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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories ODOT employees save the day for duck family Escaped bull runs free at county fair UPDATED: I-5 back open for southbound traffic near truck crash Rogue River Drive fire 50 percent contained Since You Asked: No traffic signal slated at Main and Highland Crime, Courts and Emergency Services UPDATED: I-5 back open for southbound traffic near truck crash Rogue River Drive fire 50 percent contained No cause determined in fire that destroyed historic house Emergency Services All evacuation advisories lifted for Rogue River Drive fire Politics and Elections Commissioner Skundrick plans final four town hall meetings Medford eyes electronic sign visual pollution Medford council veterans plan exit Medical marijuana patients run for council seat Former colleagues laud Atiyeh's 'practical' leadership Education A test of mettle: GED tests are more rigorous Middle schoolers get a taste of college living Abraham Lincoln Elementary parents raise money for new playground State treasurer stumps for educational endowment measure Free meals program expands in Grants Pass Environment Stressed but off life support Rogue watershed councils plan to merge West Nile Virus found in mosquitoes collected near Central Point State news Nation - World Obituaries Clarence "C.A" A. 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Or how not to get stranded on the trail Fishing Report: Friday, Aug. 15 Denman parking scofflaws get reprieve Food Community blog: Spur quicker consumption with quick pickling Dutch ovens are a versatile way to cook outdoors Matt’s Favorite Pie Crust Peach Pie Southwestern Baked Chicken Home and Garden Lawn talk Tips for keeping backyard birds cool this summer Bath time for the birds: You can help them stay cool and clean Learn to pick produce at the peak of ripeness Support the mycorrhizae! It could help your plants Health Community blog:Can We Define Quality Health Care? Patient numbers double at local clinics Shaking that plumb-tuckered feeling Community blog:Maybe the Movies Will Lead the Way Asante plans to open big outpatient clinic in Grants Pass Hiking Faith Community Blog: Is Peace Possible in the Middle East - Part three of four Religion briefs Community Blog: Is Peace Possible in the Middle East part 2 Religion briefs Community Blog: Peace: The inward passage - by Bonnie Greenwell Milestones and Achievements Century Club New Arrivals Wedding: Schulman-Nadolny Stuss-Bones Births Columnist for a Day Tempo Latest stories Third Fridays art walk in Medford Film festival kicks off annual 'Daedalus Project' Review: The joy of 'Godspell' is infectious Delta Halos and The Lures at Club 66 Tye Austin bids Ashland 'adieu' Theater Film festival kicks off annual 'Daedalus Project' Review: The joy of 'Godspell' is infectious Randall Theatre opens 'Godspell' Entertainment 'on the bricks' at OSF 'Shrek' comes to the stage as a musical Music Review: Béla Fleck pairs his banjo with Britt orchestra Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra at Pear Blossom Park Duke Street: 'On the Fly' Fleck to perform banjo concerto Sweet Ghosts at Oberon's Community Events 5 Things to Do This Weekend 5 Things to Do This Weekend Dining Basil & Berries India Palace Taco Riendo Uber Herbal Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Our View: School success is about more than the three Rs MailTribune.com Writer Posted Aug. 5, 2014 @ 2:00 am Updated Aug 6, 2014 at 9:36 AM Posted Aug. 5, 2014 @ 2:00 am Updated Aug 6, 2014 at 9:36 AM » Social News Oregon's top education officer says she wants to reduce alarmingly high absenteeism in the state's public schools and focus on teaching primary students to read by grade three. If Nancy Golden wants to make sure students show up for class, she should get away from the "just the basics" approach. A series of reports in The Oregonian revealed that Oregon's public schools have the highest rate of chronic absenteeism in the country: Nearly 20 percent of students statewide missed at least 10 percent of the school year in 2012-13. In addition, graduation rates are abysmally low. Only 68 percent of the class of 2012 graduated on time — the second worst rate in the country. That those numbers are unacceptable should go without saying. What to do about them is another question. Certainly early reading instruction is one key. Research shows 75 percent of students who struggle with reading but don't get extra help until after third grade will be poor readers the rest of their lives. At the same time, 85 percent of students who get help with reading before third grade can be brought up to average reading ability. The ability to read and read well is fundamental to everything else a student does in school and in life. But even average or above-average readers won't come to school if there is nothing there to keep them interested. That doesn't mean the basics of language arts and math should be neglected, but it means schools must offer more. More means music, art, theater, dance — all those subjects frequently derided as "frills" when school budgets are discussed. Medford's new superintendent, Brian Shumate, knows very well that one person's "frills" are the entire reason for some students to attend school at all. In a get-acquainted meeting with the Mail Tribune editorial board, Shumate continually stressed his desire to make school more attractive to more students. For some students, that may mean stimulating math and science classes. For others, it may mean the opportunity to play in the band, or sing n the choir. Shumate said one of the high schools where he was principal in Louisville, Ky., started a guitar class. Students, many of whom were at risk of dropping out, had a reason to come to school every day. The point is not to turn every student into a professional guitarist, but to give them a reason to show up. They can't very well absorb the core academic subjects if they aren't in class. That means making sure all the focus isn't on academics. Research shows that students who participate in music classes perform better in academic subjects as well. Unfortunately, music and art programs often are the first to go when cust must be made. If that has the effect of driving away students who otherwise would attend, it's counterproductive. School funding is primarily dependent on the Legislature, and the amount of money available for schools and all other government spending depends on the health of the economy. But let's not forget that students who strugggle to graduate and and don't read well when they do aren't likely to contribute much to that economy. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Aug. 5, 2014 @ 2:00 am Updated Aug 6, 2014 at 9:36 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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