The Charlotte Observer from Charlotte, North Carolina • 18

Zile (Marione Oboerver People Do Succeed After Failing ROLFE NEILL RICHARD A OPra Editor JERRY SHINN Editor of rho Editorial Poo JACK CLAMORNE Morrie Editor Friday Protidont end Publisher ROBERTO SUAREZ manow M4RK ETHRIDGE Managing Edoor ED WILLIAMS Astoria' Edoor May 25 1984 Tho Observer Forum Our Readers' Views 1111111111111111111111111111111111 Editorials I I Utilities Candidates Ignore Real Issue In response to the May I I letter "Schools Hurt Kids By Failing From personal experience I would like to say how wrong the writer is It hurts a child to fail a grade or to be "retained" However I can name quite a few people with whom I went to school who were "retained" and went on to get college educations and live happy normal lives Our school system here in Rock Hill is set up on a "level" system which I think is hurting our children more than it helps From what I have seen a child Just keeps moving up to the next grade each year and working in whatever grade level he or she is capable of Then when such a student reaches Junior and senior high he starts failing and feels Inadequate because he has not been prepared as he should be If a child does not put out the effort to pass his grade he should be retained If the child is Just a slow learner he should be placed in the special-education classes Instead of that in Rock Hill these kids are put in the classrooms and teachers are trying to work with several grade levels in each class Recently my daughter's teacher told me that although my daughter is a bright child and has the potential to be on grade level she probably won't be in math because she hasn't had the necessary time to get everything done This teacher started off the year with a fifth-grade class that contained children who grade to be passed on to the next Educating a student is similar to building a house Subjects in grade one (the foundation) are intended to prepare the student for grade two Subjects in grade two (the floor) are intended to prepare the student for grade three Subjects in grade three (the walls) are intended to prepare the student for grade four And subjects in grade four (the roof) are intended to prepare the student for grade five etc etc If the foundation is weak it will not support the floor If the floor collapses so will the walls and the roof So much for educating the student and for preserving the "House of Education" Mastering the "3 R's" is not just "essential" it should be mandatory It is important for a person to "secure a conviction in truth honor honesty and patriotism" but a prospective employer will generally favor the job applicant who has a good education background along with the aforementioned good traits over the truthful honest flag-waving uneducated "dropout" Absence from school might be a reason for retaining a student but failure to pass required subjects should definitely be a reason to retain a student FREDERICK STEES Charlotte Humane Gesture Is Now A in North Carolina buffeted by the hot candidates accusing of being soft on Rufus Edmisten's Knox do show a reverence tradition if no for the facts has hooted for example Knox's talk of reducing the Utilities Commission's staff The suggestion if as Mr Edmisten ignore the remainder proposal: that the use of national presenting the consumers' cases might or might not But Mr Edmisten surely wouldn't anything sacred about opposed creating candidates huff over toughest on the electric they tell us nothing relevant question: has the intelligence sure this state has for the future means higher not short run? may seem farfetched the country the has not been as it did a decade is one reason the in energy conservation companies did not an Influence Of an internationally and MIT teacher of a heart attack summer home on Martha's was 66 His impact still reverberating here in May 1981 of the city-county Commission to 90th anniversary of Dilworth and Charlotte's as a "New South" a week walking the streets talking surveying the future and warning focus their energies street-level amenities that comes from and new structures to a city than the of its skyline He Charlotteans to think stirred controversy home for the a on When Claire Allan arranged the abduction of Samson and falsely reported he had escaped the ensuing massive doghunt meant the Animal Control Division had to postpone until the next day delivering a trap to us The trap was to have helped us recapture our lost dog Early Saturday morning our dog was hit by a car The irony of this sequence of events makes me sad It's as if a professed firepreventionist had capriciously turned in a false alarm while an innocent third party's house burned for lack of available fire trucks This incident is part of the widening circle of suffering and expense arising from Claire Allan's actions I hope the city recovers from her the expenses incurred I fervently hope for the good health of the veterinarian and others that Samson has bitten The least that Claire Allan owes the rest of us is an apology and an acknowledgement that what began as a well-intentioned humane gesture must give way to overriding human concerns MARTIN WEBSTER Charlotte Who's Dumb? I have been reading about Samson the "vicious" biting dog I would like to shake Claire Allan's hand and tell her what a fine thing she did in saving Samson's life People say animals are dumb but people are dumb especially the ones trying to destroy an animal that is doing no more than protecting himself An eight-months pregnant human checking an animal who may have rabies gets bitten by a dog who has been poked probed and mistreated Now she gets a big nasty headline because she might have to have rabies shots I ask you: Who is dumb? Keep on