The Baytown Sun (Baytown, Tex.), Vol. 88, No. 121, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 1, 2008 Page: 4 of 12
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/J
9
Failing
grades
Editorial written by David Bloom,
managing editor of The Bay town Sun, on
behalf of the newspaper's editorial board.
FRED HARTMAN
Publisher Emeritus
1950-197-4
Goose Creek ESL students
fall through district’s cracks
David Bloom
Managing Etftor
Luke Hales
OtyEdtor
M .A. Bengtson
Community member
EDITORIAL BOARD
Cltfton E. “Cliff” Clements
Etftor/PuHsher V
Jim Finley
retired Managing Editor
Jay Eshbach
Community member
FT! here’s no other way to spin it: Goose
I Creek is failing children in its ESL
JL program.
State-mandated test scores of secondary
ESL students in Goose Creek were low
enough to prompt a mandatory visit in
February by state auditors.
The Baytown school district earned the
lowest possible ranking on five academic
indicators.
Here’s a report card snapshot:
• Reading/English language arts: 27.2 per-
cent of students passed compared with 65
percent on the state level.
• Science: 13.7 percent passed compared
to a 40 percent statewide average.
• Social studies: 39.4 percent passed com-
pared with the 65 percent state average.
• Math: 30.4 percent of students passed
compared with 45 percent at the state level.
Goose Creek also ranked below state aver-
ages for dropout and graduation rates.
The news is discouraging.
Even worse, the district didn’t actually
pleasure the 2,500 ESL students’ scores
prior to the state coming in and doing it for
them.
The ESL program failure cannot be
ignored. If we hope to have an educated city,
we need schools that give students the basic
skills to succeed. And that goes for all stu-
dents.
The reasons behind the failing grades are
clear. There is a lack of staffing and empha-
sis on the success of the ESL program at the
secondary level.
One principal noted that his school had
more custodians than staff looking after the
ESL children.
Furthermore, staffing requests for enhanc-
ing ESL education have been denied.
The Goose Creek family has vowed to fix
the problem. We think the district has the
potential to improve on the ESL front, but it
, will be up to the elected school board to
ensure it happens.
Instead of shunting some youth to the
shadows, a school district that seeks “suc-
cess for all students” cannot put off any
changes to the system.
Improvements delayed are improvements
denied.
rev. Mtair
WRAPS UP
UI5 MEDIA
Tour..
—
OPINION
THE BAYTOWN SUN
4
Thursday. May 1.2008
a
i
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
1
I
■
The Baytown
political front
WRITE TO US *
The Sun welcomes letters
of up to 300 words and
\ guest columns of up to 500
\ words. Guest columns
Sam Compton
Baytown
Brandi Contreras
Baytown
Rikki Wheeler
Baytown
George W. Bush,
President
202-456-1111
Fax: 202-456-2326
president®
whitehouse.gov
Dick Cheney,
Vice President
202-456-2324
Fax: 202-456-2461
vice-president®
whitehouse.gov
Kay Bailey
Hutchison, I
Senator
202-224-5922
713-653-3456
Fax: 202-224-0776
Fax: 713-209-3459
hutchison.senate.
gov/e-mail.htm
John Cornyn,
Senator
JSaptohm &un
1301 Memorial Drive, P.O. Box 90
Baytown, Texas 77522
‘VMain: (281)422-8302
Newsroom: (281) 425-8016
Retail: (281)425-8036
Classified: (281)425-8008
Circulation: (281) 425-8066
Fax: (281)427-1880
E-mail: sunnews@baytownsun.com
Web site: www.baytownsun.com
writer.
We publish only original
material addressed to The
Baytown Sun bearing the
writer’s signature. An
address and phone number
A double standard
There are many things that come to mind
Jerry Jones concerning Dr. Poole’s situation. However,
Baytown *“J “J “
HOW TO REACH US
Clifton E. ’■Cliff” Clements,
Publisher
cliff.clements@baytownsun.com
Sandy Denson, business Mgr.
sandy.denson@baytownsun.com
Joshua Hart, Circulation Manager
.j I joshua.hart@baytownsun.com
Gordon Gallatin,
Advertising Director.
