The Journal News from White Plains, New York • Page 8

WPOIN1 8 ROCKLAND COUNTY, N.Y. MONDAY, JULY 26, 1982 VIE Con Shultz seize opportunity? Your view Pushing 'em through To the Editor: I would like to thank The Journal-News for once again publishing the PEP test results for all public schools in Rockland. Looking at the results, one cannot help but notice that the third grade scores are significantly better than the sixth grade scores. This reflects a nationwide trend in which the early grades (first through third) have shown significant improvement over their peers of 20 years ago. By the sixth grade, they have lost their advantage and by the ninth they are actually behind their peers of 20 years ag- f.

There are many theories why entering first-graders are "smarter" than their peers of 20 years. I personally think Sesame Street and the change in attitudes it made played a large role. What is sad is the fact that instead of strengthening the curriculum, it has actually been made easier. To understand this one must understand the current educational philosophy. This accepts the concept that it is a greater crime for a child to fail than for a child to grow ignorant.

This has led to such things as "alternate educational" systems, "enrichment" programs and "individual" instruction. Nowhere in this system do the words "failed" or "left back" exist. Failing a child may seem cruel, but it is a far better choice than continually promoting a child and then for that child to find out, when he or she graduates from high school, that he or she lacks the basic skills to obtain a decent job. To me, any child who needed remedial help in math or reading in the third grade should not have been promoted to the fourth grade. Yet I would guess that most, if not all, such children were promoted.

Those of you who believe with me that educational standards must be kept high must become more vocal. If we remain silent we will have an educational sysyem whose standards continue to decline. states, notably Jordan, would be added to the Camp David partners, Egypt and Israel, in these discussions. The outcome would be a Palestinian homeland within a Jordanian confederation. Ambassador Philip Habib, the president's personal representative in the area, had made steps toward that end by the weekend of July 3.

The Israelis had agreed to leave the Lebanon when the other foreign forces got out. The Syrians were also on board for leaving, and for receiving in their country PLO guerrillas from Lebanon. The PLO was ready to quit, provided there was an American force on hand to help protect the Palestinian refugees they left behind. To disrupt the plan, some hard-line Israelis leaked the proposal for a U.S. force.

Instead of ignoring the leak, or letting it twist in the breeze, the White House staff seized the occasion to prove that the president, then on vacation in California, was on top of events. So Ronald Reagan acknowledged the possibility of an American force, and his spokesman gave a formal briefing on the matter. At that point, the Pentagon asserted its interest in not compromising defense funding by the threat of military engagement. Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger practically talked the project for a Marine force into nothingness. He said the Marines would only have to be on the spot for "a few days." He defined almost impossible conditions for their dispatch.

When asked about a report it would take until Aug. 1 for conditions to be ripe, he said: "It's probably a realistic assessment." With the United States wavering, everybody else backed off. The Syrians said they would not accept the PLO. The PLO indicated it was not ready to quit Beirut. The Israelis began fingering anew plans for an assault on the city.

The hand, to be sure, is not yet played out. The outcome of the Iran-Iraq war remains uncertain. The United States really is obliged to help Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the other oil states. In drawing close to Saudi Arabia, the United States acquires influence over Jordan, Syria and the PLO. The Saudi foreign minister is due in Washington this week with his Syrian counterpart in tow.

Thus a coordinated withdrawal from the Lebanon is still possible. But for that to happen, Secretary Shultz will have to assert himself against the White House staff and the Pentagon. Nobody doubts his ultimate strength in dealing with those not overly weighty power centers. What is not certain is whether he can move quickly enough to make the most of opportunities that are even now starting to sink from sight. Barry Hoffman's River's Edge will return next Monday.

By JOSEPH KRAFT Syndicated Columnist WASHINGTON Whatever his defects, Alexander Haig carried foreign policy considerations to the center of decision. His departure left a void that was immediately filled by the White House staff and the Defense Department. Between them they blew opportunities and ducked responsibilities on a grand scale mr recently in the Iran-Iraq war, and before that in Lebanon. Whether the new secretary of state, George Shultz, can recoup the lost ground is very much in question. The Iranian attack on Iraq poses a genuine threat to the Arab world.

For if Iraq caves, those next on the hit list of the Ayatollah Khomeini are Jordan and the oil monarchies of the Persian Gulf, notably Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The United States has a double interest in protecting those countries. First, because of their oil; second, because they are ruled by friendly governments which can be left in the lurch only at great cost to American credibility all over the world. The right American reaction to the Iranian invasion, in those conditions, would have been a statement of great concern with at least a touch of rhetorical support for the Iraqis. It would then have been feasible to invoke the principle of the Carter Doctrine that this country regards a threat to any of the oil states as a matter of vital national interest.

The way would then be open for the United States to provide the Saudis and others all kinds of help from American planes and pilots to intelligence information. The State Department, the Pentagon and the Central Intelligence Agency all favored a strong statement. But the politicos on the White House staff worried that tough language would scare people, and compromise the president's role as a peacemaker. So they put out a statement that telegraphed irresolution. While it made a reference to the American wish to "support the security" of "friendly states," the emphasis was on standing aloof.

