Opinion Archive

  •                                                   Tri-City Herald Editorial Comments at this link: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/01/25/1800190/voters-should-approve-their-local.html    

    Kennewick School District Levy Election

    Posted on January 26, 2012 | No Comments
                                                      Tri-City Herald Editorial Comments at this link: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/01/25/1800190/voters-should-approve-their-local.html    

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  • The Tri-City Herald recently endorsed charter school legislation in Washington then invited readers to offer their opinions.  The editorial and selected responses are linked below. The Herald editorial: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/01/17/1790103/its-time-to-take-a-look-at-charter.html  Bob Valiant: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/01/22/1795533/fast-focus-meet-the-lemmings.html  Kathy White:  http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/01/22/1795526/fast-focus-we-dont-need-charter.html Greg Fancher:  http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/01/22/1795534/fast-focus-look-beyond-propaganda.html  William Pennell:  http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/01/22/1795525/fast-focus-not-the-answer.html  Daniel Bell:  http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/01/22/1795538/fast-focus-giving-charters-low.html Sandra Smith: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/01/22/1795537/fast-focus-different-learning.html Judy Golberg: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/01/22/1795536/fast-focus-no-to-charter-schools.html  

    Charter School Debate in Tri-Cities

    Posted on January 24, 2012 | 4 Comments
    The Tri-City Herald recently endorsed charter school legislation in Washington then invited readers to offer their opinions.  The editorial and selected responses are linked below. The Herald editorial: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/01/17/1790103/its-time-to-take-a-look-at-charter.html  Bob Valiant: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/01/22/1795533/fast-focus-meet-the-lemmings.html  Kathy White:  http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/01/22/1795526/fast-focus-we-dont-need-charter.html Greg Fancher:  http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/01/22/1795534/fast-focus-look-beyond-propaganda.html  William Pennell:  http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/01/22/1795525/fast-focus-not-the-answer.html  Daniel Bell:  http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/01/22/1795538/fast-focus-giving-charters-low.html Sandra Smith: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/01/22/1795537/fast-focus-different-learning.html Judy Golberg: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/01/22/1795536/fast-focus-no-to-charter-schools.html  

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  • This opinion piece was submitted by Ray Porter.  Porter is an I.B. student currently attending Kennewick High School.  He attended Amistad Elementary in the K.O.G. Program, and went to Park Middle School.  You can see Porter in KeHS Drumline, Jazz Band and Windensemble; around town, in the Tri-City Herald and at nearly every board meeting. See note below.   With regard to Middle School Advanced Courses (Highly Capable Programs) Policy 2166:   2166-P Instruction Highly Capable Programs In accordance with the philosophy to develop the special abilities of each student, the district shall offer appropriate instructional programs to meet the needs of highlycapable students of school age. The framework for such programs shall encompass, but not be limited to, the following objectives: 1. Expansion of academic attainments and intellectual skills. 2. Stimulation of intellectual curiosity, independence and responsibility. 3. Development of a...

    Revisions Needed to English Courses in Kennewick Middle Schools

    Posted on December 16, 2011 | No Comments
    This opinion piece was submitted by Ray Porter.  Porter is an I.B. student currently attending Kennewick High School.  He attended Amistad Elementary in the K.O.G. Program, and went to Park Middle School.  You can see Porter in KeHS Drumline, Jazz Band and Windensemble; around town, in the Tri-City Herald and at nearly every board meeting. See note below.   With regard to Middle School Advanced Courses (Highly Capable Programs) Policy 2166:   2166-P Instruction Highly Capable Programs In accordance with the philosophy to develop the special abilities of each student, the district shall offer appropriate instructional programs to meet the needs of highlycapable students of school age. The framework for such programs shall encompass, but not be limited to, the following objectives: 1. Expansion of academic attainments and intellectual skills. 2. Stimulation of intellectual curiosity, independence and responsibility. 3. Development of a...

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  • Excerpts from this article:  …We have had a full decade of No Child Left Behind, and we now know that the law has been a disaster. …Now we know the results of this absurd law. More than 80% of our schools have been labeled failing schools. By the year 2014, nearly 100% of our schools will be considered failures. Has any other national legislature in history ever passed a law guaranteed to label every single one of its schools a failure? I don’t know of any.  …Let’s be clear about what NCLB has really accomplished: It has convinced the media and major philanthropies and Wall Street hedge fund managers that American public education is a failure and that radical solutions are required.  …We have now had ten years of No Child Left Behind, and we now know that there has...

