, paper, scissors.
Field Day. Evidently, he witnessed a heated us might. We both wanted it.
Sallie Henry of Frisco: I trust Sam Johnson One of the fascinating behaviors of
discussion between two students over who We first decided to see who it fit better.
more than any other North Texas politician, but I children is their ability to mediate and solve
got the ball next. There they went, back to That choice was inconclusive; it looked great
do not totally trust him. My daddy always told us their own conflicts. At our neighborhood
back, “rock, paper, scissors — shoot.” He on both of us. We decided to solve it the “rock,
when he asked us a question, he wanted the truth, school, for example, the
appreciated the climate that allowed students paper, scissors” way. When the stakes are
the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I rarely physical education
to take ownership of their conflicts without high, one game is not sufficient; best two out
feel I’m getting that from any politician, especially department models one
adult interference, and he longed for that of three is preferred. I lost this one, too.
the ones in North Texas. very effective strategy:
same collegiality with adults. The odd thing is that losing this game is no
“rock, paper, scissors.”
Jeff Fortney Sr. of Plano: The only person I Years ago, my husband and I used “rock, big deal. Sure, there’s disappointment, and I
Most people are familiar
trust serving in City Halls today is the unnamed paper, scissors” to decide whose turn it was to have witnessed losers proposing best three
with the game. At our
Elected Official. The one who you don’t read about change diapers. We have even used it to out of four or four out of five. But in the end
school, if students can’t
in the papers, whose sole ambition is to serve those decide who takes the dog out. the conflict is resolved, and players move on
Voices decide who won a close
who voted for them, and one who isn’t consumed Recently, a friend and I were trying to their happy way.
game or need to decide a
with the next election or the next highest office. Teacher decide who should pick up for carpool late I must admit, though, I still covet that
dispute, they immediately
They are out there, somewhere. I just can’t name one night. While on the phone, I suggested jacket.
stand back to back and put out a hand, palm
one. that we play “rock, paper, scissors.” The first
up, and go through the drill: “rock, paper,
time, we both had paper — a tie, and a Jeri Chambers teaches fifth
Bob McCullough of Allen: Probably the only scissors — shoot” to see who wins.
do-over. After recommitting to honesty, we grade in Plano and is a Teacher
politician I would trust is the one who I vastly differ What makes the process fascinating is how Voices volunteer columnist.
did it again. I got paper. She got scissors. I got
with politically. Laura Miller has spent a good ma- it translates beyond the gym. At recess, who Her e-mail address is
carpool.
jority of her life rooting out corrupt practices when gets the swing first? Rock, paper scissors. In jericham@yahoo.com.
I’ve even used it to determine more serious
she was with the Dallas Observer. Political views
aside, if she found my wallet, I can bet my bottom
dollar she would get it returned to me.
LETTERS
Ronald Paris of McKinney: The North Texas
politician I trust the most is Florence Shapiro. She Children need accountability
was my high school speech teacher, and all educa-
tors can look to her for how to lead by example. Re: “Parents: Stress school more — Educa-
tion is no longer job only for students, says
Stephen D. Spotswood of Plano: I wouldn’t Keturah Stewart,” last Sunday Teacher Voices
trust a Texas politician any further than a camel can column.
spit on a Texas sidewalk. I, like Stewart, think being held account-
Fred Yarbrough of Frisco: The most trusted able for every action is the way to teach a child
North Texas politician has to be Sam Johnson be- responsibility. My son has been teaching for
cause he does absolutely nothing. more than 15 years, and as each year passes, it
is more difficult for him to find hope for the
Prissy Wisnewski of Plano: I trust Carol Kent, students and their futures.
who was just elected in November 2008 to serve as The word I keep hearing is “defiant.” The
the state representative for District 102. She is a big students have little or no respect for teachers,
supporter and volunteer of public education, and parents, each other and themselves. No
all three of her kids graduated from public school. teacher should be disrespected. I fear parents
Toni Andrukaitis of McKinney: We have a new, have lost control, because they are more inter-
active mayor in McKinney. He is very involved in all ested in pleasing the child and having the
aspects of city politics and charities as well as cul- child like them. It starts young. I see little kids
tural and social activities around town. Mayor Bri- talking back to their parents daily as the par-
an Loughmiller is doing a great job. I trust him im- ents try to bargain, plead or beg to try to gain
plicitly. control.
Parents make excuses constantly why their
Marc Murray of Allen: None. I believe they all child is out of control and unable to do what is
have their own self-serving agendas to different de- expected. I told my sons if they got in trouble
grees. They are beholden only to lobbies, PACs and in school, they were in big trouble at home. WILLIAM “BUBBA” FLINT/Special Contributor
personal gain. Without parent support, it is hard to see
Scott D. Goebel of Plano: Former Plano Mayor how the business of education can succeed. The children of today will be the leaders of We looked for the recycling bins to dispose of
Pat Evans was the most trustworthy politician on School administrations and teachers are now tomorrow, and unless parents are willing to them properly but found none. If we are sup-
the planet. Whatever she said you could take to the held hostage to the demands of these overpro- make education a priority, the future is to be posed to be and teach our children to be
bank. When voters disapproved of something, she tective helicopter parents. feared. earth-friendly, where are the city’s recycling
changed direction to truly represent Plano. Education is the key to a successful life in Joanna Harkins, Fairview bins? We picked up the littered recyclables
business and living in the real world. The and disposed them at our neighborhood Wal-
SIGN UP dumbing down of education to meet the Mart in McKinney instead.
needs of those who do not want to learn weak- Where are the recycling bins? Please provide more recycling in parks and
These responses are from readers who have asked
to receive the weekly Sounding Off question. To be ens society and the education system as a My kids, ages 5 and 3, went to Celebration common places so that we may keep our earth
added to the e-mail list, send your full contact infor- whole. I applaud teachers, and I appreciate all Park in Allen recently. We saw the ground lit- clean the way it has been given to us.
mation to communityopinions@dallasnews.com. your hard work in the classroom. tered with aluminum cans and plastic bottles. Catherine Casterline, Anna

HOW TO SEND A LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Letters should be 200 words or fewer and include the writer’s name, address and phone number for verification purposes. Only the name and city of the writer will be published. Letters will be edited
for length, clarity and style. Send by e-mail: communityopinions@dallasnews.com. By Fax: 972-263-0456. Or by Mail: P.O. Box 655237, Dallas, Texas 75265. For more information, contact
Michael Landauer, assistant editorial page editor for Community Opinions, at 214-977-8258 or mlandauer@dallasnews.com.

