Severely handicapped class arrives - The Lowell

• EDITORIALS.
Proposition 36: a definite loser
When California!* voters step up to the ballet box
this year, they will make decisions on proposition
that will ib-pe the state's future. Some of these pro*
positions benefit all, and some appeal only to certain
vote", but others. Uke Proposition 36. are clear-cut
losers.
Proposition 36, the taxation amendment proposed
by Howard Janris, should receive a NO vole
regardless ot the voters opinion of Proposition 13
(oaw Article XIII A In California's 2fute Constitution).
Proportion 13 had many negative effects on
California's school system, besides Us drastic cu \ on
the state's lax revenues, which weakened or
, ellmluatcd avny state-provided services.
Due to Proposltlop 1.1. 1.000 teachers In San
Francisco were laid oil and univcrthy/conn* unity
collate fees were raised
• The San Francisco Unified School District en*
durcd other HnisrUl hardships when Proposition 13
wu passed in 1978. At U/urcll, as s result, there arc
cpproxlmately 20 percent fewer cl\sscs and teachers
and Vo-lhirds fewer custodial employees.
I! Proposition 36 panes, the public school system
would lose, a half billion dollars. Under current stale
law, the state would be fonxd to replace thcie funds.
However, raising money for education would become
Pledge at Lowell?
The tint Amendment to the Constitution Is the
opic of much debate. We hear people complain
when they are denied the rig)*.: to free speech, and
people get upset when they see their right to freedom
ol religion being restricted in any way.
Never before, until this year at Lowell, has the
violation of one's right to Pledge Allegiance to thr
flag ol the United States of America been an istue
for debate — anywhere.
California law states that all students mutt be
riven the opportunity to recite the Pledge of
Allegiance at school, and the Lowell uudcni government
and administration have taken it upon
themselves to ensure that we not be denied this
"Inalienable right."
California law also states that no orange may be
peeled In a California hotel room, but it Is not too
often that wn see somcono being arrested for this obvious
crime.
Lowell government, backed by the administration*
apparently feels the need to make the op*
portunity to recite the Pledge available to those
students who seek it. Where are the dearly deprived
student* hiding, and how until now have they
possibly been abtc to survive? Those students who do
pledge allegiance dally Uave obviously opted for
recitation on their own lime.
Deductions from a similar situation, last year's at*
tempt by the Cardinal Crusaders to gain rights to
meet on campus, may be applied here. Principal
Alan Flbtsh reasoned that the right to peaceably
assemble Is different from the right to peaceably
assemble In someone else's living room. In the same
way. the right to recite the Pledge of Allegiance is
different from the right to recite the Pledge of
Allegiance in our common living room, the Lowtt)
High School campus.
It U wrong for a high school to be tdvocating
steads on moral decisions, and the weekly recitation
ol the Pledge over Radio Lowell, as suggested by student
government, is a violation of a «tudcnt*s right to
oot Involve himself with the Pledge of Alleglince.
It is diffktlt to believe that our government and
administration at Lowell, are ridiculous enough to
think that some students will actually embarrass
themselves by-standing up In'front of their entire
seated registry, to recite the Pledge and even more
: ridiculous to think that faculty mcmbcis are going to
itand up and lead their registries in this recitation.
as was proposed by student government.
This new. tradition at Lowell is supposed to have
Already taken effect. It doesn't seem to be working
too well. Jor now students up Ptedgbg Allegiance
;]tut ax oivwzs they were be/ore this issue became
suet a malordbctusloo topic — which is not at all.
It Is the opinion of Toe Lowell that although our
student government and administration meant well
In their attempted Introduction of what &ey hoped
would be a new tradition at Lowell, this entire Issue
*af a waste of valuable time and energy which could
hire easily been spCnt more constructively on more
Important school-related Issues.
^Pride. Iz. our nation Is one thing. Being forced to
bivolve ourselves In expressing pride Is another Issue
altogether.^ - ~
even more difficult ilncc the state's source of tbU
meney Is taxes and 36 would hamper California's
taxing ability.
If a voter finds that he does not Uke what Proportion
13 ha? done for our state, cither in the arc* of
educational funding or in its other effects on state
taxes, he should vote against 36 which beasts "Save
1J" as its motto.
If. however, the voter supports 13 and Is happy
w!,h its effects upnn California, he should still vole
NO on 36.
Proposition 36 enhances all of the bad aspects or
13 and even creates some problems of its own. The
Initiative may be an attempt tn iavc Proposition 13.
but it won't work.
This proposition would decrease the taxes on
those properties which currently pay the lowest taxst
and increase the IAXCS on those properties with Uw
highest assessments. The assessments on properties
which have not changed hands since I97.S would be
decreased by 6 percent. Generally, these are the properties
which have the lowest assessments under Proposition
13.
In total, there would be 1.3 billion doHars granted
in tix cuts to thes already advantaged (by Proposition
13) property owners. This is simply unlUr.
Proposition 36 nUo proposes that a two-thirds majority
vote be required for any tax increase or
decrease. This Is. in many situations, rule by minority
since ir would allow -mc-third of the legislature to
control the remaining members.
