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PAGE 14 - PLAINDE ALER - WEDNESDAY. SEPTEMBER 2. PLAINDEALER -- 1981 IS Editorial Opinion Back To Basics The failure of some schools in recent decades, with their rmissiveness, selective courses and super-modern theories s caused a back-to-basics movement in elementary and secondary schools. In San Francisco, James Cearney is to be principal this fall of a new back-to-basics high school. It's in the city system, which already has one back-to-basics elementary school It was such a success another one, and the high school, are being quickly opened. The emphasis in these schools is on English, mathematics, history, science, and foreign languages. It is also on responsibility, self-discipline and citizenship. Teachers have flocked to volunteer for these new schools, perhaps because they feel they will really be able to teach again in them. Homework is also utilized-correcting the too-easy trend of little or no homework. In these back-to-basics schools, there is a dress standard. Rules will be clear and punishment certain. Grading will be specific and all subjects must be passed if a student is to graduate. A return to discipline, basics and common sense is the only hope for the U.S. public schools system-which has suffered from so much nonsense, impractical theory and permissiveness in recent years. The response to back-to- basics education from parents in San Francisco and in other areas, such as Jacksonville, Fla., shows parents are ahead of officials, in some cases, in this problem area. The S.S. Fight Some legislators, who failed to defeat President Reagan's tax cut bill, are now saying they won't lose the fight over minimum Social Security benefits. And their charges have much appeal. The fight will be one of the first to erupt in Congress when the current recess ends/And what are the facts" Fact one is that earned benefits are not included in the President's proposal. Only those getting benefits which were not earned are to be affected. The alternative to some cuts in the unearned area is bankruptcy of the system. If this happens, those who have paid into the svstem, who have earned their benefits, will lose also. Some say that those receiving unearned payments (two to three thousand dollars is the annual minimum) are among the neediest Americans. That's the political pitch. In many cases, facts dispute this. Of the 3 million now on the unearned minimum benefit rolls (a major drain on the system), 450,000 also receive federal pensions, which average $16,000 annually. Another 1.2 million are only technical beneficiaries -who are actually receiving much more than the minimum. Another group have retired spouses receiving federal pensions. Another 300,000 have working spouses earning over $20 000, some have earned their minimum benefit and will retain it. Another group lives outside the U.S. Some 500,000 receive, also, federal supplementary security income, and their SSI checks will increase if Social Security payments decrease. Some 200,000 others are students or minor children of parents receiving federal pensions. Thus 2.7 million of the 3 million affected are covered in these questionable categories--as far as being terribly needy is concerned. The president's backers in Congress say a way will be found to take care of the 300,000 remaining, who are genuinely needy, but that there is no reason to bankrupt the system for the 2.7 million who are not really all that needy. That argument is seldom heard. Tax-Free Certificates Available October J Bankruptcy Record Set PLAINDEALER^ Middle income families and small-balance savers will be among the chief beneficiaries of new All Savers tax free certificates. The one-year certificates, which pay savers as much as $2,000 in tax free interest, will be available starting Thursday, Oct. l at all financial institutions. The $2,000 in tax free in­ come is available to savers filing joint tax returns. Single taxpayers may ex­ clude up to $1,000 of interest from an All Savers cer­ tificate. Assuming a certificate rate of 12 percent, savers with joint taxable income between $24,600 and $29,900 would have to earn a yield of 17.65 percent on competing taxable instruments to match the 12 percent available in the All Savers plan. An All Savers certificate can