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6A Daily News – Wednesday, June 5, 2013 Opinion DAILY NEWS RED BLUFF TEHAMA COUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U NTY S I N C E 1 8 8 5 Greg Stevens, Publisher gstevens@redbluffdailynews.com Chip Thompson, Editor editor@redbluffdailynews.com Editorial policy The Daily News opinion is expressed in the editorial. The opinions expressed in columns, letters and cartoons are those of the authors and artists. Letter policy The Daily News welcomes letters from its readers on timely topics of public interest. All letters must be signed and provide the writer's home street address and home phone number. Anonymous letters, open letters to others, pen names and petition-style letters will not be allowed. Letters should be typed and cannot exceed two double-spaced pages or 500 words. When several letters address the same issue, a cross section of those submitted will be considered for publication. Letters will be edited. Letters are published at the discretion of the editor. 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Everett McDonough, Red Bluff Wonderful program Editor: When asked to sub at EOA for the remainder of the year, I had no idea how attached I would become to the staff and this wonderful program. I must admit, I knew very little about the EOA program — just thinking it was another independent study. I apologize that I never took the time to see how unique and valuable this program was. I think I have now subbed everywhere in the district. It is a privilege because I can see how the day to day operations go. I can see the good in and value to each program. I have had the privilege to work with college prep, special ed, at risk and every other type of student. The one thing I feel very, very strongly about is the diversity of programs RBHSD has always offered. There is something for every student, not just the typical student. EOA was just that for the students I have been able to communicate with during the last months. It was not RBHS, Reach, Rebound, ISP, Salisbury or any other program at RBHS, it was EOA and just right for these students. I'm so sorry to see you, teachers and staff, go. What a wonderful job you did with this program. Dianne Davidson, Red Bluff Educational Outreach Academy Editor: My name is Janie Reitan, and I am a science teacher at a charter high school in Red Bluff called the Educational Outreach Academy. By the end of this week, that name will be only in the memories of those who were lucky enough to have been part of this program, as our school is being closed down. I wanted the community of Red Bluff to know what it has meant to me to be a part of it. For five years, I have worked in one of the most unique and exciting academic environments, and it the better from my time here. I has been a privilege to work with have developed so much as a the devoted and truly gifted teach- teacher, a coworker, a friend, and as a person. ers we have here. Thank you for the memories I have been blessed with the RBHSD. experience of teaching Janie Reitan, Cotat the EOA, and it is bitYour tonwood tersweet to see something so special and cherished coming to an end. The great variety of students we had were accommodated with specialized attention Editor: and adapted education due to our I have to applaud the recent one-on-one structure here. It letters of Mr. Gray and Mr. Van made for a very personal learning environment, allowing for incred- Dyke. Their comments are the ibly strong bonds between the same as I would make. I well recall Mr. Polson's instructors and the students, as admission that he protested the well as their families. The EOA offered students a Vietnam War and marched place that was centered around against that fiasco. His reason? them. Their learning styles and His butt was on the line. I have a needs were taken into account relative in Oregon who would with each visit at our desks. Les- mirror this action. He, too, son plans were adjusted and indi- marched against the Vietnam War vidualized based on what would because his butt was on the line, benefit each kid the most. Then, and he had more important things after the subject matter was dis- to do — just like Dick Cheney. When I commented on my cussed, I was eager and fortunate concern over our involvement in to get to listen to them describe family trips, friend drama, horri- the Bush wars because my Army ble childhood experiences, or grandson's life was on the line in uplifting stories of triumphs and Afghanistan, his comment was, faith. I have gotten and given "well, he volunteered for military hugs and advice, flowers and service and should not complain." What hypocrisy? candy, reminiscences and love. In both of these situations, I am beyond grateful for the hypocrisy equals cowardice. I five years I have had as a part of the RBHSD community, and feel was drafted at the end of WWII, special for the ties it has created