Editor’s note: The following letter was sent by Barbara O. Erickson, Journalism Education Association mentor and retired teacher/adviser of Rockford Jefferson High School Publications, to Rockford Public School District 205 Superintendent Dr. LaVonne M. Sheffield.

November 19, 2010

Dear Dr. Sheffield:

I am writing this letter to express my horror at the possibility that you and the Rockford School District are considering dismantling the journalism programs at our high schools by eliminating all publication course offerings for credit.

Over the years, publications at all four high schools, both the yearbook and newspaper, have consistently brought visible evidence of positive recognition to the Rockford Public School District No. 205. The Jefferson program was modeled after the East High program, which for many, many years, set the standard for quality journalism in the entire NW Illinois area. Other area journalism programs have modeled theirs after Rockford’s, including Belvidere’s and Belvidere North’s.

On May 17, 2007, at an RPS No. 205 Board meeting, I received a Distinguished Service Award from the Rockford Public School District No. 205 in recognition of dedication and service to the Rockford Public Schools. This award was presented because my Jefferson High School Publications Team had just won the Illinois High School Association’s Journalism State Championship in April. My J-Hawk students placed first out of 90 high schools. The positive recognition and enhancement of the RPS No. 205 image from this accomplishment came on four levels: within the building, within the community, within the state, and finally, within the nation. All forms of media covered this victory: from students appearing on local television and radio to widespread newspaper coverage, both locally, in Chicago, and at the state and national levels.

In June 2007, two days after I retired from teaching and advising publications for 15 years (34 years total), I helped lead a district-wide professional development seminar where a committee of publication advisers, the English Curriculum Coordinator, and the RPS No. 205 Chief Instructional Officer, created a rigorous curriculum for all three journalism courses: Newswriting/Beginning Journalism, Yearbook and Newspaper. Our high expectations drove instruction for all students. We made sure these publication courses provide real-world experiences and opportunities. The first-year course, Newswriting/Beginning Journalism, covers the basics of the many parts of journalism, including actually publishing a Beginning Journalism issue of the newspaper. The two advanced courses encourage and necessitate even more depth of thought. Since these publications use the industry standard in technology (hardware and software), they require higher level thinking skills necessary to succeed in the 21st century. Since these unique student-created publications are actually viewed by the public, a deep understanding of procedure, press law, and journalistic principles and ethics are not only stressed, but essential. Good writing is emphasized as the basis for all journalism. Educationally, communications, public relations, and advertising are also major parts of any journalism/publications curriculum at any level. Furthermore, all three classes are taught incorporating principles of graphic design, which is an up-and-coming career path in today’s global society as well as utilizing computer skills that are integral to the Internet and digital age. Since our pub classes are performance based on real life experience, students learn to connect with not only students and adults in their own school, but build bridges with professionals and businesses to improve the image of RPS No. 205 in the community by interviewing, reporting and fundraising, selling both yearbooks and ads, as well as distributing newspapers. Life skills such as time management, prioritizing, balancing finances, and developing/exhibiting leadership qualities while teaming with a diverse staff are essential in meeting real deadlines and budgets in these courses. Since there are so many facets of journalism, students of all abilities, talents and levels of interest have the opportunity to find their niche.

According to the Newspaper Association of America Foundation, a 2008 study by Jack Dvorak of Indiana University found a positive link exists between journalism programs and elevated standardized test scores as well as academic performance. Students who participate in journalism programs have significantly higher scores than non-staff members in 12 of 14 areas of academic comparison: college freshman GPA; first college freshman English, overall high school GPA; high school grades in English, math, social science, science, foreign language and art; and ACT Composite score, ACT English score and ACT reading score. Non-journalism students perform significantly better than newspaper or yearbook staff members in only two of the areas of academic comparison—ACT Mathematics score and ACT Science score. Students with journalism course experience scored higher percentiles on the ACT than non-journalists:

→ High school journalism staffers scored in the 64th percentile on the ACT Composite compared with scores in the 56th percentile for non-journalism students.

→ In the ACT English scores, student journalists finished in the 65th percentile compared with the 59th percentile for non-journalists.

→ On the ACT Reading test, student journalists scored in the 59th percentile (compared with the 56th percentile for non-journalists). (www.naafoundation.org)

Finally, the RPS No. 205 publication programs at Jefferson, East and Guilford are self-supporting. I am not sure about Auburn. The financial basis for almost all publishing is sales and advertising. Since programs/advisers do not receive building budget money or downtown financial aid to subsidize either the yearbook or the newspaper (which costs several hundred dollars an issue, but is free to all), they have had to find many ways to pay for each publication each year. Teachers and their staffs constantly fund-raise to meet their obligations.

The benefits of these publication programs are numerous. Besides the obvious benefits as a public relations tool for RPS No. 205, countless former well-prepared students are in the journalism field today. Former J-Hawks, E-Rabs, Vikings and Knights are in many journalism-related occupations: from television reporters, weathermen, news assignment editors and videographers, to newspaper editors, reporters, designers and head photographers, to magazine reporters and designers, to advertising and marketing consultants, to online/web reporters and designers, to journalism teachers. Those students who do not choose to continue in journalism benefit from the life skills and knowledge they have had to learn and utilize. The classes have touched former students’ lives in such a way that whether they continued in a journalistic profession or not, it is tragic to think what opportunities and experiences they would have missed out on. My 2007 J-Hawks wouldn’t have been part of a state championship, you might not be watching Aaron Wilson deliver the morning weather on WIFR-TV, there wouldn’t be an E-Rab graduate being paid as a copy editor on his college newspaper right now, and there wouldn’t be dozens of Rockford Public Schools’ students using their knowledge of journalistic integrity to better the field of journalism. These are just four examples out of hundreds.

I am currently working for the Journalism Education Association as one of three mentors from the state of Illinois helping new journalism teachers succeed. I have been enthused about the future of the journalism programs in RPS No. 205 because we have some bright young teachers who are doing wonderful jobs with our students. In the last three years, in my capacity as a mentor, I have attended the IHSA Journalism State Meet, where I have watched with pride as 26 students representing RPS No. 205 have qualified for the contest, demonstrating the excellence of our journalism programs.

The losses are also substantial if the district chooses to eliminate its journalism courses for credit. In a time where the community is clamoring for more technically prepared graduates, classes where there is actual, tangible evidence that students are prepared for careers will be taken out of the curriculum. If only offered as an after-school activity, students will find the time commitment to create quality publications enormous. Advisers will not have the 176 hours of time to teach the students how to create the publications properly. The focus will change from teaching quality journalism to just surviving to get the publication printed. The size and frequency of the publications as well as the quality will suffer. Athletes and other students will have to choose between their sports or other clubs or working on publications. Those who have jobs will have little time or chance to participate. The numbers of involved students will be decimated. Too many students’ opportunities to experience these realistic life skills classes will be eliminated, not enhanced. Test scores could be lowered. Students would no longer be prepared adequately enough to compete against the best journalism programs in the state so they would not have the opportunity to reach the State Meet. Finally, the Rockford Public Schools will lose one of its most successfully prominent, visible vehicles for learning.

This is my hope for our students: I hope you decide that our students deserve to have the best education possible, and that includes keeping our journalism programs as they are, offered as courses for credit within the RPS No. 205 curriculum.

Sincerely,

Barbara O. Erickson, Journalism Education Association Mentor and Retired Teacher/Adviser Jefferson HS Publications

cc: Tracy Stevenson-Olson, RPS No. 205 Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction

