The Perkins Journal November 16, 1989: Page 2

November 16, 1989 The Perkins Journal
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PAGE 2 -- The Perkins Journal Thursday, November 16, 1989 The Perkins .I Published each Thursday by Linn Publishing, Inc., at 133 S. Main Street Post Office Box 695, Perkins, Oklahoma 74059 Telephone: 405-547-2411 David and Alberta Burgess Publishers Jeff Shultz ... ,.; ........................... Managing Editor Margaret Coate ' Society Editor, Composition YEARLy SUBSCRIPTION RATES Payne, Lincoln, Logan and Noble counties (includes 98 cents tax). .................. $15.00 Elsewhere in Oklahoma (includes $1.30 tax) .................. $20.00 Out-of-state ............. ............................... . $25.00 Second Class Postage Paid at Perkins, OK 74059 POSTMASTER: Send change of address to P.O. Box 695, Perkins, Oklahoma 74059 OKLANOMA PRESS ASSOCIATION Bible Thought For The Week Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Romans 12:9 Journal Editorial Opinion I00 i a orms The state legislators who are urging that the school reform process be slowed down and looked at more thoroughly are on the right track. As important as the reform process is, it would not be wise to rush through hastily-written legislation without having am- ple time for consideration and debate. The reason is simple: sometimes an idea that sounds great on first hearing may sound a little less great on second hear- ing. And maybe not great at all on third hearing. Take, for instance, the idea of school choice that has been float:;ng around for the past several months. • Allowing families to choose which school their children at- is based on what seems to be a very sound principle. With i children eligible to attend any school they want, schools will i%ompete for students by improving their various programs.' In effect, it is a form of capitalism -- the schools that offer ilwhat the consmners (that is, students) want will thrive and :ithe schools that don't measure up will wither and eventually !idle. That's how the theory goes. And it is a very attractive- !isounding theory. It may even work. But looking at how the theory has worked in actual practice :!in another state illustrates how even the best idea may have i hidden problems that aren't readily apparent on first glance. i i That is why it is important not to rush into anything without :=first examining the pros and cons very thoroughly. .: The story of how 'interdistrict choice' is doing in Minnesota i=was told in last week's issue of U.S. News and World Report. • "- It should be required reading for every state legislator, not i=aecessarily because of w mt it says about school choice but ::rather because of what it shows about the difference between itheory and actual practice. :: Under a law passed in 1987, Minnesota's school districts [!were opened up to that dissatisfied students could transfer to : schools in other districts. :] Iowa, Nebraska and Arkansas passed similar choice pro- : grams. President Bush liked the idea, proclaiming in January that "Choice has worked, almost without exception, everywhere it" o_as been tried." :! But the story in U.S. News shows that the theory sounds much better than it actually works. Only 3,970 of Minnesota's 735,000 public-school students ap- i plied for transfers under open enrollment this fall. : Furthermore, many of those who transferred did so for i reasons unrelated to finding an academically superior school. :Some transferred because a neighboring district school is i closer to home; others because a certain school is nearer their Dear Jeff: I was a child in the final years of the Great Depress.ion. I can remember the dust storms, and eating either potato soup, fried mush, chipped beef gravy, or cornbreed and beans almost dally because that menu could be stretched out to feed a family of seven. I remember the grownups talk- ing war --- the Germans invading Poland, the Mussolini Italians and Hitler -- and then that cloudy, cold Sunday afternoon when word arrived in my hometown that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor. I recall the urgency and uncertainty on Monday when President Roosevelt's request for a Declaration of War was broadcast across the land into our classroom, There was talk of an attack on the west coast, and all the Japanese in the United States were rounded up and put into camps for their own protection and peace of mind of a nation sud- denly at war. The east and west coast cities wdht into blackouts at night un- til the danger could be determined. Loved ones hurried into the mil- itary services. Those at home joined the effort by engaging in essential war effort such as farming and defense work. Lucky Strike Green went to war along with everything else sweet and entertaining in the American econ- omy. The Honor Roll board, listing all the service men from my community, and those that were killed or missing in action, went up on main street. Little flags with stars went up in all the windows. I was a patriotic juvenile, too young to fight and too old not to be frightened and worried. Time obscures one's memory, but it seems to me the sun did not shine in my hometown from that cloudy December 7, until V-J Day, August 14, 1945. If it did, it was unable to penetrate the gloom and doom, and urgency of the clouds of war hanging unmercifully over the entire world. Then there was the joy of victory and the return of brothers, sons, daughters, fathers, Hershey bars, and Chevys and Fords. New houses were built, new businesses started, jobs created. It didn't last long. Communism spread and war threatened again in Greece, Germany, Indo-China, Egypt, and Korea. Now it was my turn. The spread of Communism must be stop- peal before it ate up the whole world like Facism had done. Six million young men again took up arms, and 140,000 were wounded or gave their lives in a police action to keep the Chinese communists out of South Korea and to uphold an agreement earned with blood in the peace settlement at the end of WWII. Would it never endi Communism was spreading into IndochinL Again a treaty was being violated, and the communists were attempting to over- throw democracy in Vietnam. Again the U.S.A., the leader of the free world, reacted generously. Another war ~ another battle for freedom. The battle spread, not only in the Vietnam area, but among Americans them- selves, who were growing weary of carrying the load -- of fighting the battle of freedom for the whole world, then coming in and rebuilding what the war had destroyed. How much longer could we continue this7 Skir- mishes and cold wars have been fought in Cuba, Central