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Community opinions
We asked our Teacher Voices …
How do you know a student will be successful?
Kim Barnes | Head of Early Childhood, Greenhill
School, Addison — Sometimes there is a spark.
Sometimes there is an attitude. Sometimes there
is a demonstration. Often, the student is a
problem-solver. A student who takes a failure or
mistake in stride and devises a solution that will move him or her
forward will succeed with the situation at hand or in the future.
Students who present perseverance and creativity as they solve a
problem become students who can see varied facets of an issue.
These problem-solvers engage others either to reflect ideas or to
solicit physical help or brainpower. Reflection plays a big part in
these students’ lives as they seem to constantly build on the
challenges they have conquered or even at which they have failed.
Faith Davis Johnson | Eighth-grade U.S.
Studies teacher, John B. Hood Middle School,
Dallas — You know that students are on the path
to success when you give an assignment, and
they go a step further. For example, if the
assignment is to be handwritten, the student types it instead. Or if
you’ve given the student a task to complete based on a lecture in
class, and he or she includes analysis on a concept you haven’t
covered yet — and it’s right on target. You know when they ask
you to write letters of recommendation and then promptly
follow up in writing, complete with an advanced “thank you.”
You know when students remember what you have taught
— and then use the same method to share with others what
they learned from you.
Tim Greenwell | Freshmen World Geography
teacher, Flower Mound High School, Lewisville
ISD — Students will be successful when they are
aware of their capabilities and limitations and
work to move forward beyond those
self-recognized levels. You can see it in their body language, hear
it in their voices and experience it by the confidence they exude.
Likewise, if these traits are lacking, it does not always mean they
are shy but rather do not necessarily possess a strong enough
sense of self-awareness. It should also be noted that being an
overachiever or a suck-up does not equal success. Success
requires initiative and effort, focus and drive, responsibility and
commitment.
We asked our Student Voices …
What makes a teacher effective and memorable?
Michelle Vongkeo Ashmore | Senior, Royse City
High School — More often than not, great
teachers pay attention to their student’s daily
lives. Most think it strange that I have some of
my teachers’ private phone numbers, but it’s not
only for convenience. It’s for when I need help with my own
personal problems or want to let them know about fantastic news.
When I read my e-mail telling me that I was going to be a Voices
columnist, the very first person I told was my teacher, Mrs.
Krumnow. If teachers are able to gain the confidence in their
students as people, they gain it also as teachers. To those select
few do we students reserve our greatest efforts.
Alexandria Hudson | Senior, Rockwall
High School — I have had my fair
share of hateful, grouchy, pompous
teachers. But for the past four
years of high school, my lively,
encouraging, creative English teachers have
been the highlight of my school day — mainly
because they have treated me with respect. My
junior year especially, I felt like Mrs. Melissa
Nelson managed to balance classroom
management with friendship and a genuine
interest in my life. Good teachers will drop
everything to help you when you struggle. She
showed that she wasn’t at school just to make money.
She took what was required to be taught in AP English
III and showed us how it would apply to everyday life. Good
teachers teach for the future.
Brennan Tanksley | Senior, McKinney Boyd High
School — Out of all the unforgettable attributes
my teachers have had, only one seems to stand
out as a dominant factor: the ability to transcend
the professional bounds that so many teachers
have grown accustomed to. Through compassion and
understanding, my best teachers were able to secure their places
in each student’s memory forever. Without this uncommon
personal factor, school begins to feel more like an obligation than
the privilege that it is. The ability to build relationships with
students and become more than just a teacher in the eyes of their
pupils permanently engraves them in their students’ minds. That
ability, above all others, is what makes teachers able to effectively
do their jobs while securing their place in each student’s life for
years to come.
HOW TO SEND A LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Letters should be 200 words or fewer and include the writer’s name, address and phone number for verification purposes. Only the name and city of the writer will be published. Letters will be edited
for length, clarity and style. Send by e-mail: communityopinions@dallasnews.com. By Fax: 972-263-0456. Or by Mail: P.O. Box 655237, Dallas, Texas 75265. For more information, contact
Michael Landauer, assistant editorial page editor for Community Opinions, at 214-977-8258 or mlandauer@dallasnews.com.
B1025EB008PQ
B1025EB008PB
A forum for readers in Collin, Dallas and Rockwall counties
Kathleen Krumnow | English teacher, Royse City
High School — I know a student will be
successful when I get support from his or her
parents. Too often, parents tend to set their
high-school kids free. Free from attending “Meet
the Teacher Night,” free from checking report cards, free from
curfews and, as a result, free from accountability. When these kids
reach adulthood and actual freedom, they will not have the
required foundation to take care of themselves. So, when a parent
calls or e-mails me just to check on a child, I
think, “Lucky kid. You will know what true
freedom means.”
WILLIAM “BUBBA”
FLINT/Special
Contributor
Sandy Kulkarni | Chemistry teacher, Allen High
School — What is real education? I don’t think it
is merely getting good grades, but it is mainly
about learning skills to apply that knowledge to
our real lives. While teaching, when I hear
questions like “why” and “how” from a student, I sense that the
student is intellectually stimulated. Those unexpected curious
questions signal presence of a vision. They tell me that students
are able to relate what they learned with practical cases. I notice
that successful students have a goal in their mind and vision for
the future. What they need is simply building an action plan. If
teachers provide them with an insight, I can see “success”
marching with those students.
Brian Brown | Senior, Plano West Senior High
School — A good teacher is someone who shows
he or she cares. Someone who wants to see you
succeed. Someone who knows your name after
the first day. These teachers are not there just to
teach, but also to help you learn. If you can’t learn something the
way they are teaching it, they’ll take the time to make sure you do
more than just know it; you understand it. They’ll come early and
stay late if that’s what it takes to help you. They will not only be
able to, but they want to engage in a conversation with you. Good
teachers are people I can talk to about anything. People I trust.
Teaching isn’t their
job; it’s their
passion. It’s what
they were born to do.
Avery Hurst | Senior, J.J. Pearce High School,
Richardson — My favorite teachers have been the
ones who truly get to know each individual child.
If you are just a student at a desk, there is no way
to connect with what your teacher is saying. If a
teacher becomes a “friend” with his or her students, it becomes a
better level for them both to learn on. It is also effective if the
teachers don’t feel the need to “stoop down” to their students’
level. If students feel like we are being talked down to, it makes us
want to rebel more against anything they want us to do. If we are
treated as an individual on the same level as our teachers, we are
more likely to live our lives as learners.
B8 E 10-25-2009 Set: 17:18:10
Sent by: nhoy News
The Dallas Morning News
Jeri L. Chambers | Fifth-grade teacher, Plano —
Knowing a student will be successful comes
down to one word: belief. It starts with the
parents. Parents who have an unbridled belief
that their child can and will succeed are the
foundation. The next step comes from the student. Students who
believe that they can do it, even if it means some work and
diligence, will find success and learn to leverage that success to
even greater success. The icing on the cake comes from the
teacher. A teacher can build confidence and belief in her students.
Faith in positive outcomes trumps curriculum and teaching
strategy any day. A smart child does not necessarily a successful
student make, but when a belief “team” is in place, the sky’s the
limit.
Karen Kimball | Substitute teacher, Richardson
ISD — Recently I substituted in a kindergarten
class. It was the third week of school, and one
student stood out: He entered the classroom, put
his things away, and sat down at his table to
complete his morning work. Throughout the day he listened,
followed directions and did his work carefully and correctly. He
was proud of his job as “door holder” and was always ready and in
place when the class left the room. He answered questions
correctly and creatively (not copying the answers of others). He
was polite, kind and friendly to students, and well-liked by
everyone. I may never see him again, but I am convinced he is well
on his way to success — in school and in life.
Mark R. Harrington | History teacher, Seagoville
High School — As a history teacher and a
historian, I’ve never given much import to the
writings of Nostradamus. Divining what is to
come has never been our strong suit. Similarly,
I’ve never given much credence to those who claim they help us
connect with our supposed past lives. Despite all our yearnings,
we have the here and now — no more. For these reasons I find it
hubristic to label a student. There are valedictorians living under
freeways. There are F students running successful companies. As
teachers, it is incumbent on us to provide opportunities for
success. We should leave the future in God’s hands — and maybe
the astrologers’.
Brianda Reyes | Senior, South Garland High
School — Teachers’ effectiveness is not measured
by the amount of homework they give every
night or how many students passed their class;
it’s measured by their passion for teaching. We
don’t remember the teacher who had pop quizzes all the time or
the one who always gave out reading assignments. We remember
the teacher who pulled us out after class to discuss why our grades
were so low, the teacher who stayed after school just a little longer
to help us learn the lesson thoroughly, the teacher who praised us
when we did something right and did not pick on us when we did
something wrong. We want — need — praise and remember the
teachers who are generous with their enthusiasm, their attention,
their care, their understanding.
Ana K. Molina Brea | Sophomore, Jasper High
School, Plano — Trying to overcome
bewilderment in the classroom can be like to
trying to find a four-leaf clover in a patch of
hundreds — after a while, people stop looking.
But Ms. Darden, my ninth-grade biology teacher, broke through
using the element of surprise. She would enthrall us in her
lectures about chloroplasts and ribonucleic acid with shocking
comments that made us laugh and kept us all ears, hanging on her
words. Maybe more teachers should teach with astounding style.
In the rare times when our interest started waning, Ms. Darden
always surprised us. Her flamboyant mneumonic devices aided us
on tests. Even a year later, I can recall all eight characteristics of
life, and I do not think that I will forget them anytime soon.
Sneha Raghunathan | Junior, Plano Senior High
School — A memorable teacher inspires students
to think out of the box. Rather than teaching
students rote facts, an effective teacher
encourages students to discover a subject by
themselves. An effective teacher also answers all her students’
questions, even if they are repetitive or obvious. She doesn’t mind
explaining things over and over again. The most memorable and
effective teachers know their students, and are able to adapt to
each student’s abilities. My most memorable teachers were the
ones who were always enthusiastic about teaching and made me
enthusiastic about the subject. Even if students already know the
subject, a good teacher finds a way to make the class learn
something new every day. And they do all of this while respecting
students and their intelligence.
BLACK
8B Sunday, October 4, 2009 W dallasnews.com The Dallas Morning News

