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1? VOLUME 106 NUMBER 25 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1981 1 SECTION 20 PAGES 25' More and more, as schools continue to be the target for criticism, we are hearing educators beginning to become defensive. They admit that all is not perfect, but some of them, even within the area, contend that students are doing quite well. Then they remind us that in spite of what we may hear, the situation is not exactly the same as in the good old days. With that we agree. One of these McHenry area* educators, tired of gripes, provided us with facts that will have to be judged by the reader. Some of the explanations make good sense. At least it seems fair that they be brought to public attention since complainers are often heard. Test scores, known as Scholastic Aptitude Tests, are usually used as a basis for judging students, and most of us are unaware of factors that enter into these declining scores. First, two-thirds to three-fourths of the total decline has been attributed to two things. One is that today, more low- ability students take the tests. The percentage of poverty level students taking the S.A.T. has in­ creased since 1960, and the percentage of wealthier students has decreased. The fact is that wealthier students score an average of 100 points higher. Also, more females take the test by a 5 percent increase since 1960; and they average 55 percent lower than men on the mathematics section. Today, nine times as many blacks take the test as 20 years ago and their average is 100 points below the average score of white students. All of these facts tend to lower the average. This same study disputes the argument that education was better back in grandma's day, and it points to 25 "then and now" studies comparing past and present academic per­ formances. TV ip<l< fty to us by a local educator, had a lot more facts, but these should be sufficient to consider in forming judgment. If anyone were to ask us our opinion as to whether kids are smarter today, we'd be the first to say they know a lot more than we did at their age. If you ask if they're as well behaved and respectful, we'd respond with the same enthusiasm, but with a resoun­ ding "no". This isn't the fault of the schools for the most part, but of a society in general that has relegated these words to an unimportant place in its vocabulary. Some people equate respect with learning, especially seniors who remember that the two went hand in hand when they were young. This probably isn't fair because most seniors don't have the respect they had 50 years ago either. But it's a natural thing to compare, and when their comparisons fall short, they criticize today's school system. But the problem is improving, as we notice each day, and that very fact is encouraging. KAF Her Business Is Man's Work Barbara Roth, an employee in the press area, measures and checks the angle of a sieel part that just came out of the large brake press at the MiUer Formless C o m p a n y , I n e . , M i l l a ^ i . r 1 ^ STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD While the nation takes notice of the contributions of the many women in various businesses, it is also fitting that a salute is made to the women in in­ dustry, occupying what have traditionally been considered men's jobs. Formerly a spot welder, for the last nine months Barbara Roth, of Wood­ stock, has been employed in the press area of Miller Formless Company, Inc., on Sherman hill in McHenry. Mrs. Roth operates the large brake press, punch press and metal shear. She explained that the brake press is used to bend metal into precise angles, the punch press makes holes in metal and the shear cuts metal to varying specifications. She said the company needed someone in the press area and asked if she wanted to give it a try. "It's really been an experience," Mrs. Roth said. "From going to a job that anyone walking off the street can do to working here, it's a whole dif­ ferent ballgame." She commented that the working conditions were good and noted, "The guys all really treat me nice here." Mrs. Roth's husband is "one of the guys." Evaluate McHenry Area Sewage System Study TIME CHANGE McHenry area residents are reminded to turn back their clocks one hour Saturday night, Oct. 24, with the end of daylight saving time in the early hours of Sunday. Standard time will remain in effect until the last weekend in April. by Anthony Oliver The Public Advisory committee of the Step I sewage treatment study met with a representative of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) in what was termed a "mid- course evaluation" in McHenry Shores Wednesday night The committee was formed because of a requirement in the Step I grant program and is comprised of two representatives of the Village of McHenry Shores, two from the City of McHenry and another from the unin­ corporated land within the "facility planning area." Neither of the McHenry committee members, James Blum or Michael Wieser. attended the meeting. According to Ronald Drainer, of IEPA. the purpose of the meeting