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Letters to the Editor: BLM is undoing environmental protections of the Forest Plan A few thoughts regarding the BLM's proposal to log the old growth forests within the Timbered Rock Fire (BLM to study salvage option 2/5/03.) The publicly owned portions of the Elk Creek watershed support runs of rare coho salmon in addition to summer and winter steelhead. These species need clean, cold water to survive. Hence the watershed was supposedly protected as a "Tier-1" key watershed by the Northwest Forest Plan. Similarly, the old growth forests on public lands in Elk Creek are so important to wildlife that they were supposedly protected as "late successional reserves" by the Forest Plan. Unfortunately, over 9,000 acres owned by multinational timber corporations in the watershed are being aggressively logged right now without regard for clean water or old growth values. This makes the remaining public forests even more valuable for fish and wildlife. Not only does the BLM intend to log our public lands in this delicate watershed, but they propose to undue the environmental protections supposedly ensured by the Forest Plan. Instead of seeing the Timbered Rock fire as an opportunity to restore fire's natural roll in the forest, the Medford BLM seems bent on handing the watershed over to the same timber corporations that are currently trashing their own lands. George Sexton, Conservation Director, Klamath Siskiyou Wildlands Center Student standards must remain high In 1966, when our family moved to Oregon, it was a vibrant state. The economy was sound, the public schools highly rated and the system of higher education was academically sound and one of which Oregonians could be proud. Those entities, unfortunately, have since been drastically downgraded. The latest aberration on the educational front is the recent unanimous vote by the state board of education to lower student performance standards in an attempt to better accommodate minority and disadvantaged students. Such an action is shallow minded and completely without merit. If I were a member of a minority, or disadvantaged group, I would be highly insulted that a governing agency arrogantly assumes that because of my heritage I cannot compete academically with my fellow students. If schools in disadvantaged areas are less than adequate they need to be upgraded. If those with learning disabilities are having difficulty, they need individual help. Lowering the majority of students to a level of mediocrity is certainly not the answer. It seems that the politics of accommodation defy logic and common sense. As a forty year veteran educator, I discovered very early that students of all stripes will rise to the level expected provided that the challenges and instruction are meaningful. When academic discipline becomes subordinate to "feel good" policy we all suffer; especially those of whom the misguided policy was intended. Gerald S. Insley, Ashland Guest Forum: Tipping the scales for local schools By Jeff Schlecht Ashland For the last ten years, I have been the principal of a school in Oregon. This means, that because of financial constraints, I have been forced to reduce opportunities for students and tell staff members that they no longer have their jobs. With optimism in my heart, I kept believing through the years that the worst was over. Reality has set in now with the defeat of Measure 28. I, like my colleagues across the state, am no longer doing my best to just trim around the edges; I will be taking school away from kids. The Ashland School District will reduce eight days from the second semester. This means a total of ten days have been eliminated from the school year to help balance our budget. We are concerned over lost instructional days and childcare expenses. I am also deeply concerned that no one is talking about the deep pay cuts educators are experiencing. Educators across the state are watching their school districts being dismantled. As I write this article, the Portland School District is planning to drop 24 days from its second semester schedule! Hope is hard to find in school hallways. Yet, in Ashland, citizens have again demonstrated their unselfish financial support. The evidence is very clear with the local passage of Measure 28 that Ashland citizens value education and understand its role as a foundation of a strong democratic society. Thank you voters for this example and others through the years. Ashland is unique in its role as a benefactor to schools. We are one of the few districts statewide that has a community backed levy, which sustains extra-curricular activities. In response to our citizen's support, the Ashland school district provides a first class educational system. We have been identified as one of the top 100 school districts in the nation. Citizens should take pride in the fact that the high school has one of the lowest drop out rates, as well as some of the highest CIM and SAT scores in the state. Look what we've accomplished together! Incredible! The constant budget challenges have motivated great local people to save our schools. The Ashland Schools Foundation elevated its profile to increase the school districts' success last year by raising over $400,000 in a campaign to save essential school services. The ASF worked with district educators and directed the donated money to preserve opportunities for students from Kindergarten to grade 12. Remarkable! Specifically, at Ashland High School, because the ASF was successful in their fund raising, we were able to add the following classes: Algebra 1, Spanish 1, Health 1, Essential Science (two sessions), Photography, Biology. These classes are filled with students who otherwise would not have had a place to go. They would have taken an "out" period, or been placed in a class that had already been closed due to suggested class size limitations. The ASF is a beacon of light penetrating the dark shadow of continuing reductions. More opportunities for kids exist in the 2002-03 school year because volunteers, possibility thinkers, asked what they could do to help and went out and accomplished it. Their actions, and the generous response of the Ashland Community, provide for a more vibrant school district. I feel fortunate. No, blessed is a more accurate word to describe my feeling about Ashland citizens. When the votes or donations are counted, the citizens of Ashland have steadfastly said education is indispensable. When I look into the classrooms that the ASF supplied this year, I see the hands go up, sense the teacher's passion, and watch as creative juices stir. Thank you ASF and Ashland citizens, together we can tip the scales in favor for a brighter future. Outstanding! LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -