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Friday, May 18, 2012
Covering Dallas, Monmouth, Independence, Falls City and surrounding areas since 1868
February 21, 2012
Elective classes
vital for students
Dallas School District enrollment numbers are dropping in direct proportion to the decrease in electives offered for students ("State enrollment numbers are flat," Feb. 15 Itemizer-Observer).
While electives may seem like they are not a big deal, many students need the electives to help them reach their career goals. Other students have such a dislike for school that having that elective for a fun outlet is the only motivation for continuing to work hard at school.
If Dallas wants to see growth in their school enrollment numbers, they need to first look at how they can better serve the current students they have with an elective offering that reaches the most students.
Other districts are faced with similar challenges and have opted to decrease elective offerings and increasing the amount of time in each class. Having just moved to Dallas from the Salem-Keizer district, I know this firsthand.
Dallas needs to find a way to skimp, without abolishing electives altogether. Look at other districts to get a model for how they are able to manage and still offer a quality education.
Tara Waldron
Dallas
Thank you and
bless you
On Feb. 1, my son, Lee Ingram, passed away at his home. Lee was an outstanding officer for the Dallas Police Department for more than 25 years and a friend to so many of you.
I am not writing this letter to tell you what a good officer, friend or son Lee was; many of you already know that. I just want to express my heartfelt thanks to the people of this community for the support and outreach you have provided to his family this past two weeks.
I grew up in a small community in Western Oregon and I know how close-knit smaller communities can be. But even with that background, I am in absolute awe of the amount of support his family has received this past two weeks. It is absolutely devastating to lose your child and there are few words that can erase the pain. But the compassion in the voices and the tears in the eyes of the people I have talked to this past two weeks, many of them whom I have never met, are an open and honest expression of your feelings for my son.
The tributes posted around town, the strangers who have dropped what they are doing to talk to me, and the wonderful attendance at his service on Feb. 11 just reinforce the experiences I have had in talking to so many of you. Those efforts have done more to help heal this old broken heart than anything else that has happened to me.
I am very proud of my son. He was a compassionate, caring man, whether in uniform or not, a dedicated family man and a good friend to many of you. This past two weeks, the actions of the people in this community and the comments and stories you have shared with me have taken my pride to a new, higher level.
While he is gone way too early, he made his mark on this community and this community has in turn made your mark in my heart. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support of Lee's family this past two weeks and for your continued support in the weeks and months to come. God bless each and every one of you in the wonderful community.
Rod Ingram
Cornelius
ACEBOOK