was twofold. First, the meeting was designed to identify possible problem New Legislative Map Draws Criticism SHAW MEDIA NEWS SERVICE "Black Friday" was Senator Jack Schaffer's reference to the day the special Illinois Legislative R e d i s t r i c t i n g c o m m i s s i o n , Democratically controlled, adopted the new, unofficial map. Schaffer serves what is now the 33rd Legislative district, which has been altered considerably. To retain his Senate seat, Schaffer must relocate his residence in order to seek office in the new 32nd district. This he said he was prepared to do. The map was drawn to divide each state Senate district into two House districts, as ordered by the state con­ stitutional amendment, reducing the House membership from 177 to 118. The 59 senatorial district boundaries are altered in the new map to reflect population shifts shown in the 1980 census. Target populations are 193,533 for Senate districts and 96,767 for House districts. The new map will be published by the State Board of Elections, but work on. transforming census data into a specific geographical map continues. Vernon Eayre, an assistant director with the State Board of Elections, explained the new map was drawn by means of census tracts which must be overlaid on township and other such maps in order to determine the boun­ daries for the new districts. The process is reported to be very exacting and time consuming. Currently, all McHenry county is located within the 33rd Legislative district except a small part of McHenry township and a larger portion of Nunda, which lie within the 32nd district. In the new map, as State Rep. Richard Klemm, R-Crystal Lake, said, the county "has been chopped up" into the new 63rd and 64th Representative districts and the new 32nd and 33rd Senatorial districts. The present 33rd district is renum­ bered the 32nd district and includes all the old 33rd district except the Kane county portion and several southern townships in McHenry county. Those townships include Marengo, Seneca, the southeast corner of Dorr, Riley, Carol, Grafton and Algonquin townships, excluding the area within the corporate limits of Crystal Lake. The new 32nd district also includes Roscoe and Rockton townships in Winnebago county, Grant, Wauconda and Fremont townships in Lake county, and all Boone county. The new 63rd district includes the Crystal Lake portions of Grafton and Algonquin townships, all Nunda township, the southeast section of McHenry township in McHenry county, and Grant, Wauconda and Fremont townships in Lake county. The new 64th district includes the northeast corner of Winnebago county, all Boone county, Chemung, Alden, Hebron, Burton, Dunham, Hartland and Greenwood townships in McHenry county, plus the northwest portion of McHenry township and all Dorr township except the southeast corner. Now representing the 33rd district, Klemm will be an incumbent in the new 63rd district. State Rep. Donald Deuster, R-Mundelein, has announced he will seek a Senate seat for the new 32nd district. Democrats last Monday filed a suit seeking to have the Illinois Supreme court approve the plan. In commenting (Continued on page 18) areas that may arise and second, the meeting was an attempt to streamline the grant-study approval process lay insuring that the communities involved are headed in the right direction. According to George Heck, of Baxter and Woodman, the consulting engineering firm in this project, there is a definitive need for a sewer system in the residential McHenry Shores area because of a high water table and poor soils. Heck noted that a little more than half the community exhibited either real or potential septic problems. A community survey in McHenry Shores, which netted a 65 percent response from the residents, indicated a 26 percent failure rate of existing septic systems and a 31 percent potential problem rate on other lots. The reason for the involvement of the city and unincorporated areas is that the state environmental agency has partitioned the state into Facility P l a n n i n g A r e a s ( F P A ) a n d a n y proposal for a sewer system or treat­ ment facility must address the needs of the entire FPA. The city will become involved in the determination of the population to be served and in the boundaries of responsibility. While the City of McHenry has a sewer system and treatment plant, it is expanding its boundaries to the south and there are presently areas within the city limits which are on well and septic systems. Heck pointed out that the village must address the future sewer needs of the city prior to con­ sidering the construction of a sewer plant and collection system. The state, he explained, is pushing for the development of regional sewage treatment facilities. Likewise, areas east of the Fox river are also included in the McHenry FPA (Continued on page 18) Lawsuit In School Bus Crash Teacher Asks Reversal Of Revocation Order A Schaumburg junior high school math teacher, who was convicted Jast April of taking indecent liberties with a child, has filed a lawsuit in the 19th Judicial Circuit court