Community opinions A forum for readers in Dallas, Denton and Tarrant counties

SOUNDING OFF
Comment on the following topic on our
blog: dallasnews.com/opinionblog.
Should students spend more time in
school? At what level of government
should the decision be made about
lengthening school days or adding
Small town nostalgia
My world was larger than in the big city, says Michael Hopkovitz
“Well, I was born in a small town. … Oh, We spent long days in the playground at you run across wet stones in a stream. That
those small communities.” the town park, or swimming in the public in a small town, the police know the parents
— Small Town, John Mellencamp pool. Sometimes, we would take our bamboo and address of a lost 5-year-old and will let
fishing poles to a pond and debate whether him run the siren on the way home.

more instruction days to the year?
Viviana Cruz
Junior, Newman
Smith High School,
Carrollton
Students should be
allowed to tailor their
days; some are better
suited in a classroom
and others in an
off-campus location
such as college-out
and internships.
Spending too much
time in school and not
getting real-world
experience holds us
back.
D
allas is my home now, but I was
born in a small Texas Hill Country
town, and spent much of my child-
hood there. My parents, eastern European
immigrant survivors of the Holocaust,
were hardly typical Texans, but our family
fit right into the Germanic/Hispanic
town’s character.
Tim Greenwell Our neighbors on one side had two boys
Freshmen World my age, Edward and Johnny, my constant
Geography teacher, companions. The lady who lived on the
Flower Mound High other side in a much larger house could
School, Lewisville ISD have been middle-aged, but to us, she was
A longer school day
a scary old lady. We never, ever went in her
would have to include yard, convinced that she was an evil witch
a different approach who would do terrible things to us.
than our current My house had big pecan trees in the
structure by provid- back yard. In season, we would collect
ing a balance be- nuts, take them “downtown” and sell them
tween something of for 5 cents a bag to everyone we could find.
strong interest to the This would provide plenty of money to go
students and some- to the fountain at the town dairy plant and
thing that is educa-
get whatever ice cream dish we wanted. Or
tionally sound.
we would take in a double feature at the
town’s only movie theater and sit in air-
conditioned comfort for an afternoon.
Superman or Aquaman could catch more
fish. Other times, we hung out at the Amer-
ican Legion Hall, where the retired veterans
would tell us war stories over their beers.
I also would “help out” at my father’s
small business, no doubt getting in his way.
My primary job was the twice-daily trips to
check the post office box. Fortunately Winns’
five and dime was right by the post office. I
could dawdle there for a long time, going
through complex mathematics of how I
could divide a nickel among the entire aisle
of penny items.
At night, our attention went to star-filled
skies unimpaired by light pollution and the
wondrous lightning bugs we would chase.
At the end of these long days of play, my
mom was always waiting for me, with freshly
baked treats to eat while she kissed away
whatever boo-boo’s I accumulated during
the day and listened to my adventures.
I also learned some unpleasant things.
About German immigrants who didn’t want
their kid playing with a Jew. That if you
throw rocks at a beehive, you get badly
stung. That you can fall and hit your head if
Eventually we moved to the big city. Our
new house had air conditioning, which beat
the heck out of our box fan at the old house,
but my days of taking off in the morning and
just going wherever I wanted had come to an
end. Too much traffic, too many people we
didn’t know, too many ways for me to come
to harm, and no pecan trees or fishing
ponds.
In our small town, I felt as free as the
wind. I cherish my memories of that time,
and every few years, I revisit the places of my
childhood. That small town is no longer
small, and my father’s old store is now one
antique shop among many. Perhaps that life
I experienced doesn’t exist anywhere except
in memories like mine. If so, that’s a shame.
Oh, those small communities.
Michael Hopkovitz of Dallas,
inside Denton County, volun-
teers with several Jewish
nonprofit groups and is a
Community Voices volunteer
columnist. His e-mail address is mikespolitics
@att.net.

Kim Barnes
Head of Early Child-
hood, Greenhill
Debbie Gallagher
Computer teacher,
Daniel Intermediate
The gift of hospice
School, Addison School, Duncanville
ISD
It’s a concept that eases the pain of dying, says Shirlene Lucy
The school day needs

I
to be re-evaluated The answer to im- f you had the option to know when you be at an inpatient facility such as a hospital, worry about finances at this critical time.
from a develop- proving our educa- are going to die, would you want to but most people opt to remain at home. A During my dad’s experience, I learned a
mental perspective tion system is not a know? definition of hospices would include the fact couple of very important things. If you are
instead of a time longer day or a longer Hospice is a concept that can come close to that they do not treat the patient medically, unhappy with a situation or a caregiver, call
perspective. Ensuring school year. The giving you that gift, so you can accomplish but only provide palliative care, meaning that the hospice office and ask for a manager or
strong programs that answer is really very
things before you die. Not the trips or the they keep the patient as comfortable as pos- other official. If the issue can’t be worked out,
spiral and challenge, simple — smaller
job-related things, but renewing old friend- sible until he or she passes away. you have the right to dismiss that hospice
yet allow children to classes. If all teachers
have a childhood, had 20 students or
ships, making things right between you and Here are some things I learned during my altogether and hire another one. Don’t be
might be a better fewer in their class- that estranged family member, telling your dad’s experience with hospice: timid if you think that is called for.
focus. While national rooms, so much more children you love them one more time, and First, to be placed in the care of hospice, Also, do not make sweeping promises to
guidelines and state could be accom- giving away your stuff in time to see the recip- the patient’s doctor has to certify that he or the patient. Instead, say that you promise that
input should be plished. I know this ients enjoy using it. I had a friend dying of she believes the patient is within six months you will make the very best decision under the
provided, school takes money, but if kidney cancer who wrote her own obituary. of dying; it doesn’t always happen that way, current circumstances that you can.
districts know their you want the answer, Hospice wasn’t even available in this however. Going on hospice is something we would
communities and that’s it. country 40 years ago. In 1842, Jeanne Gar- After the family contacts a hospice, a social all rather not think about. But if you ever
should be the ones
nier introduced the concept at Dames de worker visits the family wherever the patient obtain the services of one, you could learn
able to make best
Calaire in Lyon, France, having been inspired is. This person explains how hospice works that this can be one of the most compassion-
judgments.
by a patient there. But it wasn’t until 1974 and offers the family assistance in filling out ate decisions you can make in life’s journey
that Florence Wald, the “mother of American the stack of papers necessary to sign up. She for you or your loved one. The gift of hospice
Voices: The above Voices volunteers are regular hospice,” organized the first one here. Now will tell the family that hospice attends to the is about dignity and quality at the end of a
contributors to this forum. there are more than 4,700 hospices in the emotional and spiritual needs of the termi- terminally ill person’s life.
United States. nally ill patient, provided by a team of experts
Before my dad died seven years ago, his including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, social Shirlene Lucy of Carrollton is
H.G. Manning of Salado: I do not know if the
doctor recommended hospice. I found that workers, chaplains and volunteers. a retired portrait photogra-
school day should be lengthened or not. Certainly, it
just as there are differences in the quality of Hospice care is not expensive. In fact, it is pher and Community Voices
is a topic worthy of discussion. However, I do know volunteer columnist. Her
restaurants, hospitals or widgets, so it is for covered by Medicare, which pays for every-
it should not be a mandate made upon the states by e-mail address is shirlenelucy
hospices. thing except certain supplies. Therefore, the
the federal government. @msn.com.
Hospice isn’t a place, but a concept. It can patient and his or her family do not have to
Glee Huebner of Dallas: There are many good
reasons to lengthen the school day. It would allow
more time to concentrate on learning each subject
and it would be helpful to working parents. There
are also many reasons to have year-round school.
We could fully use the facility, it would allow less
time for children to get into trouble during the sum-
Inching toward the metric system
mer, and we could work in more short vacation
breaks, giving much needed time to rejuvenate both
It’s a must for keeping up yards every day; they haven’t failed us yet.
But by the time I finished my homework, I
not be a major struggle for them when they
reach their chemistry class in high school.
children and teachers. in science and math, says not only had a grasp of the metric units, I It is about time that we as a nation em-
Claire Mayer of Little Elm: Students in no way, Nandita Singh of Carrollton realized that it was a pretty practical system. brace the metric system and allow ourselves
shape or form should be spending any more time in If we can understand that there are 100 cents to enter the 21st century. If we want to bring