Earl Hernandez, RPS No. 205 Chief Executive Director of Schools

Mark Wallace, RPS No. 205 Director of Curriculum and Instruction

Larry J. Morrissey, City of Rockford Mayor

Linda Grist Cunningham, Executive Editor of the Rockford Register Star

Frank Schier, Editor and Publisher of The Rock River Times

John Chadwick, Vice President and General Manager of WREX-TV

Dave Smith, News Director of WIFR-TV

Eileen Boucek, Station Manager of WTVO-TV

Dr. Gary Burns, Northern Illinois University Chairman of Media Studies

Jack J. Becherer, Rock Valley College President

Dr. Robert Head, Rockford College President

Molly Phalen, Rockford Education Association President

Karen Bieschke, Rockford Education Association Vice President

Lisa Jackson, RPS No. 205 Board Member

Jeanne Westholder, RPS No. 205 Board Member

Alice Saudargas, RPS No. 205 Board Member

Jude Makulec, RPS No. 205 Board Member

Robert Evans, RPS No. 205 Board Member

Harmon Mitchell, RPS No. 205 Board Member

David Kelley, RPS No. 205 Board Member

Dr. Kye Gaffey, Auburn High School Principal

Todd France, East High School Principal

Jill K. Davis, Guilford High School Principal

Donald Rundall, Jefferson High School Principal

From the Nov. 24-30, 2010 issue

By Paula Coulahan
Laid-off Rockford Teacher

Good quotes have a way of being passed down through history, and they apply so many times throughout our lives. One of my favorites is American author and poet Alice Walker’s, “The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.”

We live in a free society, and as citizens we have not only the right, but the responsibility to use our power to shape events and to shape the future for those who come after us. Currently, local citizens have a responsibility to be informed about what is taking place at the administrative level in the Rockford Public Schools. Taxpayers should pay attention to details and ask themselves why the administration suddenly seems to be on the defensive.

Abbie Hoffman said, “Once you get the right image, the details aren’t that important.” When Superintendent Dr. LaVonne Sheffield addressed “rumors” about her administration at the Tuesday, Nov. 9 School Board Meeting, I was reminded of Hoffman’s quote.

The “right image” for her, in this case, would have been that everyone walked away from “Rumor Tuesday,” as Sheffield called it, thinking that Sheffield and her entire administration have been wronged by a few rabid taxpayers and the evil media. The details, however, speak otherwise.

Jane Hayes and Mary Jo Powers, of Watchdogs for Ethics in Education, presented thorough research regarding the district’s spending of our taxpayer dollars, not “rumors” when their guest column appeared in the Nov. 3-9 issue of The Rock River Times. They filed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to obtain their information. Dr. Sheffield called the pens of her challengers “poisonous.” Perhaps she is afraid that by exercising their First Amendment rights, Hayes’ and Powers’ pens will, in reality, end up providing an antidote to what appears to be a taxing body out of control.

It is not a “rumor” that District 205 now finds itself in a lawsuit with The Rock River Times and the Illinois Press Association, for which taxpayers are footing the bill. This, of course, is because the administration has refused to release what has been called an “unflattering” letter written by Dr. Patrick Hardy, even after multiple FOIA requests have been filed.

Dr. Hardy left the district and took his new principalship in Freeport by choice, despite the district’s own rumor that maybe there was a disciplinary matter. I subbed in Dr. Hardy’s building when he was principal of Ellis Arts Academy. Hardy is a fine administrator and an intelligent, dignified man who cares about his students and sets a good example.

He mediated the “Truth Talk” debates for the district high schools when my eldest son was on one of the debate teams. The students revered Dr. Hardy, and he gave many hours over and above the school day to train students in debate skills and to make the debates happen in a very professional forum at Heartland Church. Hardy’s departure was a huge loss to the Rockford Public Schools and to the Rockford community as a whole. Too bad Dr. Hardy is gone, because he would have made a stellar superintendent for Rockford.

Questions exist that we as community members should ask as we approach the potential re-election of School Board members in the spring. Why do we as a community allow the Board of Education to directly or indirectly run dedicated administrators out of the district? Why do we bring in outside candidates for superintendent when we have local candidates with a vested interest in Rockford? Linda Hernandez, for example, was an excellent superintendent in the interim after Dr. Dennis Thompson. Hernandez wanted to remain as superintendent, and she had a long and respected career history in the district. How does the Board arrive at their hiring decisions? Can they support their decision-making and the results by citing their research? Certainly, that is what they expect of teachers and principals at every turn. Are they happy with their decision in the case of Dr. Sheffield?

They must be, because they have “rubber- stamped” almost everything she has instituted. As a resident and taxpayer, don’t forget about the “image” we are showing to potential businesses and residents. Oh, and don’t forget about your power.