The opening sentence said: "The U.S. government has remained from the beginning, and will remain, neutral in the war between Iran and Iraq." As to Lebanon, the present crisis has created the opportunity for a leap forward to an accord between Israel and the Arabs on a homeland for the Palestinians. The trick is to organize the joint withdrawal from Lebanon by the forces of Israel, Syria and the Palestine Liberation Organization. With the PLO humiliated militarily, there would be a strong case for political compensation. The compensation would take the form of new negotiations on the role of the Palestinians.

Other Our view Time to fix the bridges AS ANYONE knows who has ever driven across the wooden, one-lane Snake Hill Road bridge in West Nyack or over any number of bridges large and small in Rockland, repairs or outright replacement are needed. We didn't need a report from a Washington-based agency to tell us that. The report, by The Road Information Program (TRIP), an agency supported by highway-related industries, notes more than 10,000 bridges in New York State, including dozens in Rockland, need to be repaired or replaced. It calls for the state to spend $477.8 million annuially for 15 years or $7.17 billion overall to meet just today's needs. Some bridges have simply been neglected; some are inadequate to handle heavy traffic or excess load; and others are functionally obsolete because of narrow clearances, sharp roadway approach angles or an insufficient number of lanes.

Mostly, there's nothing new in the report. Rockland offficials have long known about a number of deficient state bridges in the county, such as the one on Route 9W over Route 303 in Congers, or the wooden bridge over the West Shore Line on Leber Road in Blauvelt. There have also been continuing battles with state and federal officials, as well as Conrail, over repair and replacement. What is new in the report is a greater sense of urgency. Poor bridges can lead to worse and a Band-aid approach to their upkeep may not forestall the day when a disaster happens.

It is incumbent upon county lawmakers and our representatives in Albany and Washington to take the issue of the repair and replacement of our bridges off the back burner. Foot-dragging TOO BAD there isn't going to be be the annual re-enactment of the famous 1779 Battle of Stony Point this month. If it had been held, Gen. "Mad" Anthony Wayne's modern-day troops could have used the Palisades Interstate Park Commission bureaucracy for cannon fodder. Last spring, just before the Stony Point Battlefield where the battle is held and where thousands get away from it all was to open, park officials determined that a decaying wooden railroad bridge was no longer safe for automobile use.

Down it would have to go and a new bridge built. In the meantime a temporary footbridge over the West Shote Line could accommodate park patrons. But the bridge reconstruction has become mired in the usual red tape and now the footbridge will not be up until at least the fall, in time for the park closing a short time later. A whole season of enjoying the Hudson River park's beauty will have been lost. Why wasn't the project expedited? By the Iranian leaders are trying to allay the fears of other Persian Gulf countries by saying the invasion of Iraq is simply a "defensive operation." That seems to be the norm for invasions these days.

A Democratic leader said the rally outside the Capitol for a balanced-budget constitutional amendment was "unabashed show business." But it was more farce than drama. Tolls on the New York Thruway are scheduled to end in 1996. And whoever happens to be governor then will take credit for it at a fancy ceremony. NICHOLAS E. FRANCE Spring Valley Lesson in prejudice Xomm, m's a out m.

no wants to vm if orkbed Brans' To the Editor: I would like to address this letter in response to a quote made by Rabbi Nachum Muschel in the July 16th story on group homes. Rabbi, you asked if the retarded should interact with schools they do not attend, with synagogues they do not attend, with holidays they have nothing to do with. I work with the severely and profoundly retarded in a behavior modification program at the Letchworth Village Developmental Center in Thiells. These people are not even as high functioning as the residents who would live in a group home. In my cottage, as in the other cottages at Letchworth, there are Jewish people who are retarded.

In my cottage I have gone with residents to temple. I have heard them sing. During Passover I have seen them conduct a seder. They have fasted on Yom Kippur and attended services regularly on Saturdays. They are Jewish, rabbi, and they celebrate their holidays.

A group home will not prevent you from practicing your religious beliefs. Being retarded does not prevent a person from practicing and believing in religion. I think it is a shame that from a group of Jews of all people that the retarded will have to learn the meaning of prejudice. You see, my students see people as people, not their religion, and love them as such. As a person and as a Jew I have tried not to be prejudiced toward anyone, retarded or non-retarded.

I don't think that my residents would understand the meaning of the word prejudice or understand why anyone would be prejudiced against them because of their religion. I leave you the job of explaining to them what prejudice is all about, rabbi. xLet the fish fry proceed' CRYSTAL FURST Monsey Everyone helped eljc cTournaHNctus 200 N. Route 303, West Nyack, N.Y. 358-2200 Vol.