trucking Samson There are those who pray you'll make it out of these crazy hands PAT DZURIK Charlotte The letter above like the others on this page was written before a dog killed by a truck in South Carolina was tentatively identified as Samson Editors The Observer When Is Doff Vicious? I am aghast at The Observer's article "Claire Allan: No Regrets" It hardly seems funny to me that you' celebrate a woman so misguided she would risk the were in the second- third- fourth- and fifth-grade levels It's not fair for a child who is capable of doing the work to be held back be cause of kids who can't do it anymore than it would be fair to put slow learners in classes with kids with whom they can't work on the same level It creates frustration on both ends Children do not need a longer school day or a longer school year They need quality teaching during the time they are at school I do not feel they are getting it now when there are so many different levels in one class NANCY DEMBY Rock Hill Ludicrous Letter The letter "Schools Hurt Kids By Failing Them" was ludicrous Why is it a "dastardly act" for an educator to retain a student when he or she fails to pass the required subjects for the grade in question? A year's retention is not a "life sentence for the student and society" It is merely society's attempt to ensure that today's students are educated as intended and have learned sufficient information in one Observer Photo Samson the missing dog life of an unborn child to save a vicious dog She claims it is not vicious yet it has attacked three people Does a dog become vicious after five attacks or 10? I believe most of your readers are not interested in how much money Allan's house is worth or what plays she has been in If they are like me they only care abut the ordeal that the pregnant veterinarian has been forced to endure on account of Mrs Allan's actions and stubbornness JOHN SMITH Charlotte Charge Claire Allan There should be some way that criminal charges could be brought against Claire Allan Surely there is some legal violation involved in her participation in this Samson fiasco A just and equitable sentence for Claire Allan would be requiring her to work at an old folks home or an orphanage for a time ROBERT MORIN Matthews Biting Doffs Persist No one is more of an animal lover than myself but when you have a dog that is a proven biter nothing will change it This dog has proven its viciousness three times The dog must be destroyed I can't believe a humane woman Samson's story probably happens somewhere every day (minus the bizarre twists in the plot) In the first three months of 1984 animal control facilities in the state of North Carolina exterminated 45309 animals pets that once belonged to human beings who didn't want them any more because they were too big too small didn't bark enough barked too much were too active were too much trouble or the most frequent (and saddest) excuse of all "We're moving away" The Samson debacle also graphically illustrates the harm done by uninformed backyard breeders or "puppy mill' exploiters motivated by profit rather than improving a breed Another casualty of the story is the loss of credibility of agencies concerned primarily with the welfare of animals In the Samson case one humane society and therefore all stands accused of sacrificing the public welfare for over-sentimentalizing the plight of a single dog It's easy in the heat of Samson's story to forget the positive contributions made by local humane societies to the community For example long before the county established the Social Services Department Mecklenburg County Humane Society Inc was one of the agencies called upon to investigate complaints of child abuse The "leash law" the spay-neuter clinic amended animal-control ordinances all these improvements were initiated by local animal-related organizations Although pets may be the direct beneficiaries the changes enacted are in the interest of the health and safety of the public In addition good ongoing educational programs and 'qs 41 '14 4:: ir--i 's NI- ik -1 ''iA 7 rNA 4 048 4 ggr r-9'A' 'At': '4-ske1 )'1 10 iii- 40 Pont Cant Every four year the public is bu breath of gubernat cusing each othei public utilities Sc attacks on Eddie erence for politic particular regard fl Mr Edmisten ample about Mr ducing the size of mission's public st is indeed hootwor misten does you der of Mr Knox's state make great( utilities experts in sumers' side in rat( Mr Knox's idea be a great improvl misten of all peop tell us there's any the public staff it in the first place While the can who would be to tric companies th about the more Which candidate and guts to make adequate electricit: particularly if it lower rates in the Today that pros fetched Throughol demand for electri increasing as fast ago The recession great progress ma servation is anothel The electric con' The Infl Kevin Lynch known author crit of urban design di( recently at his sum tha's Vineyard H( pact however is in Charlotte Mr Lynch came at the invitation Historic Propertie help celebrate the the founding of lotte's emergence city He spent near' and photographing ing with pedestrk city's plans for th( ing leaders not to on massive project! He said that str and a sense of pla( a mixture of old a are more importan height and glitter encouraged Char small as well as big While his mess( versy it also strt 'Speed "Render unto Caesar's Humpy Wheeler derstanding of ttt the new understan came about wt Humpy president Charlotte Mot Speedway had idea for a story wanted his public lations department research the hist( of Roman char races and draw a allei with toda stock car races The man who the research assii ment was Ron Sw writer who had jt way's public relatic Ron spent how