From the Nov. 24-30, 2010 issue

By Emily Miller
Policy and Government Affairs Coordinator, Better Government Association

How quickly we forget.

In the wake of scandal and corruption at the highest levels of government, Illinois lawmakers passed a law in 2009 bolstering the Freedom of Information Act—a move designed to give everyday people access to important government information.

This year, however, lawmakers are having second thoughts and are trying to whittle away at this newly-arrived accountability era by making it more difficult for the public to root out mismanagement, waste and corruption.

There’s no more glaring example of legislative backsliding than House Bill 5154, a measure passed by both the House and Senate last spring that flies in the face of reformers’ efforts to make Illinois government more transparent and accountable to taxpayers.

If the measure passes, the public will no longer have access to government employee performance reviews. This proposed law prevents government watchdog groups like the Better Government Association and the ACLU, along with investigative news teams, from accessing vital records that indicate whether Illinois is demanding the highest level of performance from its public servants.

Access to information about how our government spends our money is vital to uncovering waste and misconduct. Arguments to conceal performance evaluations hinge on fears that making those evaluations public will discourage managers from giving honest evaluations, or that the evaluation process will be used as a method of public humiliation to retaliate against unwanted employees. But these reasons only highlight the dysfunction of our personnel system, and do not speak to the legitimacy of the peoples’ right to access information about their government.

If the government gets to pick and choose, taxpayers will never know what’s really going on behind the curtain. Exempting performance evaluations from the sunlight of transparency does not serve the public good.

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn (D) had the chance to veto the bill entirely, putting the public’s right to know how its tax dollars are spent first, but he did not. Instead, he used a legislative maneuver that sends the bill, with an amendment, back to the General Assembly to be heard next week.

No amendment could make this bill work for the public good.

We urge lawmakers to vote no on H.B. 5154 as it makes its way back through the General Assembly during the upcoming veto session.

Emily Miller is the policy and government affairs coordinator for the Better Government Association.

From the Nov. 24-30, 2010 issue

By Paul Arena
President, Rockford Apartment Association

The City of Rockford is in the process of changing zoning designations in various areas of the city. Some of the areas being rezoned are having the zoning reduced to single-family residential (R-1). This change is being made regardless of the type of properties that exist in a neighborhood.

The justification for this action is the idea that single-family neighborhoods are more stable. That statement is true when owning a home requires a person to save a down payment and establish good credit. Owning the home becomes the symbol that identifies a person who has been financially responsible. Neighborhoods where the majority of people have stable lives become stable neighborhoods. The point is that the use of the property is not what defines the neighborhood; it is the character of the people who live there.

When the requirements for home ownership were changed, so did the reliability of the positive effect home ownership would have on a neighborhood. There are many single-family neighborhoods in Rockford that have many properties that are now foreclosed and vacant. They are likely to be purchased by investors who will repair them and put them back to use using whatever means work to attract an occupant. That could include renting, or some type of financing arrangement where the occupant becomes the homeowner someday. It really doesn’t matter how the occupant retains their residence as long as they do nothing that detracts from the quality of life of their neighbors.

Many things could be changed in the law that would encourage renters to be more connected to their neighborhood and conduct themselves the same way we expect a homeowner to conduct themselves. Changes could also be made in laws to encourage the owners of rental property to continue to invest and improve their properties. Down-zoning of property is not one of the changes that will have a positive effect.

Properties that are not zoned to conform to how they are used are more difficult to market, finance and insure. Those factors depress value and discourage investment in improvements. It is true that by down-zoning to a single-family designation, properties that are multi-family and are damaged more than 50 percent could only be rebuilt as single-family homes. It is unlikely that circumstance will occur with enough frequency to cause a noticeable number of properties to be converted to single-family use. Also, down-zoning would prevent any additional properties from being converted from single-family to multi-family use. Again, those types of conversion do not happen with enough frequency to offset the negative impact non-conforming zoning could have on property values.