naming the Illinois Superintendent of Schools, Donald G. Gill, and the Secretary of the State Teacher Certification board, Susan K. Bentz, as defendants. Walter Dembos, Jr., 31, of Bull Valley, was convicted of the morals charge in the trial court on April 1 of this year. He was originally charged with five counts of taking indecent liberties with a child, but four of the charges were dropped. On May 5, a notice of appeal was filed in the 2nd District Appellate court, Elgin, for Dembos by his attorney, Richard C. Kelly, of Crystal Lake. Dembos was dismissed by the Schaumburg District 54 school board on May 28 and he demanded a hearing before the state certification board. At that hearing, the board voted 5 to 2 to revoke the teaching certificate, ac­ cording to the suit. On Aug. 26, an administrative order of Donald G. Gill, state superintendent of schools, revoked the certificate. The suit states that, according to Chapter 22 of the Illinois Revised Statutes, when the holder of a cer­ tificate is convicted of either a sex or narcotics charge, the regional or state superintendent of education shall "suspend" the certification. If the conviction is reversed and the holder • acquitted of the offense in a new trial, or, the charges are dismissed, the suspending authority shall terminate the suspension. If the conviction is upheld, the state superintendent of schools shall then "revoke" the cer­ tificate. The suit asks the 19th Judicial Circuit court to reverse the order of the state superintendent in order to suspend instead of revoke the certification until the matter is decided in Appellate court. No date has been set regarding the matter. Dembos was sentenced to four years probation, a fine of $5,000 and psychiatric treatment as recommended by the psychological evaluation Another lawsuit asking for a minimum judgment of $15,000 has been filed against McHenry Elementary School District 15 and Joan Kowalec stemming from an October. 1978, school bus accident. The suit, filed in 19th Judicial Circuit court, was brought on behalf of Philip Pratt by his father. According to the suit, Philip Pratt was a 9-year-old passenger on a District 15 school bus driven by Ms. Kowalec The bus ran off River road on Oct. 31, 1978 and rolled on its side about three- tenths of a mile south of State Park road. The suit charges negligence on the , (Continued on page 18) C of C Sets Holiday Theme She commented, "Christmas time brings many expectations that seldom materialize. The real joy of the season is the warmth of being with family and all the love that is shares. You, the Chamber, have chosen to zero in on that and it just has to make the holiday season better for everyone". Chris Wirtz, chairman of Christmas promotions, suggests that everyone "watch the media for details and watch the stores for the arrival of a special coupon book which will appear in November, although the exact date of delivery is yet uncertain". "Home For The Holidays" has been selected as the theme for McHenry's Christmas observance this year, ac­ cording to Tom Williams, Retail committee chairman of the McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce. The theme was suggested by Barb Luther, public relations director for McHenry hospital. Extended store hours and promotions w i l l b e g i n i m m e d i a t e l y a f t e r Thanksgiving. While addressing the retail com­ mittee Oct. 20, Susan Callaghan . complimented the 1981 holiday theme. uns - even cars - are among the customary targets of ow who tries to get away with something as large as a Thefts Grow - And Grow! Purses, jewelry, g thieves. But the fellow who tries t grain elevator has real courage. However, it paid off last Sunday when the owner of the elevator refused to press charges. A McHenry County Sheriff's police deputy noticed a pickup truck towing a grain elevator without any kind of warning device at the intersection of Johnsburg road and Rt. 31 at about 6:25 a.m. Stopping the vehicle, the officer discovered that the elevator had been reported stolen to the McHenry Pollice department, according to county police. The owner of the elevator identified it as his own and said the elevator had been taken without his permission, but he would not sign a complaint since the elevator was returned. Wait Until Dark It is always dark for East campus student. Dawn Desbiens, when she rehearses for the part of Suzy Hendrix in the play, "Wait Until Dark" that will be presented Nov. 6, 7 and 8. Above, Dawn sets the table for Larry Kenyon, playing the part of Sam Hendrix. The play is being performed by the East campus Drama club. STAFF PHOTO-WAYNE GAYLORD McHenry Women In Business A Tr ibute To Thei r Ta lents Pages 9 -10-11 Man Trapped As the Plaindealer want to press Thursday, tha McHenry Rascua squad and fireman wore working to free an unidentified man from a tunnel about 20 feet below ground at the McHenry Sand A Gravel West gravel pit at the top of Sherman hill. The man, trapped in sand, was reported to have been freed from the waist and was being administered oxygen. He Made The Grade I One Student 's Successes Page 16