Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/31787
6A Daily News – Tuesday, May 17, 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 Graduation 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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How to reach us Main office: 527-2151 Classified: 527-2151 Circulation: 527-2151 News tips: 527-2153 Sports: 527-2153 Obituaries: 527-2151 Photo: 527-2153 On the Web www.redbluffdailynews.com Fax Newsroom: 527-9251 Classified: 527-5774 Retail Adv.: 527-5774 Legal Adv.: 527-5774 Business Office: 527-3719 Address 545 Diamond Ave. Red Bluff, CA 96080, or P.O. Box 220 Red Bluff, CA 96080 Editor: Traditionally raised small community people don’t like change and when they have to have it they like it slow and gradual. No surprises. It’s just the way we are made. It appears as though we have raised our children the same! Most of our families are not corporate America. Urban life is not for us, hence the reason we stayed....or returned!! I’m writing this as my own personal opinion concerning the change of venue for Vista’s 8th grade graduation. 1 believe there is something more going on. I refuse to believe that Mr. Yates and Mr. McCoy and the school board are arbitrarily changing things. I have more respect for them than that. Their decision could have even been based on The Presi- dent of the United States stat- ing (New York Times article, 2008), that 8th graders should just get a handshake. That is not verbatim. I Googled around and found that the nation is divided on how much to “praise” children prior to high school graduation. It is true, some schools go way overboard, limousines, bac- calaureates, picnics, dances, very high school graduation- like. And that seemed to be the basis of his comment. I was aware that it was a privilege to have a ceremony and dance and not a right. I was unaware that some people and some schools don’t have any celebration or ceremony for any grade but high school. After educating myself, I decided that it cannot be com- prehended by any adult or child either side unless it was or wasn’t experienced. Those that have had a positive expe- rience of an 8th grade ceremo- ny and celebration want it passed down to their offspring. Those that haven’t experi- enced it don’t understand what the big deal is. It truly appears inconceivable either way. So, I concede back to the in keeping of our community tradition to have the graduation in the evening at the high school. It is probably impossible to convince any one person but I will take a stab. I personally don’t always understand the importance or emotional attachment to a keepsake or heirloom, but I completely support those when they do. I don’t feel it but I do empathize with their need to honor it. No one could possibly understand the meaning behind it and it would be difficult to explain, just as this. Our community has traditions. Our ranch/farm rural area is in keeping with our community traditions. Round Up, fair, community events, etc... They occur year after year, same place, same time. We count on that. I read some of the opinions posted after the Daily News article. Anger presented itself first, parents and children alike. Anger rarely comes across organized with a lot of thought behind it. The transla- tion may have been missed. I apologize if mine sounded like an attack. I try to be practical most of the time and I like things to go my way too, but I won’t bully administration into doing anything because I want them to. But I don’t have any problem at all making my request known! So, if time permits, Mr. Yates, Mr. McCoy, School Board and any others involved in the process, please consider moving the Vista graduation ceremony back to the Red Bluff High School football field in the evening in keeping with the tradition and honor of our small community of past, present, and future genera- tions. Thank you, Erika Manasco, Red Bluff Clock tower Editor: One of the windows in the new clock tower on the corner of Main and Walnut is bro- ken. It was brought to my attention the day of the Chili Cook Off that it had been like that for some time. I know that the local Rotary Club and the Masonic Lodge were instrumental in funding the project. However, who is responsible for main- tenance and repairs? I hope it does not take as long to repair the window as it did to rebuild the tower. It seems to me that fixing a win- dow is a whole lot cheaper than a law suit if the broken glass happens to fall on some- one at the base of the tower. Loretta Heisler, Red Bluff Religious TV con artists Editor: I've found a way to get filthy rich in a very short time — get a program on religious TV. Your Turn The poor suckers who give to these TV ministries should have their heads and hearts examined. I watched Christ- ian TV last night, and one after another would sell you a blessing for just a $1,000 seed faith gift. I decided to go online to guidestar.org and look at the salaries these