the classroom. This is a matter of quality not quanti-
ty. We need to remember that public schools are in
the profession of educating youth, not raising chil-
dren.
Shirley Jackson of Arlington: More time spent
in school should be beneficial to most students. It
seems they have too much free time on their hands
and utilize that time in unwise activities.
Mary Anne Markley of Carrollton: No to more
days. No to longer days. Time is needed for: sports,
Scouts, band, drill team, dance and music lessons,
clubs, volunteer work, etc. And what about kids who
have to work after school to save for college? Or help
out at home? And what about the teachers? Time to
breathe? Think? Plan?
SIGN UP
These responses are from readers who have asked
to receive the weekly Sounding Off question. To be
added to the e-mail list, send your full contact infor-
mation to communityopinions@dall asnews.com.
K
ing Henry died Monday by drinking
chocolate milk. For some people, this
statement makes no sense. For others,
this is the metric system.
It’s a pneumonic device to remind people
of the prefixes used in the metric system. For
example: Kilometer, Hectometer, Decameter,
Meter, Decimeter, Centimeter, Millimeter.
When I entered my sophomore chemistry
class this year, I believed I was fully aware
and familiar with the metric system. That
was until my chemistry teacher kindly stated
that “King Henry should have died” and then
asked us if we could tell her how many centi-
meters were in a meter. The response was one
long and drawn out silence from a room full
of students who could not believe that the
clever acronym for the metric prefixes had
failed us. While I struggled with my con-
versions homework that night, I began to
wonder whether the metric system was even
all that practical. We use feet, gallons and
in one dollar, then we can understand the
entire metric system. The silly little tricks and
phrases we learn in elementary school really
just instill an irrational fear of all things
metric in a student’s mind.
Kids are not drawn to a field if they do not
even understand its language. The metric
system is the universal language of math and
science. Students in every other developed
country utilize the metric system. Therefore,
when they develop an interest in math, phys-
ics or chemistry they are able to parse it with
full confidence
To close the gap between the students in
America and those of other rapidly advancing
countries such as China and India, we need to
level the playing field. The metric system is
the accepted measurement standard in the
world. Science is teeming with liters, meters
and grams. If we begin to teach our students
the metric system from day one, there would
America’s students back on top of math and
science, the first step is to make it easily
accessible and comfortable.
Although moving to a completely metric
system in America seems like an insur-
mountable hassle, it is the key to restoring
our global credibility in math and science.
Americans can be viewed as narrow-minded
and unaware. The metric system is a prag-
matic, easy-to-learn and adaptable system. If
students and future generations can com-
pete, communicate and converse in metric
units, we will restore America’s status as the
most advanced nation in the world.
Nandita Singh is a sopho-
more at Hebron High School
in Carrollton. She is also a
Student Voices volunteer
columnist. To respond to
this column, send an e-mail
to voices@dallas news.com.

RAISE YOUR VOICE
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munity Voices, a panel of volunteer colum-
nists who will be regular contributors to the
Opinions page inside the Metro section.
Apply in four easy steps:
1. Write a little about yourself and put to-
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volvements. How would others in the com-
munity describe you? What is unique about
your background and experience? Why
should we choose you?
2. Share a previous writing sample or
write something new on a current topic. A
writing sample should be 600-650 words.
3. Jot down three other topics you would
like to write about.
4. E-mail the entry to voices@dallas
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HOW TO SEND A LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Letters should be 200 words or fewer and include the writer’s name, address and phone number for verification purposes. Only the name and city of the writer will be published. Letters will be edited
for length, clarity and style. Send by e-mail: communityopinions@dallasnews.com. By Fax: 972-263-0456. Or by Mail: P.O. Box 655237, Dallas, Texas 75265. For more information, contact
Michael Landauer, assistant editorial page editor for Community Opinions, at 214-977-8258 or mlandauer@dallasnews.com.

B1004WB008PQ
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B8 W 10-04-2009 Set: 18:05:17
Sent by: ajharrisjr News BLACK
10B Sunday, October 11, 2009 W dallasnews.com The Dallas Morning News

