Letters and Comments for May 4, 2009

Supporting Berglund

To the Editor:

I have chosen to withdraw my name as a candidate for the La Grande School Board in order to fully support a highly qualified and experienced individual, Mike Berglund.

Mike, his wife and their two school-age children moved here two years ago from Dayton, Wash., where Mike was the sheriff. Prior to this, Mike spent 23 years in program management, which included handling multi-million dollar budgets.

Since coming to our area, Mike has chosen to become very involved in our community. He is a volunteer at our food bank, a member of the Citizens Review Board, board member of the Eastern Oregon Mediation Center and co-chairs the city of La Grande’s Substance Abuse Advisory Commission.

Mike, a veteran, believes in the same family values, ethics and principles that I and so many others in our community feel are essential and needed to be represented on our school board. Mike has a sincere desire to do what it takes to ensure his two children and all district students are provided the best possible learning environment.

Please join me in supporting and voting for Mike in the upcoming school board election. If anyone wants further information, please call me at 975-9117.

Errol Roberts

La Grande

Let’s keep it American

To the Editor:

Where we are headed as a nation? If we continue on the same path, what will we find in the future? Perhaps the following story will help clarify these questions. Challenge the teachers of your high school students to try this simple experiment.

An economics professor at Texas Tech once failed an entire class. The class had insisted that socialism worked and that no one would be poor and no one would be rich. And, although none of the students had lived under socialism, it was thought to be fair. The professor told them that they were going to have an experiment in the class. In the experiment, all grades would be averaged, and everyone would receive the same grade so no one would fail and no one would receive an A.

After the first test, grades were averaged, and everyone got a B. The students who studied the hardest were upset and the students who studied the least were ecstatic. As the second test rolled around, the students who studied little studied even less and the ones who studied hard decided they wanted an easy grade too, so they studied little. The second test average was a D and while not happy with that, the class assumed a “whatever” attitude. The third test averaged an F for everyone.

All of the class had failed because of lack of motivation to do their best. The professor told them that this “equalization” was how socialism is practiced. It has never worked. When the reward is great, the effort to succeed is great, but when government takes all the rewards away, no one will try and all motivation disappears as success is diminished.

The pursuit of happiness is providing opportunity for citizens who are willing to work and achieve. It is the American way. Let’s keep it!

Vicki Fleshman

Joseph

Kudos to reading program

To the Editor:

I have read about the Read to Succeed program’s success in Elgin and all I can say is, “Well done!” Any effort to stamp out and prevent functional illiteracy is welcome.

It is an abomination that functional illiteracy can exist anywhere that education, information and public libraries are freely available to all.

Literacy equals knowledge and knowledge equals power. Small wonder that functional illiteracy is practiced, enforced and even in various places around the world, by those who loathe and fear the words “liberty” and “justice for all.” Said Thomas Jefferson, “The price of liberty is eternal vigilance,” and literacy leads to liberty.

So keep up the good work always, “Read to Succeed.” For all America and the world in every generation.

Ron Fischer

Elgin

Will make right decisions

To the Editor:

I support John Sprenger for election to the La Grande School Board, Position 4. John has a vast knowledge of finances and will be vigilant in advocating the prudent use of the tax dollars that fund the La Grande School District.

John will work with others on the board to make the right decisions regarding school district issues. John will devote the time necessary to study each issue, and he will perform the duties of a school board member in an exemplary manner.

John Sprenger is a devoted father, husband and Marine veteran. As a high school teacher for many years, John has helped countless students become productive citizens in our society.

Join me in voting for John Sprenger to serve on the La Grande School Board, Position 4. John is the right man for the job.

Daniel Pokorney

La Grande