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Oregon's state animal is the Beaver, thus the name Beaver State is referring to our entire state, not the college in Corvallis.

Duck is Eugene specific - U of O only. We will never be the Duck State!

Better to use our state fish - the Chinook, use the pun Chinook run, and leave the Civil War alone. The White Stag sign could have read Chinook State - hey there's a compromise!

posted 4 years ago
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I am a native Oregonian, 50 years.

Tom McCall is credited with endorsing and passing the law that kept the Oregon Coast public and open to citizens.

However, had Oswald West, Oregon's 14th governor, not passed the beach highway law that protected our coastlines, the beaches would have been well established as private estates before McCall's time. West's legacy seems to be overlooked, even credited to McCall. Oswald West Park, south of Cannon beach is a reminder. GO THERE!

posted 4 years ago
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We need teachers in the Math and Science fields- there is a desperate need especially in the middle schools, where many TAG students are left to flounder.
I believe we should all write to our legislative leaders and ask that they craft a program to supplement college expenses in these fields to students who will soon graduate in Math, Biology, Physics, Engineering, etc, in return for a year or two of teaching to Tag and other students in Oregon.
College students in their last years of the identified subjects could be paid to teach on a temporary or yearly contract, and earn tuition reimbursement, or loan payoffs, and forego the teaching degree. I believe we would end up with more Honors and AP classes, and middle school students completing the prerequesites to enjoy these classes AND some of those graduates may find that teaching is a great way to earn a living, and stay on.
A college graduate in some of these fields can expect much more monetary compensation than a teaching degree will bring, therefore we need to find a creative approach to luring some of these great minds back into the K-12 system, where they will inspire and lead others.

posted 5 years, 3 months ago
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Your attitude is going to serve your child well, he will learn to take responsibility for choosing classes and challenging himself, following his passions and developing leadership skills.

posted 5 years, 3 months ago
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I am embarrassingly behind the times. I thought Florida seceded from the nation, shortly after the other Bush led his home state of Texas to declare an independent constitution, beginning: ?We the People, who count?? I recall Gov. Jeb following suit, with the minor edit to Florida?s preamble ?We the People, who can?t count??that leaves 48 states. If I?m confused, please educate me, and be patient, I?m recovering from nearly eight years of Republican induced trauma, I am truly Bushed, be gentle?.

posted 5 years, 3 months ago
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Talented and Gifted is a misnomer.
TAG students would never waste a letter of an acronym with a redundant article-"and."
The program which teaches to these students should be AIM- Academically Inspired Minds-these students are in their "zone" when learning, calculating, contemplating, and theorizing.
The experience I had as a parent of an identified TAG student was that the school district was unwilling to honor and acknowledge the exceptional talents of this student, who scored a college bound SAT in sixth grade.
A counselor refused to offer this student a review of tests under file, saying
"you don't really want to know your score on this test"
we left the office area shortly after this TAG coordinator said
"Look, I can tell you, you are three deviations away from the norm.."
We had a grand chuckle over that as I researched and investigated alternate educational opportunities for this student/deviant.
Athletic performances are public knowledge, and we like to know how the athlete performed in contests. But there is a perverse fear of intelligence that pervades our society at large, as if the "geniuses" are going to form an elite group of scientists and develop robots that will control our access to Doritos and beer.
I wonder how a quarterback would feel if the coach said
"You don't really want to know if you competed that pass, do you?"
"Let's not show the score tonight, it's playoff time, everyone's a winner!"
"You were born with a throwing arm, no need for practice"
"Go home, eat some Doritos, have fun, you're gifted!"
There is nothing to fear about the TAG students, they are as addicted to Doritos as most coaches, but they have a more difficult time opening the bag. IT is ONE WORLD MELTING, look for solutions, from everyone.

posted 5 years, 3 months ago
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