Community opinions A forum for readers in Dallas, Denton and Tarrant counties

SOUNDING OFF
Comment on the following topic on our
blog: dallasnews.com/opinionblog.
Pencil in some play time
Do you trust your city hall to Forget overscheduling! Focus on what’s underscheduled, says Kim Barnes
prevent the kind of corruption
M
emory zoom — Three children (8, were in charge of their time, or at least a good This time to reflect and regenerate and to
6, 4) joyfully mix dirt, leaves, portion of their time. They were wondering, make choices and have control over those
involving developers that was sticks and water as they pat and exploring, discovering. They were problem- choices provides opportunities to problem-
exposed in the federal trial in decorate their creations and place them solving. They were creative. solve and try out solutions. Children work out
into the imaginary oven. They talk vividly The children I described created their own social issues via reflection and role play;
Dallas? about the aromas arising from the box personal education. They role-played cooking without the play, issues are worked out
beside them. — looking for just the right ingredients and through physical aggression or ailments.
Memory zoom — Six teenage boys come temperature for the perfect pie. Teenagers Lack of down time may be the reason a
trotting down the alley. It’s impossible to kept each other in line as they established the child zones out in front of the television. It
tell who is who because rules of a football game. Little ones learned to may be the origin of the chronic stomachache
slick red mud is dripping engineer and collaborate. or “my head hurts.”
from every crevice of their Overscheduling has become a buzzword Is your normally happy, easygoing child
clothing and bodies. That popular in parenting books and even reflected becoming consistently mopey or whiny?
Jerry Walters Faith Davis Johnson park will never have any in Student Voices columns. Each day young Check out his schedule for the underschedul-
Retired police officer, Eighth-grade U.S. grass! children move from school to music lessons to ing of free play. With the emphasis on what is
Irving Studies teacher, John Memory zoom — Ten multiple sports practices and games. underscheduled in a child’s day, overschedul-
B. Hood Middle kids under age 6 are In Revolution in the Bleachers, Regan ing may evaporate and parents may find the
City hall is limited by
School, Dallas
political consider- Voices busily work at a water McMahon cites a survey of children aged 3 to stress of their schedule may have some evap-
ations and private I do believe city hall is
Teacher
trough. One has learned 12 conducted by the University of Michigan. oration as well.
concerns in prevent- on the right track. The to lodge a stick in the Taken between 1981 and 1997, this survey Of course, focusing on the play and reflec-
ing public corruption, mayor and City Coun- faucet to ensure water flow is uninterrupt- concluded that free time had declined 12 tive time may bring forth those two little
even if it tried. cil members seem to ed, while others arrange cove molding to percent, playtime had dropped 3 hours per words that bring terror to the hearts of many
Power and influential work well together engineer water flow to three different areas. week, unstructured outdoor activities de- parents and teachers: “I’m bored.” Celebrate
ways have and always and appear to have
They are careful to avoid the dams just creased by 50 percent, structured sports those moments. And reply, “What are you
will breed corruption. the best interests of
Public scrutiny and constructed by others. doubled from 2 hours 20 minutes to 5 hours going to do about it?”
the citizens of Dallas
constant vigilance by in mind. The renova- Childhood memories. What are your 17 minutes and after-school study time in-
law enforcement are tions in the Arts three favorite? Do they involve structure? creased by 50 percent. Add in seven hours of Kim Barnes is the head of
the preventive tools District are an in- Do they involve adults or adult organiza- school, and it’s time to go to bed. early childhood education at
that we must contin- dicator that funding is tion? Was there a specific objective or goal Forget overscheduling! Let’s look at each Greenhill School in Addison
ue to use. being aligned in the for you to achieve? Do any of them center child’s day from the perspective of what is and a Teacher Voices volun-
appropriate places. around play? underscheduled — free, undirected play and teer columnist. Her e-mail
Think back to children when children down time. address is barnesk@greenhill.org.

Peggy vanWunnik
Administrative
assistant, DeSoto
I do trust my city hall
to prevent that kind
of corruption. DeSoto
council members
represent all citizens,
not just residents of a
Candace S. McAfee
12th-grade A.P. U.S.
Government teacher,
Skyline Center, Dallas
Exceptional neighborhoods
This weekend’s Oak Cliff home he is the president of one of the neighborhood quite so much attention.
I think Mayor Tom associations in west Oak Cliff — a charming For example, the Beckley Wood neigh-
Leppert has some tour will reveal them to you, neighborhood but one that is still very much in borhood will be featured for the very first time
good ideas about says Debra Witter transition. He and I had a nice (electronic) in the tour’s 35-year history. The tour organiz-
accountability and dialogue about the frustrations that had ers also wanted to focus on smaller homes that
ethical standards. I

particular district. trust him, but the
claims of innocence
when they have you
on tape are unbeliev-
able. Do they think we
are stupid?
Voices: The above Voices volunteers are regular
contributors to this forum.
Sharon Barbosa-Crain of Irving: It does not re-
quire “city hall” to stop corruption, and developers
are not the sole cause of such. The Dallas defen-
dants’ actions were against criminal law. Personal
honesty controls law-breaking — that, and a
healthy fear that alert people will notify the author-
ities of what they observe.
Cleatius Copeland of Roanoke: Yes, I do trust
the people in the City of Roanoke government.
How can you not trust a government lead by a per-
son named “Scooter”? Do I always agree with
them? No. But I have found they are approachable.
If I ever decide that I can’t trust them, I will be part
of a process to vote them out of office.
Vickie McKillip of Carrollton: No one is im-
mune to getting caught up in corrupt practices giv-
en the right mix of opportunity, desperation and/or
greed. While there is no current hint of local scan-
dal, political power and fallible human nature
make uneasy bedfellows. If temptation knocks on
the door often enough, someone will answer sooner
or later.
E.B. Pope of Lancaster: Sadly, not at all. I think
corruption is built in and unavoidable. All of the
people in city government seem to be looking out
for themselves the most.
Stephen Matthews of Bedford: I trust city hall,
regardless of the city, less than I trust officials on
the national level. The back-scratching good ol’ boy
network seems to be more prevalent at the local
level.
Jill Wallace of Flower Mound: I live in Flower
Mound and I do trust my mayor and city council to
do what is in the best interest of the citizens they re-
present. They have proven themselves to be worthy
of their office, and their hard work has been benefi-
cial for our citizens and community.
Jim Dyer of Carrollton: I know some of our
council members, and I also personally know the
mayor, and I have found them to be upstanding cit-
izens. I feel if one of them should deviate from the
straight and narrow the other council members
would report it.
SIGN UP
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to receive the weekly Sounding Off question. To be
added to the e-mail list, send your full contact infor-
mation to communityopinions@dallasnews.com.
I
recently wrote a column about the caused him to respond the way he had — have been transformed by their owners, not
glories of Oak Cliff. My piece was in mostly the constant struggle to get attention just the grander homes in Kessler Park and
response to what another Community from the city of Dallas on code enforcement Winnetka Heights. You can get more in-
Voices columnist had written, which I felt issues. He talked about how sometimes he just formation at ooccl.com.
was unduly negative about Oak Cliff and the wanted to live somewhere neat, clean and easy, Going on the tour is a great way to see Oak
involvement of its resi- where constant vigilance wasn’t required. Cliff — not just the homes themselves, but
dents in helping improve I sure hope he sticks it out, because people these neighborhoods I’ve been talking about.
their neighborhoods. I like him will determine whether the Oak Cliff As you drive (or bike) between the houses,
got some interesting that I know and love — the neighborhoods of you’ll see beauty, and you’ll see challenges.
responses. Most of them North Oak Cliff and, yes, the booming Bishop You’ll see that much has been accomplished in
were very positive, but Arts area — becomes a truly representative Oak Cliff, and that much remains to be ac-
one guy really took me to image of the face of Oak Cliff to the rest of the complished.
task. city. My critic was right — those of us who live in
Voices He didn’t use these The Old Oak Cliff Conservation League is a the neighborhoods that have made it, so to
words, but in essence nonprofit umbrella organization for 23 neigh- speak, cannot ignore the bigger picture. Nor
Community
accused me of being a borhood associations covering nearly 10,000 can we afford to be complacent about our own
shallow yuppie who needed to get out of my households. Their Web site says they work “to neighborhoods. Reclaiming a neighborhood
privileged enclave and see the real Oak Cliff. promote Oak Cliff to the wider community as that has been allowed to deteriorate is a long,
He also challenged me to write about Oak an exceptional place to live.” slow process, and one that requires vision,
I like that characterization. “Exceptional” patience and stamina. Unfortunately, a neigh-
Cliff without talking about the Bishop Arts
district, hills and trees, diversity, etc. — what can mean “superior,” but also can mean “rare” borhood can be destroyed much more quickly
he called the Oak Cliff clichés. or “deviating from the norm.” I think that and easily. All it takes is doing nothing.
I have to admit that really stung, as I applies well to the neighborhoods that are
thought it was an unfair reading of what I part of the league. Debra Witter of Oak Cliff is an
had written. My first reaction was just to But don’t just take my word for it. This attorney and a Community
ignore it, but instead I e-mailed him back weekend is the league’s annual home tour. Voices volunteer columnist.
and, with as much restraint as I could, told This year’s tour has taken pains to highlight Her e-mail address is debra
him just that. I’m really glad I did. Turns out some of the neighborhoods that don’t get witter@tx.rr.com.
LETTERS
A tree to save in Colleyville
There is an opportunity for McDonald’s to
be a long-term steward of a historic tree and
to provide a model of conservation to our
community of children and the surrounding
area.
With a focused effort by a construction
company and McDonald’s, a tree on the site of
a new McDonald’s in Colleyville can thrive for
another 100 years or more. Efforts made to
save this tree can be a testament to today’s
children and tomorrow’s adults that we actu-
ally thought through what to conserve for
them. These efforts are also a great learning
opportunity in a community that values edu-
cation.
The construction company’s arborist has
recommended aeration pipes be installed
with observation valves and openings to check
periodically, because air to the roots is vital for
all trees.
Mitigation for the tree had been agreed up-
on as part of the deal. The tree is more than 30
inches in circumference, so the new owner has
agreed to mitigate by planting 40 inches of WILLIAM “BUBBA” FLINT/Special Contributor
trees, or 10 4-inch caliper trees.
Large trees are rare in this area, have many This last post oak from the Bogart Dairy of and be willing to execute the recommenda-
valuable attributes besides providing shade, yesteryear is needed in the center of town. tions of the arborist hired to help save the tree.
and should be preserved inside the city. Maybe the owner can now see the opportunity Anne Dyson, Colleyville

