Page 24 - Flathead Beacon // 4.30.14

24 | APRIL 30, 2014
OPINION FLATHEADBEACON.COM

LIKE I WAS SAYIN’ Kellyn Brown
TWO THOUGHT
FOR Same Topics,
Opposing Views
Amazingly Bad
Ukraine and the West

I
N THIS, OUR FIRST “AMAZING ISSUE,” WE By Joe Carbonari
By Tim Baldwin
wanted to cast a wide net. What someone thinks is

amazing is subjective. So our reporters talked to Putin and his boys don’t play by the rules. We Like most federations, time usually causes a
centenarians, scanned historical articles on local leg- do. Internationally, playing by the rules means split in loyalties and direction, which ultimate-
ends and drummed up lists of facts and feats that they consultation and coalition building. It tends to be ly leads to (desired) separation. The Russian-
found unique. And over the course of our conversations, both slow and cumbersome. We are forever play- Ukraine federation is no diferent but is made
I started to think about what would make my own list.
ing catch up.
much more complex given its history and recent
There are, of course, tales of near-death experiences Compounding our diiculties are the difer- upheaval. Ideally, it would be nice if a vote of the
that I have since spun into far more dramatic events over ences in mindset. It’s the academics versus the Crimea could be reliable to reveal their will, but

the years. “I was almost killed by a bear in Yellowstone!” street ighters. In the short run the street ight- experts doubt that is the case.
“I almost drowned in a river in Illinois!” It’s the word “al- ers, the bullies, tend to win. We need to look at the Angelo Codevilla, international relations pro-
most” that’s debatable and also makes for more engaging bigger picture, and we need to look realistically, fessor at Boston University, opines that any votes
stories.
not legalistically.
in Crimea would a fraud, saying, “with unchal-
Perhaps it’s better, or at least more humbling, to No legal opinion is going to return Crimea to lenged power over the Eastern regions, [Putin]
relect on the amazingly bad decisions made over the Ukraine nor keep the majority of that portion of can claim to have gathered from those regions as
course of one’s life, of which mine has been chock full. So, eastern and southern Ukraine that is predomi- many votes as may be needed to prevent Ukraine’s
let’s begin.
nately native Russian speaking from remaining May 25 elections from bringing in a stable, pro-

My irst ight was in third grade during a walk home within the Russian orbit. Regionally, it appears to Western government.” If America acts as if a cor-
from elementary school. I was an ornery youngster and be their will. Let’s let them vote, as fairly as pos- rupted Crimea vote has resolved the matter, then
igured I had picked an opponent I was sure to pummel sible, and see.
deception has likely won the day, because no other
– even if he was a grade older and I had no good reason Tactically, the goal should be the establish- nations will continue sanctioning Russia without
to isticuf.
ment and maintenance of a viable westward America’s support.
I swung a clenched ist. Missed badly. He then grabbed oriented government in the balance of Ukraine, What makes matters worse there is that Amer-
my oversized backpack and spun me to the ground. He probably in a loosely federated format with the ica has, over time, “discouraged the countries of

sat on me, his knees dug into my shoulders, delivering native Russian speaking region largely autono- the former Soviet empire from arming themselves
several blows to my face.
mous, but still Ukrainian.
suiciently,” as Codevilla highlights. Codevilla
Finding me bruised and in tears, my older brother Strategically, the Western world needs to de- says, “Republican and Democratic administra-
helped me to my feet, bewildered by what had just hap- cide on and then to draw a line where it will col- tions urged Ukraine . to entrust their security to
pened but fully grasping the consequence of my epic loss. lectively, actually, ight. In the bufer zones, the a combination of good relations with Moscow and
“Geez,” he said, “you just got beat up by ‘Tiny Tim’” – a will of those on the ground, and real politik, will Western assurances backed by precisely nothing.”
nickname given to my opponent because he was amaz- decide. It has ever been so.
So any supposed “desire” to remain loyal to
ingly small for his age.
Russia may be, in reality, an act deriving from be-