gordon.gallatin@baytownsun.com
NEWSROOM
David Bloom, Managing Editor
dayid.bloom@baytownsun.com
A diamond in the rough
When I drive past the old shuttered and
run-down buildings along Texas Avenue, I
see a diamond in the rough. The area can
be transformed into a real jewel in
Baytown’s crown. Here’s how — the city
should condemn and tear down all of the
unoccupied buildings west of Commerce
Street. Then contract with a developer to
design and build a large variety of new
buildings with interesting and pleasing old-
style architecture. Next, close that section
of Texas Avenue to automobiles, and con-
vert the strpet to pedestrian use only. All
parking should be behind the buildings,
with covered and well-lighted walkways
between the buildings to and from the park-'
ing lots. The exception to “pedestrian-
only” would be to still allow access to
Texas Avenue for car shows, parades, com-
munity events, etc. With proper planning,
Texas Avenue can become the jewel that
Baytown would be proud of.
who are involved in wrecks wait for the
authorities to show up and then they go to
the hospital. It just all depends on the
amount of injuries sustained. Also, I don’t
necessarily agree with the DPS Trooper
either. While Dr. Poole was allowing his
son to technically “flee the scene of an
accident,” the DPS Trooper could have easi-
ly made a trip to the hospital to question
Dr. Poole’s son. We’ve all seen this done
when necessary. So, if you’re going to
point fingers at the DPS Trooper involved,
then you also need to point fingers at Dr.
Poole. Anyone can say that he/she did not
use the best judgment during a certain situ-
ation. Maybe both the DPS Trooper and Dr.
Poole are saying the same thing about this
incident.
Many of you also know there is a
heated race going on for District 6.
Sammy Mahan (incumbent) and
David McCartney both want your
votes. 1 can only speak on behalf of
Sammy, because he not only was my
councilman at one time, but he is
also a very good friend. Sammy and
.1 have worked on numerous projects
together-as he has with many of you.
If there is something that needs to
be done or someone to help in this
community, we all know to call
Sammy. He is an active member of
the Baytown Chamber of
Commerce, Kiwanis Club and helps
out with Friends of Cedar Bayou,
DARE Golf Tournament, Toy Drives
for children ... the list goes on and
on. - ':
Not only has Sammy continued to
be the person we all tend to turn to.
but he continues to fight for the citi-
zens of Baytown and the community
as a whole. Sammy and Mayor
DonCaflos were instrumental, along
with Don Murray, in getting Kilgore
Road fixed. We aren’t there yet, but
it is sure looking good. Sammy was
also instrumental in getting
Congressman Ted Poe, State
Representative Wayne Smith and
many others involved in the Cedar
Bayou fight to protect Roseland
Park and residential property.
In closing; I again would like to
ask each of you to vote-even if you
aren’t in the districts that have con-
tested races. Early voting began
Monday at City Council Chambers.
The general election is Saturday,
May 10.
either the squad or school for a situation
that was similar to Dr. Poole’s situation, non
school-related. I will be watchingio see if
Dr. Poole is suspended for a short period of
. time, confirming whether a double standard
' exists. On the other hand, it does sound a
bit suspicious not calling 911 for ambu-
lance assistance and risking possible further
injury to his son by transporting him to the
hospital. In a nutshell, Dr. Poole is asking
to handle his situation (non school-related)
privately, so why not let others handle their
situations (non school-related) privately?
Michael Gilmore
Baytown
The buck stops with her
In reading today’s explanation of the ESL
problem in our schools, I believe Mr.
Hoskins is right on. If this district has
enough money to build new schools and re-
vamp stadiums We certainly have enough
money to see that all the programs are
taken care of in this district. I thought Dr.
Sult is’ answer whs less than acceptable.
She's apparently not taking care of busi-
ness. I certainly hope the board doesn't
consider another raise or any additional
stipends for her next year. Maybe we should
The buck certainly does stop with the
superintendent, and she better get out of her
office and into the community.
Linda Hendricks
Highlands
to publish any submission.
Send signed letters to:
David Bloom, The Baytown
Sun, P.O. Box 90, Baytown,
77522; fax them to (281) 427-
1880 or send an e-mail to
sunnews@baytownsun.com.
Items featured on this page
are the views of the persons
identified with each submis-
sion and do not necessarily
reflect the views of The
Baytown Sun or its advertis-
ers.
A conflict of interest?