UNCC then talked professor of ciassi versity In New William Harris RI sor at Columbia Now Ron probat chariot racing than Richard 'Diode! "I even learned Petty of charlotel was Appuielus Dio chariot events and "Cameron told was the Richard know I've been to says he wishes tha he stops racing chariot" Now when Hurt probably already if he doesn't set up at the speedway so The speedway 1 Rome's old Circus charioteers raced 1 Polities Every four years the public is breath of gubernatorial each other public utilities So attacks on Eddie for political particular regard Mr Edmisten about Mr the size of public is indeed hootworthy does you of Mr Knox's state make greater utilities experts in side in rate Mr Knox's idea be a great improvement of all people tell us there's the public staff he it in the first place While the who would be companies about the more Which candidate and guts to make adequate electricity particularly if it lower rates in the Today that prospect Throughout demand for electricity increasing as fast ago The recession great progress made is another The electric The Kevin Lynch known author critic of urban design died recently at his Vineyard He however is in Charlotte Mr Lynch came at the invitation Historic Properties help celebrate the the founding of emergence city He spent nearly and photographing with pedestrians city's plans for the leaders not to on massive projects He said that and a sense of place a mixture of old are more important height and glitter encouraged small as well as big While his message it also struck 'Speedways' "Render unto Caesar's Humpy Wheeler of the new understanding came about Humpy president Charlotte Motor Speedway had idea for a story wanted his public lations department research the history of Roman chariot races and draw a with today's stock car races The man who the research ment was Ron writer who had public relations Ron spent hours UNCC then talked professor of classics In New William Harris at Columbia Now Ron probably chariot racing than Richard 'Diodes' "I even learned Petty of charioteers" was Appulelus chariot events and "Cameron told was the Richard know I've been says he wishes that he stops racing he chariot" Now when Humpy probably already if he doesn't set up at the speedway The speedway Rome's old Circus charioteers raced 11E 1- 4 In ail 1 VI 1 I un Inl tri im du tio thi a jol La loc blE cel thi dol St1 Fo gel hal Jel All les 4 bat per sta 1 Sr I 1 i i 1 i i i I I i i4 1 in thi un In tri im du tio flu a Jo La loc blE cel th doi St Fo gel hal Jel All les bat per sta ticipate that change (Neither of course did the state agencies that regulate utilities) They built as though demand for electricity would continue to increase at historic rates That overbuilding coupled with unusually high interest rates put many electric companies in a financial bind Companies throughout the country reacted by cancelling plans for new generating plants not just nuclear plants but coal-fired plants too That saved money for now but what about the future? US Energy Secretary Donald Hodel says the national demand for electricity is beginning to accelerate he thinks it will exceed generating capacity in three to five years It takes longer than that to build a coal generator let alone a nuclear reactor Suppose a resurgent economy bolstered by continued migration of Snowbelt industries to Sunbelt states causes demand for electricity in the Carolinas to surge Are the utilities' building plans adequate? Will neighboring states be able to help if we need more electricity than Duke and can produce? The next governor will face those questions We hope the campaign will indicate which candidate has the foresight and fortitude to find the right answers If the voters see fit to elect the man who blows the most hot air about utilities regulation North Carolina in few years may need him to blow a giant windmill to provide the power to turn the wheels of industry Kevin Lynch city has since given greater consideration to the quality of life along the streets Local leaders have since invited other urban critics including William Whyte of New York City and Robert McNulty of Washington DC who reinforced some of the same concerns about scale Mr Lynch is also responsible for putting Charlotteans in touch with Boston architect Dennis Frenchman a Harvard and MIT instructor who has drawn plans for reviving Trade Street redeveloping First Ward creating a downtown market and reestablishing South Boulevard as the gateway to Dilworth Before leaving Mr Lynch observed that Charlotte is a rather young city that In its earlier years was built by money from elsewhere Now he said it is wealthy enough to be developed by local money How well that money is invested he said will determine the character of the future city We should insist on buildings and streets with qualities that endure he said Ancient Rome obtained shows a detailed drawing of the original Circus Maximus Rome's mecca of racing There were four of them in ancient Rome but the Maximus was the first and most impressive It was built about 700 BC The Circus Maximus was a racing oval about half a mile in length and with seats for about 175000 spectators The illustration Ron obtained shows something else mirrored today at Char lotte Motor Speedway Atop one wall of the Circus Maximus were residences The Roman Condos Today the 40 residences at Charlotte Motor Speedway are called condominiums Ron doesn't know what those at Circus Maximus were called But they were there Those residences call them Roman condos are the reason Humpy has his new understanding of "Render unto Caesar When the 40 condos at CMS were being bult Humpy was bragging they were a first for a major sports arena When he launched the condo project