be opened with only $500. That means that savers who have only a small amount to deposit can obtain a good return and get a tax break at the same time. Deposits are insured up to the $100,000 limit established by the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance corporation. Actual rates on new All Savers certificates will vary each month, depending on yields on comparable Treasury issues. Tax cut legislation passed in the summer by Congress authorized financial in­ stitutions to pay savers a tax-free return equal to 70 percent of comparable Treasury auction yields. Auctions are held once every four weeks. No such tax pxempt savings account had ever before been permitted. Once depositors open an All Savers certificate, the rate is guaranteed for the 12- month period The All Savers plan was created to give middle income Americans a tax break that will encourage them to save. The United Staates has had one of the lowest per­ sonal savings rates of any industrialized nation - in part, because of a tax structure which has discouraged saving. The All Savers certificate is expected to help correct that problem. r-V thI N I WGAS PUMP SCHOOL ZONES There are coo man) stops at school zones, posted lim­ its, crossing guards and long waits behind buses. Avoid these when you can and eliminate another "gas trap." It takes more fuel to get a car moving than it does to keep it moving. For Your Information Dear Friends, A military burial is the right of any person ser­ ving officially In any branch of the U.S. military services or who has been honorably discharged from military service. Burial may be selected in a National Cemeteiy and a headstone or marker is available from th» Quartermaster General upon request. Respectfully, PETER M.JISTEN FUNERAL HOME McHENUr, ILLINOIS - 3854063 A young man charges himself into $57 00« worth of debt. He then declares bankruptcy, restructures his repayment under current laws to total about $1,200 over three years and he keeps everything. Such cases are common practice under the recently reformed bankruptcy laws. Historically, bankruptcy had been perceived as the pariah of personal finance, carrying with it a social stigma equal to the Scarlet Letter of fiction. Now, however, liberal reform of bankruptcy laws, changing social morals, and legal advertising, has dramatically changed this situation. Personal bankruptcy filings have increased a stunning 82 percent since the rew federal Bankruptcy code became law Oct. 1,« 1979. In I960, credit unions were affected more by personal bankruptcies than in their entire history. While a percentage of this dramatic increase can be blamed on economic con­ ditions, it has become in­ creasingly apparent that the new code itself, as well as a growing moral outlook ihat readily accepts bankruptcy, is largely responsible for the upsurge. The new laws make it much easier to declare bankruptcy that they allow the debtor to keep most of his property. This explains why consumer bankruptcy filings reached a record of more than 314,000 last June. State's Air Quality Shows Improvement Air quality improved tn 1980 in most parts of Illinois. However, unhealthy con­ ditions still persist in several cities and industrial areas, according to report released today by the Illinois Environmental Protoction agency. Readings from the state's air pollution monitors generally showed lower average and peak air con­ taminant concentrations in 1980 than occurred in previous years. 'We expect the air quality to continue to improve," ocuil Dave Kolaz, manager, Ambient Air Quality section, Illinois EPA. "because of improving automotive and industrial air pollution controls. The air pollution data for the past several years shows a definite downward trend." For the ninth year in a row the monitor measuring suspended particulate levels at 2001 East 20th street m Granite City recorded the highest annual average in the state. Ih0 average concentration at the site, however, was 20 percent lower than the 1979 average. Similar improvements were recorded at other Granite City monitoring locations. Lake Bluff had the lowest average particulate level. Of 109 monitors, 38 recorded annual averages above the health standard of 75 micrograms per cubic meters tugm3). Statewide particulate levels averaged 72 ug-m3 in 1980, down from 74 ug-m3 in 1979. None of the 39 sulfur dioxide monitoring si'es recorded annual averages in excess of the health stan­ dard, 0.03 parts per million (ppm). 