but never resisted it. Fortunately for me in Red Bluff. I will miss, for me, the shooting was over by more than I can express, this the time I was in uniform, but I greatly under-appreciated school, was prepared to do what was and will forever be changed for asked of me. Hugh Merhoff, Red Bluff Turn Letters praised Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Dan Logue, 1550 Humboldt Road, Ste. 4, Chico, CA 95928, 530-895-4217 STATE SENATOR — Jim Nielsen, 2635 Forest Ave., Ste. 110, Chico, CA 95928, (530) 879-7424, senator.nielsen@senate.ca.gov GOVERNOR — Jerry Brown, State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 445-2841; Fax (916) 5583160; E-mail: governor@governor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Doug LaMalfa 506 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515, 202-2253076. U.S. SENATORS — Dianne Feinstein (D), One Post Street, Suite 2450, San Francisco, CA 94104; (415) 393-0707. Fax (415) 3930710. Barbara Boxer (D), 1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (510) 286-8537. Fax (202) 224-0454. Commentary The games behind the Olympics Games Washington, D.C., is in the grip of scandals, the economy is stumbling and a host of other challenges are weighing me down — which is why I prefer to dwell on more obscure subjects, such as a battle raging behind the scenes over the 2020 Olympics. According to the Toronto Star, the International Olympic Committee shocked the world recently when it dropped wrestling from its list of core sports for the 2020 games — in favor of other sports more likely to interest younger viewers. Well, the wrestling folks aren't going down without a fight. Wrestling is competing with seven other sports for a single 2020 opening: baseball/softball (baseball, cut in the past, is fighting for a new spot), squash, inline speed skating, sport climbing (rock climbing), wakeboarding (a form of water skiing), karate and wushu (kung fu fighting). Personally, I think any of these eight sports would make for a great Olympic event. Sure, I might prefer racquetball over squash, but baseball is a great American-invented sport, inline speed skating is a blast to watch, rock climbing is scary and exhilarating, wakeboarding is hugely entertaining, and who doesn't want to see karate and kung fu fighting? Besides, the choices could be plenty worse. Yahoo News reports that, with the popularity of TV dancing contests, some are pushing to add ballroom dancing to the Olympic roster. Sure, the games have not traditionally included "artistic" events, but ballroom enthusiasts argue that rhythmic gymnastics — in which gymnasts jump around with hoops, batons and brightly colored fabric — has been added to the Olympic list. Sure, ballroom dancing requires athleticism and finesse. It is an art form celebrated by American greats Gene Kelly, Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire. Then again, any American "sport" in which you can blow out a knee by tripping over the buffet table probably shouldn't quality as an Olympic event. That brings us to pole dancing — that's right, pole dancing. According to the British newspaper The Independent, some hope this "sport" made popular by women who shed their clothes in smoky bars can tremendous balance one day become an and stamina — only a Olympic event. true competitor can I'd pay good money drink three pitchers of (again) to see that. beer and still bowl a Which brings us to perfect 300. bowling. Still, bowling has Chuck Pezzano of made little headway The Record, a New toward becoming an Jersey newspaper, says Olympic sport and is the bowling people not likely to. have made several In any event, as attempts to have their America's capital sport added to the goes into scandal Olympic roster over Tom overdrive and the the years. During the country continues to 1936 games, they go to hell in a handstaged exhibitions and basket, I wish all eight tournaments. Though well-received, bowling did not competing sports luck as they make the cut. They staged vie for a spot in the Olympics. I will continue to follow another exhibition at the Seoul Olympics in 1988, also without their behind-the-scenes battles closely — as they offer a welresult. Bowling "features men, come respite from the sorry women and children, (and is) state that America's people, well organized in more than economy and politics are in 100 bowling federations around these days. the world. There are no barriers Tom Purcell, a humor because of size, age, sex or language. Rules are fairly simple columnist for the Pittsburgh ... . A country with thousands of Tribune-Review, is nationally bowling centers or a nation syndicated exclusively by with one can develop a team or Cagle Cartoons newspaper an individual to qualify for one syndicate. Visit Tom on the Web of the events, despite limited at www.TomPurcell.com or email him at budgets," Pezzano writes. Better yet, bowling requires Purcell@caglecartoons.com. Purcell