Humpy heard his detractors "Who wants a condo at a motor speedway? Who wants to pay more than $100000 for a condo at a racetrack?" Humpy laughed at heckers all the way to the bank as most of the condos were sold even before they were completed But his laughter turned into a wry grin when Ron showed him the illustration of Rome's Circus Maximus with its own "condos" He didn't quote "Render unto Caesar He just said: "Obviously we're not doing anything here at Charlotte Motor Speedway that Caesar didn't do back in Rome We just make a little more noise" Earl Heffner is an occasional Observer columnist who lives at Lake Wylie Nightmare would say "I hope they (the city) do not find him (Samson) I have no regrets about masterminding his escape" What a cruel and stupid remark She has put a vicious dog's life ahead of a woman and her unborn child I think Mrs Allan should be fined If not at least keep her picture out of the paper I am really tired of seeing it SUSAN JONES Pineville Puzzling Editorial The Observer's May 18 editorial "A Lesson In Misplaced Priorities" surprised me Here we have a newspaper renowned for its liberal stances on almost every issue but now it denounces people for exhibiting compassion and concern for a defenseless animal To suggest that by expressing our concern for Samson we are neglecting our greater responsibilities to the homeless and the abused of the community is demeaning and insulting We can show concern for one distressed animal while showing equal concern for many people and animals For a newspaper whose editorial pages cannot condone capital punishment for those who have wantonly murdered their fellow human beings plus espousing all other manner of liberal dogma to write such a strident editorial calling for the execution of a bewildered dog whose crimes consisted of biting three people under dubious circumstances is puzzling MARCUS DAVIES Matthews Publicity Stinks When I picked up my paper and found another picture and lengthy article on Claire Allan and Samson whom she seems to worship and certainly put more thought and consideration on than a poor pregnant lady whose baby may suffer from the rabies shots I became disgusted with your paper and stopped my subscription The dog should have been put to sleep when he bit the elderly man back in February Had the dog belonged to someone in North Charlotte who could not afford to go all out for it no one would have asked the owner it would have been killed I think as many other people in the city do that all this publicity about her and the dog stinks BUXTON Charlotte Every Day nursing-home visitations are being undertaken by several animal-related groups in the area Samson's story even though the end is not in sight has a moral lesson far beyond "misplaced priorities" It is time for the public to take a more informed attitude toward animals over which man according to gospel has "dominion" Whether we like or dislike animals it is everyone's money being spent on the disposition of animals discarded by ignorant or indifferent pet owners If we must foot the bill then we have the right to demand that those who choose to take on a relationship with a pet do so only after they have been educated about the responsibilities involved If someone had done that for Samson's original owner there would be no sad story of Samson the dog and the taxpayers wouldn't be out $6000 ELEANOR SUMMERS Charlotte The The Observer welcomes your letters Please sign include your address and daytime telephone number and mail to Observer Forum PO Box 32188 Charlotte 28232 We edit letters for brevity syntax and grammar We do not print letters previously published elsewhere Because of the volume of letters we cannot publish all letters or return unpublished letters Editors The Observer Earl Heffner Samson's Story Happens In Caesar that which is must have a new understanding these words although isn't Biblical It when of an He re- to parallel got assign- Heffner Swaim a former sports just Joined the speedway's staff in the library at with Alan Cameron at Columbia University York City as well as Roman history professor knows more about most Carolinians Petty who was the Richard says Ron "He Diodes He started 4257 won 1462 of them me he thinks Diodes Petty of his time You told that Richard Petty at least once before could race a Roman learns this as he has don't be surprised a Roman chariot race some day is a mirror image of Maximus where the One of the books Ron The writer is president Mecklenburg County Humane Society Inc The sad story of Samson has no villains All the characters had only the dog's best interest at heart Samson however was doomed from Day One for like many others animals and people he just happened to be born in the wrong place at the wrong time Newfoundland Irvto dogs were bred origi- sil nally for their heavy rt oily coats protection tA against cold water As working dogs Summers they are used as retrievers of water birds They have a reputation for gentleness and placidity a combination that attracts dog-shoppers looking for bigness (adult males can weigh up to 150 pounds) without aggressiveness Unfortunately their owners may expect the dog to take up the same amount of room as a toy poodle eat defecate and generally behave like a toy poodle When the dog by his genetic makeup can't possibly meet those standards he becomes "too big to keep" Which is what happened to Samson Samson also had the misfortune to have physical problems which required veterinary care an expense his second owner either didn't recognize or was reluctant to incur Left to himself Samson began his odyssey of wrong choices By the time he was rescued it was already too late The media seized upon the Samson story as out of the ordinary Sadly 1 ft JL.