I went to the debate at the~ „
Community Center last night just to
listen.. Because Mr. McCartney visit-
ed me at my home last week and I
listened to his side of the campaign 1
wanted to hear what information I
might pick up at the debate. Well, to
my surprise, not only has he pur-
chased a $400,000 house in Mont
Belvieu, according to our visit at my
home, his children also attend
school in Mont Belvieu. He does *
have an explanation for this, but 1
- have a question: Are Baytown arid
Baytonians not good enough for
your children and family? He also
told me during our visit that he did-
n’t own bars in Baytown, just the
property, and in those bars he has x
vendingmacirines< wlrichh^Slso- ■ — ™
made a point to say he made a lot of
money in rent and on the vending ’
machines — hence his interest in
keeping the bars open. I don’t have
much interest in bars in Baytown,
and I don’t wish badly on their busi-
s ness, but Baytown has voted twice
on the smoking ordinance and both
times the people voted for smoke
free, let it rest. In the course of our
conversation, he informed me that
the reason the smoking ordinance
passed was because the people who
would have voted against it were
“poor, uneducated people who
weren’t registered to vote.” Poor,
uneducated people who failed to
register to vote. Okay, so I took
offense to that for some reason,
maybe because to me that is not the
reason or an excuse for the failure. I
took it that it was to Mr. McCartney.
I don’t have a college degree and I
am riot rich, but I am registered to
vote and I.do so, and so Can those ,'
people he referred to. I don’t tell
people whom to vote for because
that is their business, I only encour-
age them to vote. I did feel that it
— was important to tell people the con-
versation that happened at my home,
and this is not false, FYI.
Anna Blythe
Baytown
Government officials
Federal 202-224-2934
713-572-3337
Fax: 202-228-2856
Fax:713-572-3777
comyn.senate.gov/
contactZmdex.html
Ted Poe,
Dist. 2 Rep.
866-425-6565
866-447-0242
www.house.gov/
poe
Ron Paul,
Dist. 14 Rep.
202-225-2831
979-230-0000
www.house.gov/
paul
Gene Green,
Dist 29 Rep.
202-225-1688
713-3304)761
www.house.gov/
- green
A Mahan fan
Even though I do not live in a dis-
trict with a contested race, I feel it is
necessary to stay current on the can-
didates and issues facing our com-
munity. 1 know all the individuals
running for the office of
Councilman District 4 and 6-three
are personal friends of mine. District
4 has two men and both are very
competent and extremely nice indi-
viduals. I have worked with Terry
Sain on iriany projects in my work,
and have had the assistance of Kyle
Bilnowski on projects for which I
volunteer. Both are committed to the
community, and we would be lucky
to have individuals of their integrity
representing us on Council.
time, call (281) 425-8066 by
9'a.m. to ensure redelivery.
THERE,
THERE,
ULW
WS
YOUR
WW?
Making judgment calls
I know that there are mixed feelings con-
cerning the actions of Dr. Poole and the
accident that his son was involved in. I am
happy that his son was not killed in the
accident. However, I’m hearing different
people say that they think that Dr. Poole did
right by not calling his son back to the
scene of the accident. Well, I don’t totally
agree with that. The reason that the DPS
Trooper demanded that Dr. Poole’s son be
called back to the scene was to determine if
alcohol was involved, and to also let him
know that this is considered “fleeing the
■< scene of an accident.” Because the article
said that Dr. Poole had a family member
take his son to the hospital tells me that his
soif may not have been too injured and
could possibly have gone to the hospital
after the DPS Trooper came to the scene.
Now, I knowihat as a parent, your first
instinct is to take care of your child, howev-
er. Dr. Poole probably should have evaluat-
ed the scene first, called 911, and then sent
his son to the hospital after the DPS
Trooper arrived and released the scene.
This happens all of the time'. Tons of people
MISS YOUR PAPER?
You should receive your
Baytown Sun by 6 a.m.
not for publication should be Monday through Saturday and
included. All letters and by 8 a.m. Sunday. If you do
guest columns are subject to not receive your paper on
editing, and-the Sun *non Jnc oncc u-
•'should include a photo of the reserves the right to refuse
my main comment is directed at a possible
double standard. I do not recall the exact
wl- w||| nauO date; however, I do remember a few months
nilU Will pay. back that a group of cheerleaders were sus-
The Exxon article you published recently pended for a short period of time from
did not mention any provisions for erosion p,,h<*r nr cnhnni fiw a ohmrinn
control along Bayway Drive that may need
to be replaced now that the trees are going
away. When Bayway Drive washes out, who
is going to pay for that?
■1
Car / -
ms
La
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Clements, Clifford E. The Baytown Sun (Baytown, Tex.), Vol. 88, No. 121, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 1, 2008, newspaper, May 1, 2008; Baytown, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1192377/m1/4/?q=Lamar+University: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Sterling Municipal Library.