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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the Editor, Oct. 26 MailTribune.com Writer Posted Oct. 26, 2015 @ 12:01 am Posted Oct. 26, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Bilingual teachers are out there A recent article the MT reprinted from the Bend Bulletin suggests that school districts have difficulty staffing bilingual programs. That shortage is mostly a regulatory artifact of the way teacher licensure is administered. The state of Oregon has long maintained segregated endorsement tracks for multiple-subject elementary authorization (general classroom teachers) and language development specialists. Consequently, most teachers with bilingual competence may only teach single-subject classes at the secondary level or pull-out classes at the elementary level, even though they may have endorsements to teach both English language development and Spanish. The pool of educators with both multi-subject and bilingual authorizations is, of course, tiny since it requires the arduous pursuit of multiple endorsements. But that's an artificial scarcity resulting from Department of Education and and No Child Left Behind officialism. Bilingual educators who possess the pragmatic skills needed to competently deliver dual-language instruction are out there. Overspecialization and petty exactitude in licensing requirements prevent them from being hired. Steve Bismarck Medford A historic rail car Sunday’s Oct. 18 Mail Tribune announced the reopening of the historic Siskiyou Line to local railroad traffic. On a related note, while visiting Klamath Falls on Thursday, June 19, I was present at the Amtrak Depot (1909), 1600 Oak Ave., upon arrival of the northbound Amtrak. Connected at the end of train was an authentic original 1921 Pullman Palace Company state car. Stenciled on the side of coach it read: Cyrus K. Holliday Kennebeck Financial Corporation Private Business Car Built 1921 The Soo Line Cyrus K. Holliday (1826-1900) was first president of the Atchison, Topeka and Sante Fe Railroad, and later president of the Kansas State Historical Society. Learn about the historical Pullman Palace Car Company (established 1867) in Chicago, Ill., via both Google and YouTube. Also, a YouTube video titled: "Cyrus K. Holliday private car on California Zephyr" and RailPictures.Net Forums below the video. I admired this Pullman car from outside, of course, as dignitaries were lounging inside. People gathered around taking photos with their cameras and smartphones. At these online sites you can thus enjoy viewing and reading about the Cyrus K. Holliday Pullman Palace state car. James A. Farmer Ashland Connect the dots Thanks to Jeff Fox (Mail Tribune letters, Oct. 18) for reminding us that droughts have occurred in this region before. He could also inform us of past periods of wildfires and low snowfall. And next, about periods of high temperatures. It's good to have an historical viewpoint as we try to make sense of what we are facing today. But I challenge Mr. Fox to find historical data supporting when Southern Oregon has ever experienced such severe drought, such high temperatures, so many days over 100 degrees, such great fire risk, and such low snowfall all at the same time. As long as we look at a tree in isolation, we may get lost in the forest. Worse yet, if we only look at one dot at a time, we may never be able to connect them. A severe drought by itself is a dot, as are each of the other factors on the above list. Many dots, interconnected, is a pattern that begs attention. If climate change deniers applied an unbiased rational mind to this pattern, they would be able to connect the dots and see a global warming pattern and cause, as do most scientists today. Diana O'Farrell Ashland MailTribune.com Writer Posted Oct. 26, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » 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 Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site 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. 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