1980 was the first year cince the state i-egan its air pollution warning system that no ozone yellow alerts were issued. The yellow stage is the second level in the state's four step warning system. Its purpose is to alert the public to high ozone readings and to order con­ servation measures which will prevent air pollution from rising to the significant harm level. Ozone, a pollutant which reaches its highest levels in sunny, warm and stagnant weather, found few op­ portunities in 1980 to reach t uviuiia. Of the 42 ozone monitors operating during 1980, 14 recorded more than one day with concentrations above the federal health standard of 0.12 ppm. Those monitors recording high levels are located in the Chicago and East St. Louis metropolitan areas and in Moline and Marion. Nitrogen dioxide levels dropped significantly in 1980. Carbon monoxide ambient concentrations were also lower in 1980. Only two monitoring sites, one at 160 North LaSalle street in Chicago and the other at 6th and Monroe streets in Springfield recorded violations of the carbon monoxide health standard. The lead monitoring statiop at 15th and Madison streets' in Granite City recorded lead averages in two calendar quarters above the health standard. A lead standard violation which popped up in Elgin in 1980 has since been discounted as being unrepresentative of surrounding air quality. An air vent from a basement pistol firing range emitting a high concentration of lead a i few feet away from a roof top lead monitor caused the u high monitor readings. Crime . .. No. 1 Worry X pip t-0CIC -^poon-1 OF IO AMEkjCAN Mcxjse rtoi-c* . AKF RtPFEP-Cff ARE YOU NEW IN The McHenry Area? Do You Know Someone New? WE WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND A ROYAL WELCOME TO EVERY NEWCOMER TO OUR AREA!!! CALL LORRAINE M0NAHAN 385-5475 4 am uncut 1 X tb$0 wht't Mfk ttn *•*>?*I firtt mictm nsmftui ##' ROYAL WELCOME MOW YOUR AKAJOYAl WELCNE NES IT KST Letter to the Editor Public Pulse (TIm LEGAL SERVICES FUNDING "Dear Editor: "I was disappointed that the Senate Budget com­ mittee voted $200 million for the Federal Legal Services program, despite President Reagan's recommendation against any further funding or authority. "I think it is wrong to use taxpayer dollars to subsidize 17,000 Legal Services ac­ tivists who are free to lobby, organize, sue, and propagandize in favor of their radical political ideas. "Their idea of what is good for the poor and what is good for America is very different than mine. I don't expect Congress to subsidize my political ideas, and I cer­ tainly hope Congress won't continue to subsidize theirs. "I hone that between now and Sept. 30, the Senate Budget committee will reverse the initial recom­ mendation and eliminate any further Federal funding for this very questionable program. "May I suggest that taxpayers who are in­ terested in helping to cut the federal expenditures send a iCuci iu ociiaiui r ciw Domenici, chairman of the U.S. Senate Budget com­ mittee, Senate office building, Washington, D.C. 20510, with a copy to President Reagan, adding a personal note, asking him to stand firm and to veto such a funding bill if it should come to his desk. "Sincerely, "Mrs. Dorothy Himpelmann" HELPING HANDICAPPED "Editor: "Who will help the han­ dicapped? "Who will speak for the speechless? "Very few, if President Reagan's proposed budget and programmatic changes in education and health policies are enacted. Given his 25 percent budget cuts, his block grant funding, and the repeal of PL 94-142, thousands of handicapped children will no lon£ferybe eligible for or receive special education and related ser­ vices. "As a speech-language pathologist who has spent more than 15 years working with the handicapped as well as supervising personnel to serve the speech, language, and hearing impaired, I am concerned gravely about the potential deleterious impact of the administration's proposed economic changes on the handicapped children in our nation. A close review of the proposed Elementary 1 and Secondary Education and Consolidation act of 1961 suggests that handicapped children everywhere