EDITORIAL: Roses and raspberries
By The North County Times Opinion staff | ∞
The 'Say It Ain't So' award
A raspberry for the conditions that lead to one-fourth of students in high school dropping out before graduation, according to a California Department of Education report. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell captured our concern when he said, "any student dropping out of school is one too many."
As with most state studies, we suspect the numbers are worse than captured in this report. Alan Bonsteel, president of California Parents for Educational Choice, estimated the state's dropout rate at 33 percent.
The 'Friend In Need' award
A bright rose to Rancho Bernardo resident Tom Francis, who recently saved the life of tennis cohort Wes Cresap, 85, through the quick and proper use of the automatic external defibrillator during a match at the Eastview Community Center. Cresap had a heart attack. Francis grabbed the device from the community center office and accurately followed its verbal instructions, thus reviving Francis within the critical time frame of four minutes (four minutes after a heart attack is when a patient's risk of brain damage or brain death increases).
Also, a rose to Project Heart Beat, a program to place devices throughout the county. Cresap was the 50th person to be saved by one of its defibrillators.
The 'Show Must Go On' award
A bushel of roses to the cast and crew of the recent "Oliver" production at the Valley Center Community Theater production that was viewed by about 1,000 patrons who were unaware of the behind-the-scenes drama and extra efforts that allowed the show to go on. First, an actor hurt his back painting, knocking him out of the show. A sub filled in for him. An actress blew out her knee in a VCHS Powderpuff football game. Another replacement surfaced. Two days before the premiere, the director of props' mother died, removing her from the production. Maxine Theatre's main lighting board fried: a new one was found and installed. At the dress rehearsal, the set designer announced that the entire play's set was destroyed in an accident, necessitating the entire cast and crew working from scratch to build its replacement in time for showtime.
The 'Better Late Than Never' award
After years of discussion and debate, Oceanside Fire Station No. 7 was opened for business Saturday during a formal ceremony at the mission-styled, $8 million facility. Located on land bordered by Mission Avenue, Highway 76 and Foussat Road, response times by fire and paramedics should improve in north Oceanside. Firefighters said they liked the solid construction of Fire Station No. 7, compared with the old, "temporary" Station 7 built of a double-wide trailer and in use since 1996.
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Robert wrote on Jul 21, 2008 3:37 AM:How many of the dropouts are first time learners in English, how many are black, latino and white? When did the dropouts arrive in the USA, how many were born here. We need more facts, there is a world social problem taking place, are schools the place where we should determine how well the USA is helping out the world?
Congratulations on Station wrote on Jul 21, 2008 6:08 AM:I like the location of station #7 but the design does seem a bit extravagant for Oceanside. On the tour I saw a weight room, a theater and a commercial kitchen, plus enough sleeping rooms for a small hotel. I think the firefighters deserve to have the new station, but I'm not sure about the need for this fancy of a building.
delores wrote on Jul 21, 2008 2:51 PM:to congratulations on Station: the weight room... I was told ff's need training on a daily basis to lug all the equipment needed to protect them in a fire, the theater, well I was told it does have cable, but also has capability for training and operations in case of a disaster; sleeping rooms, I was told that at build out we would have 11 to 13 personnel there. the rooms are equiped so that if the emergency only needs an ambulance that's the only rooms that are notified, so the others may rest to be able to jump up, get clothed and be at my door within 4minutes and possible make decisions that will effect my life.. all from a dead sleep; re the kitchen, with feeding at least 13 at build out, doesn't seem so big after all. I was told that it is for the future, and Ithanked every ff I saw that day... woo hoo... we are in the century! good for you Oside.
Timray wrote on Jul 21, 2008 9:32 PM:What is needed is more funding. Since I do not drive I propose a $2 a gallon increase. Since I do not own property I propose a 50% increase in property taxes. Since I am poor I propose doubling the taxes on the wealthy. I see no problem with low educated students as they reflect their educators. Robbing Peter to pay Timray will always have my support...it is the Californian way...surf's up!!
To Timray wrote on Jul 21, 2008 9:57 PM:You must be one of those low educated students.
Delores Sounds Like a Firefighter with Too Much Time on His Hands wrote on Jul 22, 2008 5:55 PM:Anything to rationalize the excess this station represents. I too think the Firefighters needed something better than the temporary dig at Jones Road. However, I defy you to show me a more luxurious fire station in the state. As for future needs, how about a phased in building so we can go from the 5 firefighters today to, say what 13? There has to be a more cost effective way to utilize tax payer’s money.
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