Letters to the Editor 04/11/2007

To the Editor:

"Unbelievable" is the only word I can think of in response to the two proposals for new resorts in the Metolius Basin.

That area is one of the least-altered, most pristine accessible river basins in Oregon and for that matter probably anywhere. I can't understand how a Camp Sherman native with deep family roots in the area could propose what would be a first step in the destruction of this unique little community and the basin in general.

Shane Lundgren says that his resort would be the lesser of two evils, since development there is a given and his would at least be "eco-friendly," whatever that means.

But development isn't inevitable. Senate Bill 30, now being debated, could provide a means to stop the exploitation of the Metolius. He also states that his family "could have exploited this area long ago," referring to the 220 acres his family has owned for generations. So why not honor the old family tradition? My hunch is that Lundgren's ancestors may have had an appreciation for this unique area that escapes the descendant.

It is helpful to look at the big picture concerning resort developments. Why are they needed? Who benefits? Who suffers? My answer to the first question is "I don't know." The benefits go pretty much exclusively to the developer and whatever guests might enjoy it. And of course Jefferson County, which claims to need the potential tax revenue so bad they would probably endorse any scheme.

The suffering part is left totally to us, the people who have no financial stake in the project yet get to pay the price by watching the beautiful Camp Sherman/Metolius River area be exploited for profit like so many other beautiful areas before it.

Oh, and did I mention the traffic in Sisters? Try to imagine!

Anyone with an interest in our area needs to get involved now! The outcry over McDonald's coming to town was huge and this is many, many times more detrimental.

Michael Broadbent

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To the Editor:

Creationism vs. Evolution. The Sisters Community Trail System was created by a small group of individuals who, several years ago, developed The Plan. These individuals should be commended for their hard efforts in developing a plan based on community needs, securing grants and other funds from community donors and developing and maintaining trails.

The trail system has evolved from simply a paper map to include the Tollgate-High School Trail, signs on the majority of the trail system and a brochure which advertises one of Sisters finest assets.

I would put our community trails program up against some of the best in the country, such as the Methow Valley, Washington, Sedona, Arizona and Durango, Colorado.

Trails programs draw huge tourism revenue from bicyclists, runners, hikers, walkers, horse riders, birders and other outdoor enthusiasts. Events like the Oregon Bike Summit, Peterson Ridge Rumble Run, Cycle Oregon and Poker Run Ultra will bring literally tens of thousands of tourism dollars into our community.

However, as with any living organism, the trails system has predators. There is an equally enthusiastic group of individuals intent on vandalizing the trails system. The majority of the sign posts that were installed last year have been shot up, run over, broken off or pulled out of the ground. ATV, motorcycles and four-wheel drives are driving on the the trails and through the forests. Bridges have been broken and dismantled.

In short, there are those individuals who do not care, or are intent on destruction. I ask that all community members please support our trails system and report anyone damaging or destroying the trails to the Forest Service or sheriff's office. These individuals are not only destroying the trails but the character and economy of Sisters as well.

Eugene Trahern

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To the Editor:

"God Bless America." Is this a just a phrase denoting loyalty to our country or a passionate and pleading prayer to the soverign God?

I'm beginning to think it should be a question. We are a mess aren't we. No, we can't "just get along." As a nation we become bolder with who we are and who we think others should be. We decide in a day by threats and lawsuits the plan of action to take with the career of an individual at stake, not to mention the whole town watching in awe how things unfold. We have Americans who devote their whole life to saving a bird or tree, and yet don't blink an eye to brutally killing an "almost" human baby through their right to choose.... I don't get that.

Our money says "In God We Trust," yet we can't post the Ten Commandments in a court of law (like "Thou shalt not kill" might be offensive to someone). We can't recognize Easter as a religious holiday, but yet somehow it is OK for a bunny to kidnap a hen's unborn baby in the form of an egg, disguise it, hide it and no one seems to think that is completely bizarre?

We are a weird bunch of folks.

We talk of ethics to our children and how important truth is yet the chubby icon with the sweet ride in the sky comes along every "Winter Holiday" to give gifts only to find out embarrassed in kindergarten that it is just a legend.

We bow our heads at the '07 Chamber Ball and thank the Lord collectively as a community, but the words "Christmas Vacation" aren't allowed on the school calendar in this tiny town.

Our country has gay scout leaders teaching young boys how to become manly men. We have twisted priests, pastors and trusted leaders that make a mockery of their profession by messing with our children. We have convicted inmates getting room and board, cable and education and single parents legitimately trying to make ends met.

Sometimes it just pays to just quit and collect government benfits. It is easier to get into college because of your minority status instead of appitude. . .that makes a lot of sense... etc., etc.

I'm grateful to be an American and a member of the community of Sisters, but I can't help to ponder how much longer God will continue to bless our pathetic mediocracy.

America, my home, sweet home.

Becky Aylor

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To the Editor:

The recent termination of Mr. Helphinstine has caused many in our community to raise their voices about teaching the theory of evolution. They have completely missed the point.

The Nugget correctly stated that the Sisters School Board does not make this decision. Teaching evolutionary theory is required by the Oregon Department of Education. If you want other theories discussed in science class, then you should march off to Salem to state your case.

My daughter was in Mr. Helphinstine's class, and, after visiting with students in that class, it is clear that evolution was being taught. It is also clear that materials were used that were not provided by the school district. Now, if we are going to set a policy to fire any teacher that uses their own material, we better have lots of substitutes - or just hire robots to present the material. We have all seen material come home with our kids that was not provided by the school district.

The real point in question is whether the superintendent and our school board made the correct decision in this hasty termination. Contrary to The Nugget's editorial last week, it was not necessary to terminate him now to protect a right to terminate him later. Having hired and fired hundreds of people during my business career, I can tell you that the probation he would have been placed under leaves plenty of room for termination at a later date.