America, in the middle east, Iran, Libya" in space, and many still die as hostages when terrorists react with sabotage that blows airliners from the sky, shoot passengers in cold blood, blow up government head- quarters and public buildings. Uncl'e Sam's shoulders are tired. His brow sheds drops of blood and sweat as the U.S.A. has almost single-handedly carried the banner of freedom for the past 50 years. The treasury is empty and our government owes three trillion dollars; our own 7 national economy is a wreck as Amer- icans keep propping up their dollar around the world so weaker nations can become stronger and hopefully democratic. We Americans have fought battles all over the globe, and maintained armies and an arsenal the likes of which the world has never seen before and hopefully will never see again; not to destroy but to per- petuate an opportunity for all people to be flee -- to have a choice. Has all this living hell over the past 50 years -- the fighting, the death, terrorism, international embarrassment, fear, worry, frus- tration, civil strife, bankruptcy has it been worth it7 The events of the past few months, especially the last week or two -- albeit long in coming --- are those long sought fruits of Uncle Sam's efforts. The communist world is falling apart, changing to a more democratic form of government. Peo- 'ple are determined not to remain slaves in body or spirit (mind) whether they are in Russia, Poland, East Berlin, Vietnam, Korea, China, Panama" Cuba, or wherevert The walls are tumbling down and freedom reigns. Leninism could not deliver the goodst I've always been proud to be an American, but I don't think I've ever been prouder than right now when you and I know that the United States of America has rnado this all possible. It will be prudent to remain alert and vigilant as these freedom changes take place. When you see the smiles of freedom on the faces of those who ,are breaking down the barriers, it's enough to make a tear come to the eyes of even the meanest and bravest. How say you7 Has it been worth it? I ~ Yes. How formate there were~ ~.ions in America who have been willing for fifty long years to stand strong for principle and be un- relenting even under arms and in the face of terrorism for --- first, victory; then, peace; and now Freedom for many, when once it was just for the few. Thanks veteransl Sincerely, Bob Evans Announcing! CHANGE Of OWNERSHIP We have purchased Bealrs Packing Plant CUSTOM BUTCHERING and PROCESSING We also have Beef or Pork half or whole For Your Home Fre ezer I ! parents' workplace. Last week Ralph's Packing Plant celebrated their 30th anniversary. This :; Convenience is not necessarily a bad reason to choose a adapp~ ia a 1959 issue, qHals for your scrap book Ralph's Packing Plant. ;chool, but it certainly provides no incentive for schools losing • "students to make academic improvements. :!. Minnesota's experience with open transfer also has shot a : hole in another part of the theory, the part where students are ! supposed to gravitate toward the best academic schools. . Mter one Minnesota district toughened its graduation re- iqulrements, some students pulled a reverse -- they gravitated [to other districts with lower standards. : = The school-choice theory also has other problems when put !into actual practice: transportation, whether-to penalize Students who transfer solely for athletic reasons, etc. Certainly, school-choice has some benefits, maybe even enough that it should be implemented in Oklahoma. But the larger point is that any reform in the state's education system hould be thoroughly thought out and debated before being lemented. It is never wise to leap before you look. Those who do sometimes wind upin the fire. Round-up Club Thanksgiving Dinner The Perkins Round-up Club will host a Thanksgiving Dinner for members and guests at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 18 at the Round-up Club building. Commodities Available Commodities, which will include "butter, flour end peanut butter, will be available this month at the Assembly of God Church in Perkins from 9 am. to 12 noon on Tuesday Nov. 21. Who's Visited You Lately? Let The Journal Know About ItI 547-2411 CPA and PA Examination A n examination of applicants for the Certified Public Accountant certificate and the Public Accoun- tant license will be held by the Oklahoma State Board of Public Accountancy in Oklahoma City and Tulsa on May 2, 3 and 4, 1990. Written applications must be fil- ed with the Board office, 4545 N. Lincoln Blvd., Suite 165, Oklahoma City, OK 73105-3413 no later than March 5, 1990. Application forms, schedules of the examination and information on requirements for examination eligibility may be obtained by writing to the Board office or by calling {405) 521-2397. Let Others Know About It In The Journal 547@411 From The Editor's Note: Each week I look back into pastilles find little nuggets of past news to jog each of your memories. from time to time, I run across certain pieces that I feel are just as entertaining as the small news items. installment of "From The Files"features a small sampling c Hope you enjoy them as much as I have. Former Perkins Journal Publisher and Editor AJ. Show teresting way of displaying some of the local tid-ldts from Below is just an example of his entertaining way residents of Perkins of little known facts This was taken from the November 10, 1922 issue of the Locals John Myers bumped into Henw Pipp quite unexpectedly Tuesday. Judging from the reward ,errels there mutt be Owner Cror~ Addrt.m Ii. ~n ~rou~ ~mm Buy where your Dollar buys Pumpkin, 21/z size can Brooms, 1.19 seller for Clotfies Pins, dz. Brick Style Chilli Con Carrie, can K,'aut, 21/2 gize can Milk Armour or Daricraft, 6 for Shredded Wheal, " K C. Baking Powder, Sweet Potatoes, ---qrmour Corn Beef Hash, Round S eak, ' Cut Right Wax Paper, 3 10c jars Ib can Cured H:im, lb. Campbella Beef & Chicken Soup, can 'Mixed Candy, lb. Apricot Nectar, bottle "N • " Fruit Cocktail, No. 1 tall can We Buy Poultry, Cream and Eggs A. J. Self, Owner, " Phone I17, Each week, as I look back in past issues, I to ware eurrmt grocery prices to the ones several appeared in the Neveml r 12, 1947 issue of the Journal. Self just one of many grocery stores in Perkins at that time. Subscri Now. A qear i6 Oklahoma: Speaking prices. This ad, taken from the same paper je aloe about the newapaper industry in that particular era. subaorlptlea rates low, but the local, hometown newspaper form of entertslameat for the fsmily. Notice--everyous in reading the paper. I don't think this scene would depict msd their relsdmship with the local newsp er.