By requiring this two-third* majority on all local
and state tax policies, the effectiveness of California's
local and slate governments would be seriously
reduced since their abilities to tax woutd be affected.
Other reasons for opposing tills amendment include
a provision which would unnecessarily redefine
the word "lax." a voiding of many voter-approved
local taxes by the addition of new restrictions on the
voters, a shifting of control of fund's from the local to
the state level, and numerous other minor, but
harmful, provisions and effects.
Among the organizations opposing ihh proposition
are the California Teachers Association, the
American Federation of Teachers, the California
Parent Teachers Association, the Chamber o! Commerce,
and outstanding citizens and leaders such as
Mayor Dianne Fclmteln, State Superintendent of
Public Education Bill Honig, and SupcrvUur Quentin
Kopp.
In summary. Proposi'ion 36 would neither negate
the effects 13 had on our school system nor would it
"save 13." In fact. It would do more harm to our
already underfunded schools and would tncfease
the unfairness In California's tax situation.
SAB questions access to gym
Do classrooms belong to the teachcre who use
them during the d»y? Do teachers hare the right not
lo allow a club to meet In "their" room after school?
The answer lo these questions is an obvious,
'NO." So why docs the Physical Education Department
believe it hrs the right tn say that students ma>
not use the gymnasium?
The Physical Education Department and its
department head Ed Burns have adamantly ttated
their view that the Student Activities Board should
hold school spirit nMles on the football Held, in the
courtyard, or in the auditorium.
The difference of opinion between the P.E.
Department and the SAB b not new. Last year, the
school district allotted funds for repairs of the Lowell
site, and some ai the money was spent lo resurface
the gymnasium floor. Since then, students have been
hearing about the worries of Burns and membrn of
the department of possible "damage" lo thr floor by
non-P.E. class use.
Fint ol all, does the P.E. Department really
believe that heavy metal volleyball and badminton
poles and gymnastics and other equipment wlH
cause leu damage lo ih: surface than students walk*
ing slowly in and out of the gymnasium? (Can
anyone ever run out of the mobbed gym after a ral>
ly?)
Second, the rallies are just as much a part of
Lowell as the physical education classes, Xlter all,
OLC of the factors that makes Lowell an outstanding
school Is the pride and identification that the
students nave for the name of Lowell and thr colors
red and white.
The first rally of the 1984-85 school year was set
for Friday, September 21. The SAB had planned It
mil In advance and had let the Physical Education
Department know ot Its Intention. On the morning
of the rally, instead of the expected sunshine, cloudy
skies gave San Frandvo some ot the tint rain of the
season and rendered the football field and track the
infamous "Lowell Swamp" end "Lake Lowell."
With the wet field and bleachers, the rally could
not possibly have been held on the football field. But
thii did not cause a problem because the SAB had
planned for the rally lo occur In the gymnasium.
What did cause the problem was the appearance of
Bunis in the jym as the sound crew was setting up
for the rally.
He told the SAB that they were to vacate the gymnasium
and have the rally In the courtyard. The SAB
did not originally consider the courtyard as a
possibility because of the hard surface that would
I adversely affect the performance ot tho tong glrb
1 and UK cheerleaders. . *
John Bistett. sponsor n( the SAB, asked Principal
Alan Fiblsh to take actiin for the rally that was less
tlian an hour awny. Ftblsh tote 1 Bluett that tSey
could discuss I 1 the following Monday.
The rall.v. which was very crowds d£s 1J the
limited amount of room in thr. courtyard, was a success
and the song girls and cheerleaders performed
their routines to the best ot their ability, considering
the circumstances.
The next Tuesday. Flbish. Blssctt, and Burns met
and discussed the issue. Burns stated that the gymnarlum
was available for rallies whenever there was
"Inclement weather." (A less important though interesting
point Is that the word "inclement" means
"extremely harsh, stormy, and rough." Does this
mean U»t Burns will not allow rallies !n the gym tintil
a typhoon hits Lowell and wreaks havoc on the
football field m.1 the courtyard?)
The P.E. Dcpcrtmcnt is not explicitly stating that
rallies wiii not take place in thr. gymnasium, but
rather saying tbat students should attend them outside
and "enjoy the fresh air." Meanwhile the SAB
will hold some rallies outside and some Inside the
gymnasium.
There Is an Ironic note to this whole subject. The
athletic department U hosting a "Binge Night" in
the near future as a fundraiser for itself rod the
band. Can you guess where it will be held? Yes. in'
the gymnasium. Maybe if the student body donates
some money to ths P.E. Department, Burnt and the
rest ol the department will be eagir to let the rallies
oelnthcgym.
Presently. It seems as If the conflict Is settled.
Fiblsh stated tbat no pjbllc student activity can be
restricted from using a part ol the building. Toe
Lowell h glad thr dispute Is no Icagcr causing problems
and hopes that the students of LowUl High
School wai never have to fece the possibility of losing -
the use of a school facility.
-T-
1 I
'4
.--4.
^