    Diane Ravitch Knows How to Improve Public Education

    Posted on December 12, 2011 | 1 Comment
    Excerpts from this article:  …We have had a full decade of No Child Left Behind, and we now know that the law has been a disaster. …Now we know the results of this absurd law. More than 80% of our schools have been labeled failing schools. By the year 2014, nearly 100% of our schools will be considered failures. Has any other national legislature in history ever passed a law guaranteed to label every single one of its schools a failure? I don’t know of any.  …Let’s be clear about what NCLB has really accomplished: It has convinced the media and major philanthropies and Wall Street hedge fund managers that American public education is a failure and that radical solutions are required.  …We have now had ten years of No Child Left Behind, and we now know that there has...

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  • In response to letters to the Tri-City Herald about his criticism of Kennewick School District’s reading goal, Dr. Valiant has added a comment to superintendent Dave Bond’s editorial on the Tri-City Herald website.  To read Bob Valiant’s original editorial click on this link:  http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2011/09/24/1656861/the-verdict-is-in-on-kennewicks.html   To read Dave Bond’s editorial with Bob Valiant’s response click on this link: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2011/10/09/1673797/focus-on-reading-spells-success.html

    Bob Valiant’s Reply to Dave Bond and Others

    Posted on November 3, 2011 | No Comments
    In response to letters to the Tri-City Herald about his criticism of Kennewick School District’s reading goal, Dr. Valiant has added a comment to superintendent Dave Bond’s editorial on the Tri-City Herald website.  To read Bob Valiant’s original editorial click on this link:  http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2011/09/24/1656861/the-verdict-is-in-on-kennewicks.html   To read Dave Bond’s editorial with Bob Valiant’s response click on this link: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2011/10/09/1673797/focus-on-reading-spells-success.html

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  • I simply disagree with their views.  Bob Valiant’s conclusions are based on facts available to anyone wanting to review district test scores.  World-class school district programs exist in the eye of the beholder.  I do agree that Kennewick’s teachers and staff are exceptional.  Let’s empower them to be the best they can be. You can see the letter and response at this link: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2011/11/03/1703555/kennewick-schools-brooks-mabry.html  

    My Reply to Lee and Nancy Kerr

    Posted on November 3, 2011 | No Comments
    I simply disagree with their views.  Bob Valiant’s conclusions are based on facts available to anyone wanting to review district test scores.  World-class school district programs exist in the eye of the beholder.  I do agree that Kennewick’s teachers and staff are exceptional.  Let’s empower them to be the best they can be. You can see the letter and response at this link: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2011/11/03/1703555/kennewick-schools-brooks-mabry.html  

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  • The misinformed views expressed in this letter to the Tri-City Herald required my response.  You can find the letter and response at this link: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2011/11/02/1702195/kennewick-schools-brooks.html  

    My Reply to Patty Kessie

    Posted on November 3, 2011 | No Comments
    The misinformed views expressed in this letter to the Tri-City Herald required my response.  You can find the letter and response at this link: http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2011/11/02/1702195/kennewick-schools-brooks.html  

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  • My letter to the Tri-City Herald was published in today’s paper.  Among the many reasons I love living in the Tri-Cities, the Herald is one.  Over my 33 years living in Kennewick I have written half a dozen letters to the editor and all have been published.  How many other places is that likely to happen?  I believe citizen participation in civic affairs is essential to sustaining our quality of life and having a voice to the community through the paper is important.  This is a free service the Herald provides.  Because my letter was limited to 200 words there was much I did not say.  I would like to add that I also voted for Ron Mabry.  Among my associates there is concern that Mabry has aligned himself with Brian Brooks and Ben Messinger to form a new voting bloc...

    My Votes for Kennewick School Board

    Posted on November 1, 2011 | No Comments
    My letter to the Tri-City Herald was published in today’s paper.  Among the many reasons I love living in the Tri-Cities, the Herald is one.  Over my 33 years living in Kennewick I have written half a dozen letters to the editor and all have been published.  How many other places is that likely to happen?  I believe citizen participation in civic affairs is essential to sustaining our quality of life and having a voice to the community through the paper is important.  This is a free service the Herald provides.  Because my letter was limited to 200 words there was much I did not say.  I would like to add that I also voted for Ron Mabry.  Among my associates there is concern that Mabry has aligned himself with Brian Brooks and Ben Messinger to form a new voting bloc...

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