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6A Daily News – Saturday, May 14, 2011 Opinion D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 Akind gesture Editor: 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 let- ters from its readers on timely topics of public interest. All let- ters must be signed and pro- vide the writer’s home street address and home phone num- ber. 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 submit- ted will be considered for publi- cation. Letters will be edited. 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Fax (415) 393-0710. Barbara Boxer (D), 1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (415) 403-0100. Fax (202) 224- 0454. Marathons and magic water Commentary Reading the April 30 edition of the Red Bluff Daily News about the Boston Marathon and state test preparation at Ante- lope School District brought back some memories. It was 20 years ago that I took our daughter, Christina, to Boston to visit the Boston Uni- versity campus and examine their vocal performance pro- gram. She had been accepted there, and we flew in from Ober- lin where she had spent a night in the dorms and visited some students and professors. It was April, and time for the Boston Marathon; the cabbie who picked us up at the airport asked me if I was there to run in the marathon. I told him if his ques- tion was based on his eyesight we were riding with another dri- ver. He laughed, and we suc- cessfully navigated our way through the constricted traffic funnel that led into Boston from the Logan Airport. (This was well before the infamous big dig replaced the constricting funnel with a leaky tunnel.) Christina spent six years at Boston University, the last two in the Opera Institute. It was time well spent and gave us an opportunity to learn to navigate the maze of non right angle streets that Boston presents to the non-resident. We learned that streets can cross each other more than once, that double parking is to be expected, and that street trolleys always have the right of way. I noticed in the Daily News that Red Bluff resident, Lonnie Scott had run in the Boston Marathon for the first time this year. Lonnie is in much better shape that I was twenty years ago, and, of course, younger. My favorite story about Lonnie is a fond memory of the early years of youth soccer in Red Bluff. Lonnie was on one of the first teams I coached. In those early years finding coaches was not easy, so I became a soccer coach. I had only played a little soccer during physical education classes in junior high school, but I “volun- teered” after my arm had reached its twisting limit. We did not do well as a team, but I prided myself in trying to teach kids about what it meant to be on a team and to enjoy them- selves. I told the players that everyone would be rotated through each position on the team…despite unsought advice from fathers who were sure their child would be an excellent goalie, fullback, or striker. One year we had the only girls in the league on our team; the three girls were very good athletes, and our all-male oppo- nents did not quite know what to do when teams shook hands with each other after the games. Shaking hands with girls was not something they had ever done. We had 15 players on our team; usually they all showed up for the game and practice; prac- tice was then only one afternoon after school each week. Only eleven players could play at a time. Once another coach showed up with only seven play- ers; he offered to forfeit the game. I told him we wanted to play, and he could have some of our players so all the kids would be able to play. He was not sure about what I said, and he told me, “I can’t do that because your players will not play well so your team can win.” I then told him to pick any of four players he wanted; it didn’t mat- ter because all the kids, his and mine, had come to play. He picked the kids, and both teams had a good time. I don’t remem- ber which team won, but I do know all 22 kids did. Back to Lonnie Scott: One game was a scoreless tie until just before the half time. I had an overweight boy playing at goalie, and one of our opponents kicked a ball by him and into the goal net. One of the boys on our team said, “God, fatso, you should have blocked that.” I confronted the boy who had insulted the goalie. His response was “I didn’t say God.” After suppress- ing a laugh, I asked if he had spoken to encourage his team mate, or if he thought he might have hurt the goalie’s feelings. He shrugged, but soon looked sheepish. I told him he had not acted like a good team mate, and he would have to for- feit playing for the rest of the game. I then sent him over to the downcast goalie and told him they needed to talk. During the second half I could see that the two boys were having an animated conversa- tion, and both were smiling. I went over and asked the boy if he had learned anything about being a good team mate. He gave a good answer, so I put him in with very little time on the clock. I felt good, he felt good, but we were still behind 1-0. While my repentant players was accustoming himself to being back in the game, and with almost no time left on the clock, Lonnie intercepted a pass, dribbled down the far sideline, and scored a goal. We pulled out a tie, but I felt victorious. I couldn’t help snickering when I read that the Antelope School was passing out “smart Joe Harrop water” to help students improve their scores on the state tests. I am not sure if this is dispensing medication without a license, or simply trying to manipulate stu- dents, but I do know schools attempt many things to make sure students are at their best on test days. When I was teach- ing in San Francisco I participated in a state funded program to improve reading and mathematics learning; we tested our students with a standardized test in the fall and in the spring. The spring version of the test was a problem for us. The first short essay in the reading comprehen- sion portion of the test contained a French idiom in the first sentence of the first paragraph. Our students lived less than three miles from the Pacific Ocean, but many had never seen it. Most students lived with single mothers in either low rent slums or in pub- lic housing projects. Although the test was allegedly not cultur- ally biased, that idiom threw our kids for a loop and discouraged them. We didn’t have smart water, but we did devise a test similar to the standardized test with a foreign idiom in it, and proceeded to help the students learn how to understand it. (Our test results improved with the student confidence we built, which I am sure they may in Antelope. Antelope students do relatively well when compared with the rest of the state.) Joe Harrop is a retired educator with more than 30 years of service to the North State. He can be reached at DrJoeHarrop@sbcglobal.net. My name is Teo and I work at a local pharmacy here in town. I deal with patients on a daily basis and see what or who they are by how they approach us at the counter or drive through. This letter is about a special person that came in today and I will try to say as much as I can with out violating both HIPPA or company policy. There was a patient that came in today and was told here that her medication was $180. With this news the patient was in tears because she wasn’t able to pay for it and walked away to her car, and it was crucial that she gets it — it’s a breathing treatment that she must do each day with her oxygen. As the manager and I were trying to find a way to resolve her problem and try to make it to where she can afford it, a coworker was helping another patient next to us, that patient heard what was going on and she approach the manager ask- ing if there was a way that she could get a hold of them. Again we could not give her any information with out violating HIPPA or company policy, we were unable to let her know anything. As we tried to explain the patient just simply said “How much is it and is it OK that I pay for it?” The manager and I were in basically in tears, as we could not believe that a total stranger would pay that much money without knowing who these people were and that it didn’t matter how much it was. When we got the medication ready, that patient took out her check book and paid for it in full without wanting anything back in return. This act of kindness is sel- dom seen or heard of. I and my coworkers did not know how to thank her, did not know how to put in words how wonderful and thoughtful it was of her. She has made believe that there are still people out there with a heart of gold, and will- ing to help out without wanting anything in return. Abortion Editor: There must be a better alter- Your Turn I really do wish I could tell you who she is so she can get the recognition that she deserves. She is truly a God- given angel put among us at the right place and at the right time. To this person I would like to thank with all my heart and wish that many good things would come her way. God Bless Her and her fam- ily. Teo Chavez, Red Bluff native than mandating that tax- payers fund the termi- nation of millions of babies lives. Through abortion. As an active Catholic I support the Planned Parenthood programs of training Medicaid receivers on preventing the birth of the unwanted through safe sex, and the medical care of those who have no alternative sources because of poor past choices. Many state legislators and our Congress support the end of funding ending the life of babies, but fully support the health safe- ty goals of Planned Parenthood. These clinics should end their practice of fostering abortions so taxpayers can avoid being a party to premeditated murder. Joseph Neff, Corning