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The Nugget Newspaper
Sisters, Oregon
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The contents of the on-line edition of The Nugget represent a selection among the stories that appear in the weekly print edition.

Letters, letters, letters
The Nugget welcomes contributions from its readers, which must include the writer's name, address and phone number. Letters to the Editor is an open forum for the community and contains unsolicited opinions not necessarily shared by the Editor. The Nugget reserves the right to edit, omit, respond or ask for a response to letters submitted to the Editor. Letters should be no longer than 300 words. Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned. The deadline for all letters is noon Monday.

To the Editor:

In response to the letter by Debbie Williams (The Nugget, September 24):

Ms. Williams, I understand that everyone would like to place all of their trust in the public school system and in the teachers. I also agree with the statement that students cannot thrive without the aid and support of their parents.

However, I feel that one of your statements contradicts the intention of your letter.

You say, "...they are doing a wonderful job teaching our children as noted in the recent state testing score results" (emphasis added by author).

The fact of the matter is that teachers and their curriculum are now being boxed in by these same state tests.

They have to teach to the test, and all children are learning to do is memorize the right answer and be able to fill in a bubble.

The results from the tests are saying, 'yes children can mimic the answers from the practice tests; but there is no independent thinking involved,' and the little individual attention that students were once able to count on is dwindling due to the deadlines and requirements that state testing sets for public schools in Oregon.

Please understand from the perspective of a former student from Sisters High School.

The figures on state tests are extremely misleading, and I can tell you from personal experience mean nothing to the institutions of higher education, or the real world.

Lynn Partridge

* * *

To the Editor:

I am a single parent of two school age children. I am very familiar with both home school and public school. I myself experienced both as a youth, as well as having three nieces and nephews that attend home school and three that attend public school.

I completely agree that on a majority level, public schools in this nation are failing, but we live in Sisters, not East L.A. The teachers and staff in our schools are parents as well as friends in this community.

I do not believe that we are all just blindly sending our children off for eight hours a day, five days a week, nine months out of the year. I know I am providing mine with guidance, tender loving care, and teaching them what my "truths" are, and even what others' "truths" are so as to not create narrow minded individuals.

I volunteer in my children's classes, ride as a bus monitor for my preschool, and attend field trips and activities. Involvement does not just stop there however, we talk about school everyday at home and we all do our school work together since I attend college as well. Just because they are learning during the day from the professionals does not mean that we all don't spend loads of time with our kids; playing, teaching and creating that "unforgettable bond."

I think that when one chooses to raise their family in a community like Sisters, that one should do exactly that. Allow your children to be a part of this wonderful town and the people that live here. When they are isolated with "constant parental supervision" how do they learn how to function in society?

Our small schools, funding or no, will not remain as strong and impressive as they are unless we all stay involved and take pride in the atmosphere we all work to provide in this town.

Melody Shindler

* * *

To the Editor:

Last week, the Sisters Middle School eighth grade students participated in a three-day Leadership Retreat (see story).

As part of their curriculum, they accomplished community service projects for the Forest Service. They cared for our public land by collecting native plant seed at Suttle Lake; re-siding a historic bathroom at the Cinder Beach Day Use site; closed a non-system road in the Metolius Basin; conducted a wildlife habitat survey at Scout Lake; and redefined trail access to Lake Creek.

These projects improve the health of our forest ecosystems and enhance recreational experiences for the American public. Thank you, eighth graders and teaching staff for this important contribution to our community.

Bill Anthony

Sisters District Ranger

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