An example of where this down-zoning is proposed is the Signal Hill neighborhood, composed of the blocks of Church Street and Court Street, north of Whitman Street. Almost half of the properties in that area are multi-family. Some of the properties are conversions, and many are used as they were constructed. Properties where the use has been legally established should be zoned for that use whenever possible. Much of the property in older sections of Rockford like this one does not conform to its zoning designation. That has been an ongoing problem when property is sold. Making this zoning change in this area and others like it is unnecessary. Other options are available to limit conversions and improve the condition of rented property.

The City of Rockford Codes and Regulations Committee will address this proposed zoning change at 4:30 p.m., Nov. 29, on the second floor of City Hall, 425 E. State St. People who would be affected by this zoning change should attend and express their opinion.

From the Nov. 24-30, 2010 issue

By Conor Brown
Government Affairs Director, Rockford Area REALTORS

The City of Rockford began the formal process of updating its zoning map, the first major overhaul since 1993. It affects zoning for more than 3,000 of the 62,000 residential and commercial properties in the city. All property owners affected received letters dated Sept. 29, 2010, from the city notifying them a property or properties they owned were part of the zoning map amendment. The first hearing was Oct. 19 at the Zoning Board of Appeals.

When the first major zoning ordinance was written in 1979, it included minimum lot sizes. This was used to create more uniform spacing and less density in neighborhoods. The benefits were larger lots and fewer street parking issues. The negatives were more expensive lots and more costs to extend city services. Unfortunately, for many property owners, their existing structures built prior to 1979 on these smaller lots no longer met the minimum lot size required, thus making them non-conforming.

As everyone is aware, underwriting standards have changed drastically over the past few years, and the ease of obtaining credit has tightened considerably. We worked hard with the City of Rockford to address financing and insuring issues with legal, non-conforming properties. In 2008, when the zoning text was updated, it included language allowing for the rebuild of structures destroyed beyond 50 percent back to their original building permit. The city issues letters stating such so borrowers can use them to obtain credit. However, there still exists a significant perception issue that has become reality for property owners wishing to market their non-conforming properties: “Zoning is gold, and anything less is not worth the trouble.”

Unfortunately, some are attempting to utilize this zoning map amendment process to correct sins of the past. They want less-dense neighborhoods and fewer rentals, and to restrict publicly-assisted housing. Addressing these issues through zoning is not an appropriate method and may cause unintended consequences. Legal buildings will not be converted back because of a zoning change. Greater home ownership is not achieved through down-zoning; it happens through economic stability and growth. Finally, zoning and public housing are two unrelated issues that have paired to spark fear.

So, what is the solution? It is rather simple: move more properties into conformity. Achieving this will increase marketability, strengthen neighborhoods and increase investment. One simple sentence to the zoning text can make that happen. That is why we propose the following amendment to the zoning text:

“Residential structures legally established prior to (insert date of map update approval) are to be permitted uses in all residential zoning districts regardless of lot size.”

If it was legal and conforming when it was built or legally converted, then it should be legal and conforming now. This is basically a grandfathering clause. It will not affect future development.

We are sympathetic to neighborhoods with illegal conversions. We do not want to see more of them and would like to seek ways the city can go after them in an aggressive manner. Additionally, we do not want to create situations where greater density detrimentally affects neighborhoods. We are open to language that restricts the ability of existing structures from adding more residential units.

The Zoning Board of Appeals passed the zoning amendment 7-0. It is now on its way to the Codes & Regulations Committee. They will convene at 4:30 p.m., Monday, Nov. 29, at City Hall, Conference Room A, on the second floor. Your voice is important to this process. Make sure it is heard.

From the Nov. 24-30, 2010 issue

By Rachel Leon

As several parents at Dennis School met to plan the upcoming book fair, we came across a quote: “A kid without a new book is a crime.” We liked the idea behind it, if not the wording. We all agreed and discussed the importance of impoverished children owning books. Yes, there is the public library, which I am a strong advocate of, but the sad fact is that unless the library is located very close, the mere act of getting there is not feasible for many families living in poverty. Hopping into one’s car is not an option for many families, and the bus costs money. The cost of getting to and from the library can equal or exceed the price of a meal. When there is concern over where your next meal is coming from, how you can possibly pay the rent, the idea of a trip to the library is not even within the scope of possibility. The only way we can guarantee these children have books is to get books in their hands.

