The Times from Munster, Indiana • 57

CPMNEWS ILL TUESDW, JANUAW 22, 2002 Hammond launches GUEST COIilltfEffTARY AMANDA ROLL-PICKERING AND DAVE HERRiNGTON -day kindergarten Arctic drilling isn't an energy policy "This is a great opportunity for the students. It's very challenging to meet those state standards when you only have students for 2-12 hours a day." Times have changed from the days when most parents were in kindergarten, according to Vazquez. "When we were in kindergarten, there was a story and a snack. Twenty years ago there wasn't the expectations we have today," she said. "Now standards are much higher, and so much more is taught in kindergarten and first grade.

We want and expect kids to be readers by the time they leave kindergarten." When Vazquez learned the kindergarten would be offered on a full-day basis, she sent out a letter to parents asking if they wanted to participate. She has yet to receive a single negative reply, and parents seemed enthusiastic about the idea. State grant to fund program at Lafayette Elementary. BY SHARON PORTA Times Correspondent HAMMOND With two younger children at home, the move to all-day kindergarten won't change the schedule much for Eugenia Kemp. But her schedule isn't as important to her as the benefit her daughter, Beverly, will receive.

"I think it's a great privilege for my daughter," Kemp said. "She'll have the opportunity to learn more, and I think that will improve her self-esteem. She'll be a more well-rounded student, and I think she'll love it." When the Hammond school district received $100,000 from the Indiana Department of Education to implement full-day kindergarten, administrators knew that wasn't enough mon ey to hire the teachers necessary to extend every kindergarten class in the district. Lafayette Elementary, 856 Sibley, was chosen. "Lafayette was chosen based on need," Principal Wilma Vazquez said.

"Our IS-TEP scores for third-graders are not very good, which happens when the children are not prepared. The children just don't have the necessary background." It was decided uiat Lafayette's five kindergarten sessions, with nearly 100 students, would be expanded to both mornings and afternoons. The program is optional. Parent and computer rooms were moved for the necessary physical space, and 2-12 teaching shifts have been added to handle the extra load. "We had to make some adjustments, but we felt so strongly that this would benefit the students," Vazquez said.

One of the first issues Congress will handle in 2002 will be energy policy and the fate of the coastal plain of the Arctic Na-' tianal VVildlife Refuge. Supporters of opening the ArcCc National Wildlife ReEge America's Arctic -thir3 that oil drilling equals enSfgy policy. But that is cleaily not true. 33ie facts speak for themselves. The United States con-taijw'-only 3 percent of the wcr33's known oil reserves.

Even-if we drilled everywhere iiwfie Arctic refuge, off Florida's Gulf Coast, or new arenas off California's coast -wevould not find enough oil to meet our growing demands. fne oil just isn't there, especially hi the Arctic refuge. Jtfrat is there is some of Amgrica's most spectacular wiffiflfe. The coastal plain of theoretic refuge is the pre-miT5)irthing ground for polar bear? and caribou in the Unit improve national security, save energy and reduce pollution. It means smarter energy use, such as light bulbs that require one quarter the energy of traditional bulbs.

Congress should also pass legislation to make sport-utility vehicles, light trucks and cars more fuel efficient. Finally, Congress should support a standard for clen, renewable energy generation, such as solar and wind power, so that 20 percent of our power comes from renewable energy by 2020. It's time for Congress to recognize that drilling in the Arctic refuge is not an energy policy. Amanda Rod-Pickering is the clean energy organizer with the Indiana Public Interest Research Group. Dave Herrington is the Indiana coordinator for REP America, the national grassroots organization of Republicans for Environmental Protection.

ed States. It also supports large populations of musk oxen, snow geese and more than 130 species of migratory birds. The coastal plain is also sacred to the Gwich'in people. The Gwich'in, which means "people of the caribou," have lived near the refuge for thousands of years. Oil drilling will damage the coastal plain's environment and therefore jeopardize one of the last native subsistence cultures in North America.

Drilling in the Arctic refuge would destroy this pristine and unique ecosystem in pursuit of less than six months' worth of oil. Why ruin one of America's last wild places for what is literally a drop in the bucket? Instead of ruining America's arctic, Congress should pass an energy bill that promotes energy efficiency and renewable sources of energy. Efficiency is the quickest, cheapest and cleanest way to Age YOUR LETTERS TO THE TIMES them," Lerma said. I Timothy McGinty, principal I at Union Center Elementary School in Valparaiso, said he, too, is concerned about the shift to a later cutoff date. "I'm not so sure of it," he said.