In middle school, I was less cantankerous but still ing defenseless.
making poor choices. While riding a skateboard in my
parents’ steep, long driveway, I decided I needed more GUESTCOLUMN | DarleneSchottle
room to perform various tricks. Instead of asking my Tech Levy Vital to Preparing Today’s Students
mother to move the minivan, I simply leaned into the ve-
hicle, put it in neutral and let up the emergency brake. I
thought it would simply coast a few feet and I would pull Technology plays a large role in many aspects of tive classes through resources such as the Montana
the brake back up.
day-to-day life, and education is no diferent. Tech- Digital Academy. Online content in some form is

Instead it took of (without me in it) down the drive- nology is rapidly changing the way students learn integrated into all classrooms with the virtually
way straight toward the neighbor’s house. It would have and how instructors teach. Computers have re- endless resources provided through the internet
crashed through their home if the car door hadn’t been placed chalkboards as the go-to tool in classrooms for every grade level. Students with special needs
left ajar. Fortunately, the door clipped a parked car in today. Technology is part of education for children have more access through software programs and
front of their home and nearly tore of.
of all ages and it’s also a part of their daily lives. So- schools are expanding regular class oferings to in-
My mother, who was irst on the scene, still retells cial media and Internet access have changed the clude some digital options. Next year Glacier and
this tale of my amazing lack of understanding of gravity.
way educators teach, how students learn and the Flathead high schools and the Kalispell Middle

In high school, I was downright afable but still com- way parents, teacher and students communicate.
School will ofer Science, Technology, Engineering
ing up with bad ideas. I wasn’t the irst person to jump of Schools must prepare students to be college and and Mathematics (STEM) classes. Many local busi-
the clifs near the Post Falls, Washington, dam, but I was career ready and to interact with the higher edu- nesses have created collaborations and provided
likely one of the least coordinated. The thing is, I almost cation expectations and business communities as mentors making real life connections with a vari-
backed out.
they exist today. Creating a learning environment ety of technology projects. School District No. 5 ap-
The clif was about 50 to 60 feet high, but looked that supports future career paths and provides col- preciates the endorsement of our technology levy
higher, and after peering over the edge I decided not to lege readiness requires that the district provide request by the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce.
go through with it and neither would my two friends who current technology and rapid access through se- I would like to thank our parents and commu-

had accompanied me. But then we heard them.
cure bandwidth and connectivity. In order to pro- nity members for the ongoing support of Kalispell
Down below near the shore, a group of high school vide these options to our staf and students, Ka- Public Schools. The support you have provided has
girls were egging us on. “Jump,” they yelled, “jump.” So I lispell Public Schools currently has a technology allowed the District to create many curriculum op-
did, but apparently the adrenaline made me forget how to levy in front of the voters of this community.
tions that connect students to school. The gradua-
walk and I tripped, instead of lunged, of the ledge.
As Bill Gates said, “In terms of getting groups of tion rate has increased by 5 percent and the drop-
It could have been worse. I didn’t belly lop. Instead, kids together and motivating them, nothing replac- out rates have decreased by 3.5 percent over the last
I hit the water at an awkward angle with my legs spread es a teacher. Technology is just a tool.” Technology ive years. The District believes that this can be at

and arms lailing. My small biceps were bruised badly. as a tool can create more engaged and challenged least partially attributed to more alternatives for
My lip, because I screamed the whole way down, was split students in the hands of an efective teacher. The students and additional focused instructional sup-
wide-open on impact and gushing blood. But the absolute ability to locate information, distinguish the truth port starting at an early age and continuing high
worst part – my shorts were nearly ripped clean of and I embedded in research, think critically and pres- school. Many of these options have become avail-
still had to climb out of the water in front of the specta- ent information in many types of media is all aided able through the use of educational technology.
tors who had convinced me to jump in the irst place.
by computers in the classroom. Technology-based We appreciate your consideration of our technol-
After watching my amazingly bad jump, my friends assessment also allows teachers to track student ogy levy and encourage you to log in to our website
decided to stay put.
learning more eiciently and be more speciic in http://www.sd5.k12.mt.us to see a detailed over-

providing intervention and enrichment. Currently, view of how the levy funds will be used.
our schools utilize technology to provide alterna-
Darlene Schottle is superintendent of Kalispell schools.