HOW TO SEND A LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Letters should be 200 words or fewer and include the writer’s name, address and phone number for verification purposes. Only the name and city of the writer will be published. Letters will be edited
for length, clarity and style. Send by e-mail: communityopinions@dallasnews.com. By Fax: 972-263-0456. Or by Mail: P.O. Box 655237, Dallas, Texas 75265. For more information, contact
Michael Landauer, assistant editorial page editor for Community Opinions, at 214-977-8258 or mlandauer@dallasnews.com.

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The Dallas Morning News dallasnews.com W Sunday, October 18, 2009 11B

Community opinions A forum for readers in Dallas, Denton and Tarrant counties

SOUNDING OFF
Comment on the following topic on our
blog: dallasnews.com/opinionblog.
What North Texas politician do
you trust the most?
Peggy vanWunnik
Administrative
assistant, DeSoto
Although I haven’t
always agreed with
his tactics, and even
though I generally
support Republican
or independent
candidates, I have for
a long time admired
and supported John
Wiley Price. He is an
honorable man who is
fiscally responsible
and works to find
common ground
across party lines. He
serves his constitu-
ents well.
The rush to adulthood
There’s value in preserving the innocence of childhood, says Viviana Cruz
I remember walking into my school participated in binge drinking. Columbia
these words being applied to children as
auditorium and sitting down on hard young as 9 years old? University’s National Center on Addiction
plastic blue chairs. I remember turning to Let’s review: For the past 12 years I have and Substance Abuse states that children
face our speakers to hear what they had to been enrolled in the public school system, first aged 12 and up have a 14.4 percent drug abuse
say. DISD, then Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD. rate.
“This is the start of a new school year; The first time the words “young adult” were These are sickening numbers, but there is
let’s really make it count! It’s time to get to applied to me was in fifth grade, the first year some hope offered by Joseph A. Califano Jr.,
work, to try harder and do better. You are of the “rigorous, no nonsense” world of Ted CASA chairman: “A child who reaches age 21
one year older, one year wiser. This is the Polk Middle School. Most students were 11 to without smoking, abusing alcohol or using
Faith Davis Johnson time for you to shine as young adults, and drugs is virtually certain never to do so.”
13, with the exception of a few geniuses. Did
Eighth-grade U.S.
since you are young they fit the criteria of young adults? Is it fair to These are comforting words and show we
Studies teacher, John
adults, there will be zero expect that from someone going through the can do something to better the futures of
B. Hood Middle
tolerance for any painful stages of pre-teenism? many youth. A good place as any is how we
School, Dallas
insubordination. You set That’s not my only criticism of the use of view children, because that’s what 10- to
Sen. Royce West has an example for those those two words. The frightening thought 13-year-olds are: children.
been a formidable younger than you and Children learn from their peers; it’s a
entered my head one day that the very
champion of his before you know it, you administrators who strived to end drug and simple fact. If only one of them has this
constituents and is
will be adults in the alcohol abuse, teenage violence and brilliant idea of how grown up they are, they
well-respected local-
Voices workplace. Summer is pregnancy were unknowingly instilling the will all get it.
ly and nationally. His
work in bringing the Student over; it’s time to grow up problems into a younger generation. My head It’s time we valued childhood and
University of North and act like the young was too lost in the clouds to notice it, but I’m innocence, because all too soon it is gone. It is
Texas system to the adults you are.” sure the thought processes of many of my far too short to be rushed, and that’s what has
southern sector, I remember having heard this speech peers went something like this: been happening through our education
providing internships three times before, and this one was taking “I’m being asked to perform as a young system. Maybe after this, we can work on that
for young people place at the beginning of seventh grade. I adult. I’m being told every day what my suicide rate and those self-esteem issues.
through the Conrad had just turned 12. responsibilities are as a young adult. Heck, I
project, and speaking Does anything seem wrong to anybody am a young adult! And adults can do Viviana Cruz is a junior at
at Career Day pro-
besides me? The words “young adult” are whatever they want!” Newman Smith High School
grams show his in Carrollton and a Student
pretty easy to understand. I would expect According to government statistics, two
commitment to
maturity, responsibility, independence and out of five eighth graders have consumed Voices volunteer columnist.
education.
integrity from a young adult. But why are alcohol and about 11 percent have To respond to this column,
send an e-mail to voices@dallasnews.com.

Art Fleming
IT systems engineer,
Shirlene Lucy
Retired portrait
Give an animal a second chance
Double Oak photographer and

Even though I am not

volunteer, Carrollton Adopt a pet from a shelter today, says Cynthia Herschkowitsch
a Dallas resident, I Not a politician,