"We need obviously to provide some type of a pre- school experience for kids of a younger age, but sending them into kindergarten, I don't know if that's the answer. "I've seen too many come in who socially are just not ready for this type of structure. There are individual children it can be constructive for." seen age as an advantage," Arini said. "I believe that if you polled teachers, they would agree with me." Alfonso Lerma, principal of Jane Ball elementary school in Cedar Lake, said he understands why children would benefit from an academic setting at an earlier age. But making changes in the curriculum to accommodate the state's newly raised bar on learning in reading, mathematics, science and other areas, will be a challenge.

"We could find that with the standards set so high, those students will find it hard to meet Continued from Al Still, state officials who pushed for the later cutoff date said the move will benefit children, especially those with no access to preschool, by providing a stimulating learning environment at a prime time in their development. Indiana lawmakers last year made it possible for children who turned 5 by July 1 to be enrolled in kindergarten, a change from the previous June 1 cutoff date, the earliest in the nation. It was the first step toward the eventual goal of a Sept. 1 cutoff date backed by State School Superintendent Suellen Reed. The move would place Indiana on par with most other states and in line with a nationwide uniform cutoff date.

Pushing for a later cutoff Children who turn 5 later in the summer don't just lose a few months but a whole year of "es These people who purport to be psychic use cold reading to willingly and happily rake in the public's money and give phony advice. Cold readers establish a sense of confidence in the client using techniques ranging from simple flattery to psychological and sociological procedures. A reader will extract information from the client with incidental or veiled questions. They then come out with ambiguous predictions and responses that seem to be accurate but are not. Books on cold reading are available to anyone through magic dealers.

These are the same people who sell card tricks. BILL FRDDtiCM Munster Indiana should find other ways to make state budget balance It was recently proposed that the gasoline tax be increased by 15 cents per gallon. Now, the proposal is for a phased 10-cent a gallon increase. This does not seem to be a The TIES 2002 MP ray is And a limited number of the new 2002 Spelling Bee Study booklets are now available. Policy review examines, explains why Indiana public schools don't work recent letter to the editor, Dan Liston takes The Times to task for citing in an article scholarly research identifying the woeful state of government-funded education in Indiana.

The research was originally published by Indiana Policy Review, a conservative think tank funded by member contributions. Liston takes exception to the research apparently because it dares to question the status quo, or because its members support time-proven institutions, ideas and values, or both. By most measurements, government-funded schools in Indiana are mediocre. We rank at the bottom of the nation in SAT scores and Advance Placement Exams. Recognizing this and that not all teachers are equal in their pedagogic abilities is not union-bashing, as Liston claims.

Ids an effort to point out that the current collective bargaining law is a hindrance to rewarding productive and successful teachers; to demonstrate that one-deal-fits-all, lock-step compensation systems lower the quality of education in our schools; to prove that our children" are not receiving the education they need; and that our best teachers are ed by anti-competitive rules from becoming even better. IPR has positive and definitive recommendations to improve Indiana's taxpayer-funded schools and help our children. DANIEL BUKSA Member, Indiana Policy Review, Griffith Two varsity teams played there, but only one game was covered I picked up my Times Jan. 13 to see what had been written about my favorite Valparaiso University basketball team. We will call it Team A.TwoValpo varsity basketball teams played Saturday at Chicago State, but The Times chose to cover only one.

Let us see if we can figure out why. Jt certainly couldn't be location, as they both played in the same gym. It couldn't be time, as Team A played the early game, which started at 2 p.m. It couldn't be their record, as one had an 11-6 win-loss season and the other was 10 and 4. It couldn't be league standing, as Team A was tied for the early league lead.

The only major difference that I can determine is that Team A is the women's team and is the men's. My interpretation of The Times action or, lack of it, is, "You may have, come a long way, baby, but you still have a long way to go." HOWARD DIKE Crown Point What appears to be racism might just be plain old rudeness lam responding to the letters written by Gi-na McKinney and Al Green. The bottom line is this: African-Americans who have to step atop their soapboxes and tout integration and affirmative action are usually those who can't make it on their own merit and blame their inability to succeed on racism. It sounds like an easy way out to me. We were all born with the same God-given what we choose to do with them is up to us.

Many prominent blacks as well as whites and native Americans have proven this fact Check your history. I am a white American and findrudeness everywhere and not necessarily racism. JOANNE DODFBLL Valparaiso Psychics use cold reading, very creative or helpful proposal because of economic problems. It will affect the very people who are having to watch how they spend their money these days. If the increase is voted in (and I sincerely hope it isn't), there should at least be a provision that after three years the tax is rescinded.