92, No. 65 Robert J. Baird Managing Editor 578 2400 Barry Hoffman EditorGeneral Manager 578-2301 From the Potential Candidate we progress to the Undeclared or Unannounced Candidate. Former Vice President Walter Mondale is the first to attain this position for 1984. But two stages remain.

By the end of the year, unless veteran observers are off the mark, Mondale will become an Avowed Candidate. Finally, in the political ritual that must be observed, we welcome the Announced Candidate. Automatically he becomes the front-runner. He also becomes the target to attack. This is the normal progression.

Along the path, on some of the numerous byways, we may meet a Reluctant Candidate, such as Adlai Stevenson in 1952. Of academic interest is the Perennial Candidate, immortally exemplified by Norman Thomas, who ran six times on the ticket of the Socialist Party. Harold Stassen of Minnesota holds a title not likely to be soon surrendered: He is the all-time Unsuccessful Perennial Candidate. A passing cheer may be voiced for the Fringe Party Candidate. Let us hear it for the Prohibition Party's candidate in 1904, a gentleman with the marvelous name of Silas Comfort Swallow.

So it goes. Before long we will be off to the presidential races. We will talk of dark horses -Gary Hart of Colorado, Reubin Askew of Florida. At some point John Glenn of Ohio may break from the pack. He might also fail to match the pace and fall out of the running.

In fields of metaphor we pundits play. Some candidate will fold his hand, drop out of the race or throw in a towel. A more fortunate candidate will win all the marbles, pitch a shutout or steal a march. Very well. At this point, may all campaigns be flushed with success; may all receptions be warm and all applause be rousing! We are only at batting practice on the campaign trail; plans are still under wraps before a countdown to blast off; juggernauts have yet to roll; no candidate's train has left the station.

The likely, possible, probable, potential and unavowed candidates are moving toward the starting blocks, dipping their toes in political waters. Let the fish fry proceed! By JAMES J. KILPATRICK Syndicated Columnist WASHINGTON In the wake of the Democrats' recent miniconvention in Philadelphia, we are talking once more of presidential candidates. It is therefore appropriate, especially in these dog days when nothing much is going on, to examine the species and to define the terms of the forthcoming discourse. We begin with the Unlikely Candidate.

Their name is Legion, for they are many. It seems unlikely, by way of example, that former President Jimmy Carter will enter the lists, go for the nomination, or throw his hat in the ring. He probably will sit this one out or, like former Sen. George McGovern, watch the game from the sidelines. At a second stage we meet the Possible Candidate.

Such candidates are best known for lofting trial balloons. Usually they are no more than flashes in the pan. They are among those mentioned. Democratic Sens. Sam Nunn of Georgia, Bill Bradley of New Jersey and Lloyd Bentsen of Texas are Possible Candidates.

Rep. Morris Udall of Arizona, a Former Candidate, is a Possible. All of them are hoping that lightning will strike. The next level sees the Probable Candidate. Here we approach that embryonic point from which the larger life forms will emerge.

The Philadelphia convention was crowded with Probable Candidates. There they were undergoing inspection. They were passing in review. They were walking around the paddock, pressing the flesh. One 'could become a Compromise Candidate.

From the Probable Candidate we proceed to the Potential Candidate. Now the action quickens. Our political stethoscopes detect a palpable heartbeat. Momentum gains. Support begins to mobilize.

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts now stands head and shoulders above other Potential Candidates. He leads the pack. Already he is attracting a Stop Kennedy movement.

He faces both a formidable challenge and a tough row to hoe. He has his job cut out for hjm. 0 To the Editor: The concern of the folk of Sloatsburg and its neighboring communities in response to the call to "help save our local United Methodist Church" has been overwhelming. The assistance given us by our many friends Catholic, Jewish and Protestant as well as the generous contributions, made our recent fair an outstanding success. All this love and caring has made it possible for us to resolve our back bills and start anew for the future.

And our future looks very bright. Our thanks to all, and everyone who helped in any way in making it possible to achieve what seemed an impossibility for our church to accomplish alone. May God's richest blessings be with you all. Evening Journal established 1889. Daily News 1915, consolidated 1932 Published doily and Sunday at The Journal-News Building, Route 303, West Nyack, N.Y., by Westchester Rockland Newspapers, One Gannett Drive, White Plains.

N.Y. P. Dolon, President ond Publisher, One Gannett Drive, White Plains, N.Y.; Thomas I. Chappie, Secretory, Richard Rumsey, Treasurer, One Gannett Drive, White Plains, A Gannett Newspaper Thomas P. Dolon President and Publisher 694-5152 Carole J.

Owen Vice President, Personnel 694 51 68 Richard E. Rumsey Vice President. Business Manager 694 5171 Donn Wheeler Joseph M. Ungaro Vice President, Executive Editor 6945002 Sheldon Lyons Vice President, Marketing 694 5157 Robert Emsiek ALMA SCHMARGE Sloatsburg The writer is chairman of the Sloatsburg United Methodist Council. Vice President, Circulation Director Vice President, Production Director 694 5165 694 5161 MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.