I believe our school board is made up of good people who truly care about our children, but they must rely on quality advice from the superintendent - which they did not get. Why did our superintendent rush to terminate this teacher when he had all of spring break to make sure he got it right? My suggestion to the next superintendent is to take the advice my father gave me: Measure twice, cut once. It appears the measuring and the cutting took place at the same time.

Carey Tosello

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To the Editor:

Over the past few weeks, I have read way too many letters from both sides blasting or supporting the board for its actions in firing one of its teachers for teaching information that may or may not have been appropriate.

It seemed time to remind everyone what Sisters is about. Sisters has been a special community that has always supported its teachers, students and schools in ways that other districts could only hope to achieve.

Sisters is the community that, when a bond measure failed, built needed classrooms with volunteer labor and donated money and materials.

Sisters is a community in which parents from both sides of a soccer game at the elementary school cheer for all the kids when they do something good. And ... at the end of the game, only the kids know what the score was, or even care.

Sisters has always been a community that is proud of its schools and has parents willing to step up to help, whether it be build a classroom or volunteer in that classroom. Sisters is the type of place that attracts the best and brightest teachers and administrators, and we entrust them to teach our students in the best way they know how. If you look at the test results, dropout rates and quality of students that are graduating from our school, you will find that our parents and teachers have done a great job of working together.

I am disappointed that we have gone from talking to the teacher or principal when a disagreement arises to threatening the board with lawsuits and demanding that a young, gifted,teacher be fired without a second chance. I don't know the details of what was or wasn't taught in that class, nor do I feel it demands such a high emotional reaction. I feel we are losing site of who we are and need to take a deep breath and step back for a moment.

I know, like and respect all of the board members. They are a dedicated group of individuals who care deeply for the school district, and I feel they are doing a great job dealing with some very difficult issues. In this instance, I feel a few parents overreacted and the board acted with undue haste and created a firestorm of emotions on both sides of an issue that could have been dealt with through normal channels at a much lower level of management.

Let's learn from our mistakes and move on.

Matt Cyrus

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To the Editor:

I think we need to understand the necessity of curriculum standardization. Students who graduate from Beaverton or Klamath Falls or Sisters need to be on the same page if they go on to college.

Like it or not, the Theory of Evolution has become the shaky foundation of all the earth sciences. With DNA mapping out our gene pools we now know with scientific certainty that we did not come from monkeys, but it takes time and money to revamp an entire packaged curriculum from kindergarten through graduate schools.

As more information becomes available, the theories of origin will change.

Mr. Helphinstine was trying to get his students to understand there are other theories out there so that when these changes come, his students won't be in the dark. This is good education.

The state took a stand on evolution so they could go on with the rest of science education. In Meteorology for example, if you want to learn how to predict weather you can't spend all your college days arguing over who made the clouds.

From the Oregon Department of Education policy statement, we can see the school board went beyond the scope of their policy when they fired this young man, as he clearly broke no laws.

He was denied due process being fired when the situation was already being dealt with by his immediate chain of command. If you are not going to honor a chain of command, then why have one?

I think our school board should give this young man a second chance to make things right and reinstate him. I'm sure he learned a lesson as did all the rest of us.

Ed Beacham

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To the Editor:

I believe that we are all losing sight of the real issue at hand here: This does not concern who believes what or which of us is right or wrong. This is about the fact that Kris Helphinstine broke curriculum set by our state and taught outside of that set curriculum. That much is certainly clear.

However, have none of us ever heard of second chances? Kris, as it has been established, is a fairly new teacher. He was exploring the boundaries (even if he did so negligently) of his newfound environment. He did make a mistake. He did break curriculum, but even murderers and child molesters get second chances, and these are people who take lives and bring irreparable destruction on others.

Is Helphinstine's faux pax so drastic that we will not show him the slightest bit of grace? Is this such a sensitive subject that we can't even begin to compromise? Nor to have compassion?

Since we live in a small town and our school has limited resources, we aren't always given the same opportunities that we might be given in a larger district. Bend schools have special theology classes where you might be able to hear about alternative theories, or maybe you hear about it in some other elective.

The only places that Sisters students have a place to hear about this are in a church, a society class or a social studies class. Unfortunately, not everyone attends a church regularly; if it isn't in the text book, often times it doesn't get taught; there have been the occasional vocabulary words in English or Social Studies that hint at an alternative theory other than the one that is decided upon by our state, but I've yet to see one really studied in depth.

I look at the reaction this town has given to one person's unfortunate mistake, and it is blatantly obvious to me that this is not about the breach in curriculum; it is about people who are afraid to have the children's "minds polluted" by hearing about something that might make things a little more complicated.

In all honesty, it's quite upsetting that our town has become so divided over really such a small issue. I hope that Mr. Helphinstine has the grace to accept that what he did was wrong but that he also has the strength to stand up for what he believes in, when he is faced with so much adversity.

Shalena Edmunson

Sisters High School Senior

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To the Editor:

Unfortunately, there have been many negative reports lately concerning Sisters High School and the school district. For that reason, we would like to recognize the very positive nature of the High School Arts Department.

Jody Henderson, Mike Baynes and Tara McSween all are teachers whose influence brings out the best in students with wide ranging abilities and interest.

The most recent public example was last Wednesday's program presented by three choirs and two bands at the high school. People who chose not to attend because it was "just a school program" really missed a local cultural event of very high standards.

So, thank you Mr. Baynes, Mrs. McSween and Mr. Henderson for your hard work and true devotion to teaching that so greatly enhances the education of the students in our district and our community at large.

Lois and Tom Worcester