After all when my income fluctuates negatively, I don't look for more funds to raise my spending, but as a prudent husband, father and voter, I certainly can find ways in which to curb my spending. The governor and the legislators can certainly do the same. Furthermore, it is easy for the governor to pick Medicaid, but he needs to be more creative also. There are many areas where costs can and should be reduced, but Medicaid should be untouchable. The people who need it are some of the ones who put these politicians in office to govern for the people (not to govern the people).

EVERETT GESKE Hobart Arthur Andersen shouldn't be trusted to assess Lake County Are the business community and homeowners of Lake County expected to accept the terms of a $25 million state-mandated contract with Arthur Andersen for the county's upcoming property tax reassessment? The answer has to be a resounding no. The Times, the homeowners and business must support whatever action is required to prevent this from occurring. Arthur Andersen certified the financial statements of the Enron 6th, 7th and 8th grade champions will compete at 5 district bees on Saturday, March 2nd Finals at Munster High School Auditorium, i March 9th sential early education opportunities," Jayma Furgeson, an official with the Indiana Department of Education, told lawmakers last year during discussion of changing the cutoff date. "Scientists have discovered that the first 10 to 12 years of life are the most critical in terms of brain development," said a study prepared by Furgeson and others for lawmakers last year. "Having disadvantaged children spend an extra year in non-stimulating environments will likely put them even further behind their peers who have access to quality educational experiences," the study said.

Furgeson, whose research helped persuade lawmakers to move to a later cutoff date, said one of the concerns was for children whose home life could place them at an academic disadvantage. "Some children have quality early childhood experience. From the day they're born, parents are talking to them, reading to them, taking them places," Furgeson said. "But then you have children that have no quality early childhood experience. I really worry about keeping them out another year." Research shows that delaying kindergarten until age 6 does not result in improvement in reading, writing or math skills, Furgeson said in the study.

Not so fast Tony Arini, assistant superintendent for the Lake Central School system, said he's got a slightly different take on the issue. "Keep in mind Fm not dealing with high numbers of at-risk children," said Arini, whose district is one of the largest in the area and continues to grow. "I've seen children who've been overplaced," Arini said. "They've struggled in school "I know what the research says, but I also believe, based on what I've seen in my elementary (teaching) experience, that there's an advantage to being older in school. Now, with the new (academic) standards, we're going to have children trying to meet them at even younger ages." Lake Central enrolled 36 additional kindergartners this year because of the later cutoff date.

"Bottom line, I have; always This new 48 page Spelling Bee Study booklet has been made up by the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee to help students improve their spefling, increase their vocabularies and develop correct English usage that will help them all their lives. District competitions will be held on Saturday, March 2. Finals will be on Saturday, March 9. The Grand Champion and a parent will win a trip to the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C. on May 26 through June 1, plus other great prizes.

Deadline for school entries is Monday, February 28, 2002. COST PER BOOKLET IS $1.00 ($1.25 by mail) Copies may be picked up at: The TIMES 601 45th Avenue, Munster, IN 46321 Corp. and sat idly by while Enron cooked the books. Enron is now restating earnings for the third time. Its employees and investors have lost millions of dollars because of Arthur Andersen's practices with Enron.

Andersen had a $52 million fee agreement with Enron. Arthur Andersen admits that thousands of documents have been destroyed relating to the audit of Enron by their employees. That's unheard of for an auditing firm to destroy documents of any company under investigation. Arthur Andersen and Enron are now the subjects of a federal criminal investigation. for one, won't permit a representative from any company under a federal criminal investigation into my home.

Lake County, its home- owners and businesses deserve a lot better. If Arthur Andersen is responsible for this county's tax reassessment, what can anyone expect in light of the above? EDWARD GRABOVAC Hammond To solve this nagging problem, let's find this problem's nag History repeats itself: "For lack of a nail a shoe was lost; for lack of a shoe a horse was lost; for lack of a horse a kingdom was lost To nail down the Osama bin Laden kingdom, I say let's take a lesson from history "For Jack of a horse a kingdom was lost" and go after bin Laden's nag. STEPHEN NAP1ERALA 'Lansing Pi not magic, to make predictions Three articles in early January promoted and gave the impression that psychics are legitimate. How ironic that on Jan. 3 your Local section carried a story about a Highland psychic deceiving and threatening a woman.

I would expect to find promotions of this type in the supermarket tabloids, not in The Times. For your paper to print a claim of a Merrillville psychic that she is 90 percent accurate is misleading your readers. By doing Times is giving validity to these i Your Your TIMES. For additional information, see our website at mm.thetimesonline.eomnie A.