And there is something to be said for owning a book, one you love. I myself am a bibliophile who doesn’t believe there is such a thing as “enough” books. I love the smell of the pages, the glossy covers, the physical feeling of a book in my hands. I love and admire dozens of writers and would be hard pressed to come up with a top 10 list of favorite books. When I was a child growing up, my family didn’t have much money, but I do remember my mom splurging for books and the almost-reverent feeling I had for those precious books. (Which I still feel toward books—both new and used—today.)

When we learned from one of the family support specialists how many families of Dennis School live in poverty, the Book Fair Committee wanted to try to make an effort to get books in these children’s hands and homes. We want every child at Dennis School, regardless of their parents’ inability to pay, to receive a book from the book fair. We are putting “One for Books” boxes at six locations around town, asking that patrons of these businesses put in a dollar or simply spare change to buy books for these children, but I am also requesting that donations be sent to Dennis School. We are hoping to raise enough money to allow each child to go to the book fair and pick out a book of their choice. This way, these children will not just be able to own a book, but pick one out that they love. A small donation to buy a child a book helps to promote early literacy and instills an early love for reading. The Dennis Book Fair Committee and PTO graciously thanks everyone who donates to this cause.

Rachel Leon is a stay-at-home mother of three who is a member of the Friends of the Rockford Public Library. Donations can be sent to Dennis Early Childhood, 730 Lincoln Park Blvd., Rockford, IL 61102.

From the Nov. 24-30, 2010 issue

Editor’s note: The following guest column is in response to the Nov. 3-9 Letter to the Editor “Obama’s actions do not compute,” by Marilyn Holder.

By Rev. Frank S. Moyer

Marilyn Holder’s letter, “Obama’s actions do not compute,” requires a response. It contains so many errors that one can understand another paper’s decision to refuse publication!

1. She equates his patriotism with his stance re: immigration, arguing “when illegal immigrants stream across our border kidnapping and murdering our citizens, he does nothing.” That is factually wrong.

a. The numbers of kidnapping and murder of American citizens by illegal immigrants is almost limited to one—Rancher Robert Krentz. Both the FBI and the Border Patrol state that violence along the border is declining.

b. His predecessor, President Bush, was also unsuccessful in getting either Republicans or Democrats to help him pass tougher immigration laws.

c. His suit against Arizona for their action toward immigrants was:

→ to protect the U.S. Constitution that relegates border issues to the federal government

→ to protect legal immigrants from racial profiling

2. She raises the lapel flag pin issue that was so fully discussed in the 2008 campaign! Had she looked at recent TV appearances by the President, she would have noticed the flag on his lapel!

3. She casts doubt on his being a Christian because his pastor in Chicago had preached some fiery sermons about our country’s continued racism and because he canceled the National Day of Prayer at the White House and because he attended a Muslim Ramadan dinner. Thank God our clergy are not the litmus test for the truth of our faith! Christian, Jewish and Muslim clergy have all preached “against Babylon”! That has been going on for thousands of years.

President Obama did not cancel the National Day of Prayer. He did choose to not host an interfaith meeting at the White House.

In the U.S.A. there are citizens of many religious persuasions. He visits Israel and eats with rabbis—as he does with people from the many different Christian denominations. Since we have a growing Muslim part of our population, it would be rude for him to not associate with their leaders.

4. She states President Obama reneged on his campaign pledge to televise the health care debates on C-SPAN. Here is how C-SPAN responded to Representative Jason Chaffetz [Utah-R]: “Since the initial introduction of the America’s Affordable Health Care Act of 2009 in the House and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in the Senate, C-SPAN has televised literally hundreds of hours of committee hearings, markups and floor debate on these bills for the public to see. And importantly, we have archived all of this video for future generations to study in the C-SPAN Video Archives.”

One is certainly entitled to her/his own opinion re: President Obama—but one is NOT entitled to make up one’s own facts.

The Rev. Frank S. Moyer is a retired Lutheran minister.

From the Nov. 24-30, 2010 issue