listen to Angela Hunt. exactly, but I admire
I know that she is Dallas County District
controversial, but I Attorney Craig Wat-
truly believe that she kins and the work he
has the best interest is doing to free in-
of the city and its nocent people who
residents at her core. have been wrongly
sentenced to years in
prison.
Voices: The above Voices volunteers are regular
contributors to this forum.
Jill Wallace of Flower Mound: Jody Smith, may-
or of Flower Mound, would be my choice. She loves
her community, supports our businesses and
schools, and has worked very hard to make Flower
Mound a wonderful city to live in. Her enthusiasm
about our city and her pride in our community and
its citizens is contagious.
LeRoy Grego of Irving: Laura Miller. She should
be our next governor of Texas.
Troy Kelley of Irving: Kenny Marchant has dem-
onstrated his concern for our area for 18 years in the
Texas House before going to Washington. He
doesn’t need the money and is a super strong person
of faith and integrity.
Norma Urban-Palomarez of Flower Mound:
Kay Bailey Hutchison. I don’t always agree with her
stand on things, and I often believe that she’s too
conservative. But I trust her to do what she says
she’ll do. I know where she stands; she doesn’t waver
or waffle. She is not “middle of the road,” but not
usually so far to the right that I couldn’t meet her
halfway.
Douglas Raymond Rose of Grand Prairie: I have
great confidence in our Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert.
He has a business background, and I believe he is
doing an exceptional job of staying on deck and
guiding the wheel of the Dallas ship.
Vickie McKillip of Carrollton: I trust the Farmers
Branch City Council. They’ve proven again and
again that they have the courage to take on difficult
issues without flinching, waffling or backing down.
Farmers Branch is thriving under the current lead-
ership.
Stephen Matthews of Bedford: Mayor Mike
Moncrief of Forth Worth seems like a person I
would trust at this point of his political career. Even
though I probably don’t agree with him on most is-
sues.
Pat Justice of Flower Mound: I trust my con-
gressman, Dr. Michael Burgess. I heard him speak
at our town hall meeting in August, and he’s smart
and informed. He sees it as his duty in Congress to
represent his constituents the way we want to be re-
presented.
SIGN UP
I
t happened again this year, as it has so played with him to ensure that he was social- catastrophic events have coincided to make
many times before: A student came run- ized for his eventual new family. I also talked to their job harder than ever: the flagging econo-
ning into the school where I teach, ginger- volunteers from the two organizations that had my, hurricanes in recent years and a spate of
ly carrying a kitten. offered to help. The lady from the shelter seizures from puppy mills.
He thought it had been attacked by a dog offered such a glowing description of the facil- So now, I’m fostering the little broken kitten
and, thinking its leg was broken, wrapped a ity, its volunteers and its adoption program that I am calling “Cassidy,” as in “Hopalong.”
makeshift bandage around its tiny rear leg to that, on Saturday, I prepared my little broken He seems to be improving. He is eating and
give it support. Since its injuries didn’t seem kitten for the trip. playing; he only drags his foot when he gets
life-threatening, I secured it I was expecting kitty nirvana. But from the tired.
in the storage room of a very moment we entered the shelter, I knew I wasn’t But I am still agonizing over the animals in
accommodating colleague going to leave him there. The smell was ter- our shelters. When I asked the shelter manager
until my classes were over. rible, the litter boxes were full and cats were if they needed volunteers, she said, “We have
During lunch, I e-mailed everywhere. I’ve never seen so many cats. They plenty of good volunteers.” What about dona-
my old friend Jonnie Eng- all seemed healthy, well-fed and happy, but I tions? “Donations are up, too.” “What do you
land and asked for advice. was shocked by their sheer numbers. need, then?”
She, in turn, forwarded my In the isolation room, I quickly realized, “Adopters,” she said, “Adoptions are way
appeal to her animal-rescue these cats in here are actually sick. My little guy down.”
Voices network. Within an hour, I is just broken. A big, beautiful, blind cat was So, if you have room in your heart and your
Teacher had two offers of help — one nosing around my carrier. My heart melted. home, please go to your local shelter, and say,
from a local organization The shelter manager told me that if I left my “Give me the oldest animal you have, or the one
that uses a foster network and promotes kitten there, he would develop an upper respi- that’s been at the shelter the longest, or the
adoptions on its Web site and at area pet ratory infection. I said that I would foster him, blind one or the kitten with the broken pelvis. I
shops; the other from a shelter that offered to so they took pictures to display on their Web want to give an animal a good home and a
take the kitten immediately. site. second chance at a happy life.”
In the meantime, I drove the kitten to my I cried all the way home, grieving for all of They all have sad stories. It’s up to us to
vet in Farmers Branch for an assessment. Two those beautiful cats who, because they are write their happy endings.
X-rays and $161 later, we had the diagnosis: a older, are probably going to spend their lives in
broken pelvis and possible nerve damage, this no-kill shelter, rather than in loving Cynthia Herschkowitsch
causing the right rear foot to knuckle under, homes. teaches at South Oak Cliff
injuries more consistent with being hit by a car How does this happen? It’s certainly not the High School in the Dallas ISD
than a dog attack. shelter’s fault. The people are hard-working, and is a Teacher Voices volun-
For the rest of the week, I dutifully gave the unbelievably dedicated and understandably teer columnist. Her e-mail
kitten his medicine, changed his litter box and overwhelmed. I also know that a variety of address is CHerschkowitsch@dallasisd.org.
LETTERS
Singley set a good example
Re: “Jack Singley — Guided Irving district
through two decades,” Tuesday news story.
At a time when area school superinten-
dents appear to be having all sorts of issues, it
has been more than reassuring to read that
Singley governed the Irving ISD for 21 years
without any major problems.
His death reminds us of just how unique
his tenure truly was as we look at other area
districts.
The former Carrollton-Farmers Branch
superintendent resigned after having been ar-
rested for drunken driving, the former Lan-
caster ISD superintendent mismanaged
funds, the former superintendent of Arling-
ton ISD accepted speaker fees from an organi-
zation aligned with Arlington ISD, the former
Richardson ISD superintendent resigned
suddenly in August after only two years with
the district. While no specific reasons for his
sudden departure have been given, his abort-
ed tenure followed that of his predecessor.
The current DISD superintendent is pres-
ently dealing with many issues — budget WILLIAM “BUBBA” FLINT/Special Contributor

These responses are from readers who have asked

to receive the weekly Sounding Off question. To be
added to the e-mail list, send your full contact infor-
mation to communityopinions@dallasnews.com.
problems, issues with the board — and the
beat goes on. Hopefully, we will be able to use GET OTHER Voices columns from across North Texas and add your
Singley as a case study of what a school super- own comments. dallasnews.com/voices
intendent should do.
Bobbie Stevens Johnson, Carrollton

HOW TO SEND A LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Letters should be 200 words or fewer and include the writer’s name, address and phone number for verification purposes. Only the name and city of the writer will be published. Letters will be edited
for length, clarity and style. Send by e-mail: communityopinions@dallasnews.com. By Fax: 972-263-0456. Or by Mail: P.O. Box 655237, Dallas, Texas 75265. For more information, contact
Michael Landauer, assistant editorial page editor for Community Opinions, at 214-977-8258 or mlandauer@dallasnews.com.