char- latans were paying them- selves — it is an eye-opener. The highest paid in 2009 was Franklin Graham, who was paid $616,665 by Samaritan's Purse, and another $120,205 by Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Other members of the Graham family were Billy Graham at $285,943, and Mr. Graham's grandson who earned only $105,224. Cliff Barrows, Mr. Graham's long-time associate, only made $235,165. Trinity Broadcasting Net- work's Paul and Jan Crouch were not far behind. The total paid to them and their son was $1,023,758. These salary figures do not include the value of the pri- vate jets furnished to them, the mansions they live in, or the fancy cars furnished by the ministries. All of this information is easily verifiable by going to www.guidestar.org, which posts the IRS forms 990 on that website for anybody to review. Has anybody ever asked Congressman Wally Herger what he has done to curtail this rip-off of innocent peo- ple? The silence would be golden. Jim Quick, Red Bluff Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Jim Nielsen (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 6031 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 319-2002; Fax (916) 319-2102 STATE SENATOR — Doug LaMalfa (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 3070 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 651-4004; Fax (916) 445-7750 GOVERNOR — Jerry Brown, State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 445-2841; Fax (916) 558-3160; E-mail: gover- nor@governor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Wally Herger (R), 2635 Forest Ave. Ste. 100, Chico, CA 95928; 893-8363. U.S.SENATORS — Dianne Feinstein (D), One Post Street, Suite 2450, San Francisco, CA 94104; (415) 393-0707. Fax (415) 393-0710. Barbara Boxer (D), 1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (415) 403-0100. Fax (202) 224- 0454. What our teachers are worth Commentary Yesterday, Don Polson wrote, "I could easily state that teachers aren’t worth what they are paid." So, does he actually believe that or just making an argu- ment? Is this something he truly believes or a blank statement to continue his comments on May 16 against public education? So, Mr. Polson, do you really and truly believe that we teach- ers are not worth what we are paid? I could sit here, rant and rave, and make a perfectly reasonable argument for myself. However, I don’t think that’s necessary; I know what I’m worth — remember, satire is a service we offer here. Part of his beef was over the fact that most teachers make more than the average Joe in this county. Is that news to any- one around here? I’ve been here 20 years and nothing has changed in that regard. Back when I made $26,000 a year, I was still in the top 90 percent of income earn- ers. I laugh because I was poor then. I feel for those who strug- gle financially in this county. Poverty walks through our hall- ways each and every day at the high school. I know the same is true at the elementary level. I wonder if Mr. Polson knows that of our current student body, 56 percent are on what we call free and reduced lunch. That’s up 2-3 percent from last year. If anyone knows how many poor folks there are in this town, it’s us. And let me tell you: Red Bluff High does a great job of taking care of those kids. I could tell you story after story after story of the generos- ity some teachers have shown to families of kids who are less fortunate. However, is it fair to say – or even insinuate – that it’s the teachers’ fault they make more money than the next guy? I don’t want to say I was offended by the writer’s argu- ment because I wasn’t. And I don’t think he was blaming us individually, but rather our CTA Union. I, for one, am glad I belong to our union, but certainly not for political reasons. As a moderate conservative, we have our disagree- ments. However, my union is there to protect me from frivolous lawsuits and unwarranted repri- mands against my job status. Is there anything wrong with that? We also fight for fair com- pensation when appro- priate. Trust me: this does not come free. I have to pay for it in the form of dues every month. I also pay almost $600 a month out of pocket for my health insurance. Our dis- trict matches the other half. My retirement is also a huge benefit of CTA membership. When I call it quits at age 62 (that’s 12 years from now), I will receive 80 per- cent of my final year- ly salary for the rest of my life. It must be known, Pat Gleason Simply Put says. Pat Gleason grew up in Los Angeles and has taught English at Red Bluff High School since 1990. He can be reached at phgleaso@rbuhsd.k12.ca.us. ——— however, that I split that cost with our dis- trict — we both pay 8.5 percent. So, when one figures in union dues, insurance, retirement deductions and taxes, my month- ly check gets gar- nished pretty well. But, I’m not com- plaining because I know I’m fortunate. I also know I’m worth it, regardless of what some writer