will be threatened with the elimination of services, programs, and even trained personnel so critical to their education. "For example, the proposed 25 percent recision in education funding will curtail sharply the education training of special educators £uch as speech-language puuiviuguui auu tiuuiuiu^iat^ at a time when most states, including Illinois, are reporting a shortage of such personnel. In September, 1980, state education agencies repor ted a total of 2,000 funded positions which remain unfilled due to an insufficient supply of trained speech and hearing personnel. "Clearly, the gap between needed and available per­ sonnel cannot be closed by reducing funding for per­ s o n n e l p r e p a r a t i o n programs in special education. Yet, this is precisely what will occur if t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n ' s p r o p o s a l t o r e d u c e a l l education programs by 25 percent is implemented. "The scenario becomes & ol ServlCC pr„fesSi°n pirect<>ry EMI X. WALSH « JACK WALSH MS. Hf Awl* fmrm lit* #fllA»l» COMPANIIS 4410 W tt. 110 MI1M0 DENNIS CONWAY AUTO MM *Mt State Fan IRS. CO. imw iiffisir**< MtHtnr, Ml M S / I I I JAMES M. mm, LAWYER AVAIlAtlS TO PtACTICI IN: Ptrtonol tn|wry Trlolt IvtlMit Corporations Wlllt/Proboto Dlvorco-ftooltstoto Workman's Compensation 14M W Elm SlrMl McH*nry. IlllnoU For appointment phono: IIS 2440 OR. LCONARO I0TTMI 1)03 Richmond Rd. -AAcHonry ** iyo* onomlnod-Contoct Lontoi f MmA •Aon.. Tuot., Thurt. Frl. 4-4pm Tuo»., Thurt.. Frl 7-t pm Sot. 9:30-1 pm Phono 305-4151 or 305-22*2 McNENRY COUNTY OFFICE MACHINES SAKS SIRViCt t RfNTAlf AAon Sot * 5:30 Friday til * 00 93 Gront St Cryitollofc* Pkono 4S9-1224 If Pays To Advertise In The Plaindealer. Farm Equipment Gcorgo P. F round. Inc. Cos* • New Holland 4102 W Crystal lake Rd McHenry Bus. 385-0420 Res. 385-0227 I P E L L I RADIAL TIRES FOR ALL CARS Europa Motors, Inc 2 3 1 8 R t e 1 2 0 8 1 5 3 8 5 0 7 0 0 %W HI Our quid quick action copy center FINEST QUALITY COPIES MADE ON XEROfc EQUIPMENT See ut. olio, for every kind ol Printing Nood I PRINTING 3909 W. MAIN 315-7600 TRAILERS HORSE 4 CATTIE TRAIIERS s DUMP FLATBEDS CAR HAULERS s ( A ' I TRAILER HITCHES (EXPERT INSTAIIATION) R V E S # RUNNING BOARDS BRAOEN WINCHES ADAMS ENTERPRISES 3017 W Rt* 120 McHvnry 11 Its )IS S970 1 C F i more dismal when one looks at the potential ramifications of the President's proposal for block grant funding. In essence, the block grant concept would consolidate 44 categorical education programs into two major block grants to be distributed to states and to local education agencies. "Each state would receive funding based on the number of 'low income' children identified within the state. The funds would then be allocated by officials as they deemed appropriate. The money could be used in a variety of ways: for the handicapped, for school libraries, for community relations, for repair or minor remodeling of schools, or other programs. "Under the 'block grant system, PL 94-142, the Education for All Han­ dicapped Children Act (1975) would be repealed. There would be little federal oversight or control over state and local use of funds, issues such as the basic rights of the handicapped to a free and appropriate education, least restrictive e n v i r o n m e n t , n o n ­ discriminatory assessment, and related services would be left to state and local policies or litigation. "Programs for the han­ dicapped would have to compete for funding at the state and local levels. Such was the case before PL 94- 142 when special education programs had to compete with other programs for funding. The resulting turf protecting' and 'empire building' which ensued was clearly not in the best in­ terests of the handicapped. Can it be that we will set the clock baclc for our han­ dicapped children? "I, along with a majority of Americans, recognize the need to restore fiscal stability to our nation's economy. I applaud the President's and the Congress' efforts in this direction. I do not condone, however, the indiscriminate 'across the board budget slashing' and the block-grant proposals advocated by the administration. "To reduce drastically the funding of current education programs for the han dicapped, and to eliminate the legal base, PL 94-142 upon which such program* are