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Community opinions
We asked our Teacher Voices …
How do you know a student will be successful?
Kim Barnes | Head of Early Childhood, Greenhill
School, Addison — Sometimes there is a spark.
Sometimes there is an attitude. Sometimes there
is a demonstration. Often, the student is a prob-
lem-solver. A student who takes a failure or
mistake in stride and devises a solution that will move him or her
forward will succeed with the situation at hand or in the future.
Students who present perseverance and creativity as they solve a
problem become students who can see varied facets of an issue.
These problem-solvers engage others either to reflect ideas or to
solicit physical help or brainpower. Reflection plays a big part in
these students’ lives as they seem to constantly build on the chal-
lenges they have conquered or even at which they have failed.
Julie Lewis | AMI/Math Interventionist,
Lamar Middle School, Irving ISD— I know that
students will be successful if they choose to not
only invest their best effort, but also to develop a
passion for what they are learning. Parents and
teachers have to set high goals, but they must understand success
should be measured simply by comparing where the student’s
abilities and talents start and where they end. We are all unique
individuals and have different talents and abilities. I think
success is a unique combination of best effort, passion and
personal growth. We must also remember that a successful
outcome should be something the student chooses because
it makes him or her happy and proud of their investment in
the accomplishment. That will leave them inspired to
achieve more.
Debbie Gallagher | Computer teacher, Daniel
Intermediate School, Duncanville ISD — I always
tell students that two things have to be present to
learn a new skill — the desire to learn and prac-
tice. If either is missing, they will not be suc-
cessful. As students mature, the desire must come from within,
not as a result of fear of being punished for not doing a task. I also
teach a college class, and on the first day I meet with my college
students, I have them fill out an information sheet telling me
about themselves. I ask what they want to get from the class. One
student wrote, “I expect to get an A in this class.” That student will
be successful, as opposed to the student who wrote the word
“nothing.”
We asked our Student Voices …
What makes a teacher effective and memorable?
Lade Obamehinti | Junior, Trinity High School,
Euless — Caring is one attribute that makes a
teacher effective and memorable. A caring
teacher wants to know the student as a person.
The dynamic teachers in my life always cared
about my goals and were willing to sacrifice to help me achieve
them. The teachers who understand that have an opportunity to
change a student’s life for the better. Their passion inevitably
transfers to their students. A teacher with a genuine interest
in who I am and in who I can become — and someone who
then does something about it — is the most memorable and
effective.
Nandita Singh | Sophomore,
Hebron High School, Carrollton —
Funny and motivating teachers
with hard tests and even harder
finals are always the most effective
and memorable. They are able to create a relaxed
learning environment for challenging subjects such
as AP classes or higher-level math. If a student feels
accomplished after “surviving” a hard class, he or she
not only remembers the teacher, but also is thankful
for newfound knowledge and confidence. These
teachers also have enthusiasm and interest in what they
teach. Teachers with the perfect blend of passion and
interest for their job — and for the minds that they are
responsible for molding — are the teachers who ultimately
impact their students’ lives the most.
Kelsey McKinney | Senior, Booker T. Washington
High School, Dallas — Teachers can influence
their students’ thought processes. An effective
teacher finds a way to force his or her students to
re-evaluate their ideas and really decipher what
it is they believe. However, the ability to teach students does not
necessarily make a teacher memorable. To become memorable,
teachers must remain a real person to the students. These
teachers have the ability to engage in intelligent conversations
and effectively incorporate their personalities into their
teachings. They do more than teach; they influence their students’
lives. Only a memorable teacher makes a connection strong
enough for each student to begin applying what he or she has
been taught.
HOW TO SEND A LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Letters should be 200 words or fewer and include the writer’s name, address and phone number for verification purposes. Only the name and city of the writer will be published. Letters will be edited
for length, clarity and style. Send by e-mail: communityopinions@dallasnews.com. By Fax: 972-263-0456. Or by Mail: P.O. Box 655237, Dallas, Texas 75265. For more information, contact
Michael Landauer, assistant editorial page editor for Community Opinions, at 214-977-8258 or mlandauer@dallasnews.com.
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A forum for readers in Dallas, Denton and Tarrant counties
Tim Greenwell | Freshmen World Geography
teacher, Flower Mound High School, Lewisville
ISD — Students will be successful when they are
aware of their capabilities and limitations and
work to move forward beyond those self-recog-
nized levels. You can see it in their body language, hear it in their
voices and experience it by the confidence they exude. Likewise, if
these traits are lacking, it does not always mean they are shy but
rather do not necessarily possess a strong enough sense of self-
awareness. It should also be noted that being
an overachiever or a suck-up does not equal
success. Success requires initiative and
effort, focus and drive, responsibility
and commitment.
WILLIAM “BUBBA”
FLINT/Special
Contributor
K.B. Phipps | English/Language Arts teacher,
Arnold Middle School, Grand Prairie — My hope
for each student who walks through my class-
room door at the beginning of the school year is
that he or she will be successful. Throughout the
year, that success will come in different shapes and forms, de-
pending on the student. Sucess for one student might come in the
form of mastering a particular skill, while for another, it might
come in the form of not being sent to alternative school for a
better part of the school year. I am an advocate for celebrating the
small successes with my students to encourage them to persevere
as they strive for those successes that come as a result of multiple
failures.
Viviana Cruz | Junior, Newman Smith High
School, Carrollton — My AP biology teacher, Mr.
Hembree, was also my freshman bio teacher. He
made such an impact on me that I specifically
went back to take any course taught by him.
Some say he was like a college professor because his coursework
was so hard, but he actually cared and remembered his students. I
think a teacher who treats you like a person rather than an ID
number and doesn’t
underestimate you
makes a great
teacher.
Avery Hurst | Senior, J.J. Pearce High School,
Richardson — My favorite teachers have been the
ones who truly get to know each individual child.
If you are just a student at a desk, there is no way
to connect with what your teacher is saying. If a
teacher becomes a “friend” with his or her students, it becomes a
better level for them both to learn on. It is also effective if the
teachers don’t feel the need to “stoop down” to their students’
level. If students feel like we are being talked down to, it makes us
want to rebel more against anything they want us to do. If we are
treated as an individual on the same level as our teachers, we are
more likely to live our lives as learners.
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The Dallas Morning News
Faith Davis Johnson | Eighth-grade U.S. Studies
teacher, John B. Hood Middle School, Dallas —
You know that students are on the path to suc-
cess when you give an assignment, and they go a
step further. For example, if the assignment is to
be handwritten, the student types it instead. Or if you’ve given the
student a task to complete based on a lecture in class, and he or
she includes analysis on a concept you haven’t covered yet — and
it’s right on target. You know when they ask you to write letters of
recommendation and then promptly follow up in writing, com-
plete with an advanced “thank you.” You know when students
remember what you have taught — and then use the same meth-
od to share with others what they learned from you.
Victoria John | Latin, drama and musical theater
teacher, Lakehill Preparatory School, Dallas — In
the words of Plato: “Good actions give strength
to ourselves and inspire good actions in others.”
Students prevail through the awareness and
practice of three qualities: flexibility, accountability and responsi-
bility. A flexible student adapts easily to new situations and ac-
cepts change as a positive and necessary process for growth. An
accountable student learns from poor choices and builds charac-
ter through increased honesty to self and others. Having been
held accountable for actions, the student learns to make better
choices while serving as a positive role model. A responsible
student keeps agreements and, through consistency, builds es-
teem and self-respect. Acting with flexibility, accountability and
responsibility allows the student to overcome personal challenges
and achieve success.
Karen Kimball | Substitute teacher, Richardson
ISD — Recently I substituted in a kindergarten
class. It was the third week of school, and one
student stood out: He entered the classroom, put
his things away, and sat down at his table to
complete his morning work. Throughout the day he listened,
followed directions and did his work carefully and correctly. He
was proud of his job as “door holder” and was always ready and in
place when the class left the room. He answered questions cor-
rectly and creatively (not copying the answers of others). He was
polite, kind and friendly to students, and well-liked by everyone. I
may never see him again, but I am convinced he is well on his way
to success — in school and in life.
Brian Brown | Senior, Plano West Senior High
School — A good teacher is someone who shows
he or she cares. Someone who wants to see you
succeed. Someone who knows your name after
the first day. These teachers are not there just to
teach, but also to help you learn. If you can’t learn something the
way they are teaching it, they’ll take the time to make sure you do
more than just know it; you understand it. They’ll come early and
stay late if that’s what it takes to help you. They will not only be
able to, but they want to engage in a conversation with you. Good
teachers are people I can talk to about anything. People I trust.
Teaching isn’t their job; it’s their passion. It’s what they were born
to do.
Kristy Gudmundsson | Junior, Hockaday
School, Dallas — Humor. In addition to passion
and enthusiasm, a good sense of humor turns an
otherwise good teacher into an outstanding one.
When I think about all of my favorite teachers
over the past 12 years, most of them share something significant:
They made classes fun. Learning is most effective when emotions
become involved, and just as acting is about connecting with an
audience, teaching is about connecting with students and making
them excited to come to class. Witty lectures keep students alert,
engaged and eager to participate. Jokes germane to the subject
make facts more memorable and interesting. While a mundane
class can make even the most interesting subject boring, a fun
class can make the dullest subject captivating.
Connor Mighell | Junior, Cambridge School of
Dallas — Remember the substitute teacher in the
film Ferris Bueller’s Day Off? “Bueller? …
Bueller? …” Thankfully, I haven’t experienced
anything like that. Most of my teachers have
been good, but those who are truly memorable have a clear,
infectious passion for their subjects, like my former Latin teacher,
Mrs. Gerard, who knew just about everything regarding her
language and its beautiful history. She was always searching for
more information. The most effective teachers I have had engage
their students. This can be done without “dumbing the
curriculum down,” as Dr. Hahn, my current physics teacher, has
shown. He inserts interesting, relevant demonstrations into his
lectures. If the material isn’t engaging, the teachers risks losing
their classes, no matter how much they enjoy what they teach.
BLACK