supported is not only heartless, but irresponsible It is also completely con trary to what we have learned over the years about how resources are allocated for handicapped children "We know that whenever our handicapped children competed for support from a pool of resources, they usually have emerged at the bottom of the list of priorities. I submit that there is too much at stake for our children as well as those programs which are threatened with extinction tr. have all lost through precipitous decision making Let us examine carefully the President's economic policy to assure that rights of the handicapped are not denied "Catherine M. Stilling "Speech and Language Pathologist" from HISTORY'S SCRAPBOOK OATES AND EVENTS FROM YESTERYEARS September 3, 1856 - Louis H. Sullivan, [£eheer of the "form follows function" principle of modern architecture and devel­ oper of the skyscraper, born Boston. September 4, 1781 - Spanish settlers found village of Los Angeles. September 5, 1826 - Thomas S. Hunt, inventor of the green ink that made "greenback" dollars possible, born Norwich, Conn. September 6, 1837 - Oberlin College in Ohio becomes 1st co­ educational institution of higher education. September 7, 1896 - First automobile race on a track conduced at Cranston, R.l. f September 8, 1900 - More than 5,000 die and all buildings aie destroyed as hurricane and tidal wave level Galveston, Tex. September 9, 1965 - President Lyndon B. Johnson signs act creating Department of Housing and Urban Development. SERVICE LINE McHENRY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FAMILY SERVICJf A MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC 3409 W. Waukegon Road McHonry 385-6400 TURNING POINT-DOMESTIC VIOLENCE STRESS LINE McHonry County 24 hours a day, 7 days a wook Parents Anonymous mooting* on Tuesday. Call 815-344-3944 STATE CHAMBER GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS HOTLINE 217 522-5514 FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION 202 755-8660 Hours 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. week days (Ever had a problem involving the federal government and not known where to call? And then been given the runaround or referrals by persons who meant well but didn't know how to help? Ten specialists available at this center ) NATIONAL RUN-AWAY SWITCHBOARD Illinois Phone: 800-972-6004 (For confidential conversations on oroblems dealing with run­ away children.) MOVING HOTLINE Phone 800-424-9213 (Complaints about interstate moving by companies, buses or trains. Sponsored by Interstate Commerce commission) CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION Phone 800-638-2666 (For Questions or Complaints on products ranging from toys to ovens) NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION Phone 800-434-9393 (Answers questions about automobile safety defects or whether a particular model has ever been recalled. Valuable for those interested in buying a used car.) ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES Child Abuse Center McHenry County (312)546-2150 CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION 800 638-2666 (Operates five national lines. Answers inquiries about or repor­ ting on the safety of products from kitchen appliances to children's toys.) NATIONAL SOLAR HEATING AND COOLING. INFORMATION CENTER 800 523-2929 P.O.Box 1607 Rockville, Md. 20850 (Dispenses information on solar systems for heating and cooling to anyone from architects to home owners looking for a sun powered hot-water system) CONSUMER PROTECTION DIVISION . 312-793-3580 Chicago III. BIRTHRIGHT Pregnant? Need Help? Counseling Service. 385-2999 . 24 hour Answering Service. YOUTH SERVICE BUREAU FOR McHENRY COUNTY 4719 W. Elm St.. McHenry Phone: 344-3240 24 hour Crisis Intervention and Confidential Counseling for youth and families ILLINOIS STATE CHAMBER HOTLINE Phone 217-522-5514 Answer to questions on government regulations MENTAL HEALTH 1-800-192-8900 ..Crisis Center Lino for McHonry Co. 24-Hour Emergency number and professional staff will answer your call. Soonsarinl Co-W.k.n.1,. ttaml Motional Neighborhood Watch Association Post Office Box 17400 Washington, D.C.. 20041 Phono (703)471-0404 McHenry County CETA Outreach Cantor 644 Russol Ct. Woodstock, IL 40098 8144*0-7100 JOB TRAINING OFFERED