Payson Roundup

Shovelhead (Mike McLaughlin) says…

Anyone remember the tv show called The College Bowl?
I wonder why it failed and Monday night football is still on the air?

patrandall (Pat Randall) says…

Ruby,
How about recognition before graduation? How about the 11 yrs before?
All the kids listed were not seniors.

patrandall (Pat Randall) says…

The jocks and cheerleaders get a picture about 4 1/2 ” x 9” on page 6 of the front section of the paper.

The scholors get their names listed on the back page of the section.

Did the photographer run out of film or which is more important?

Sports or Scholars?

Soul2Soular (Terri Bland) says…

Totally unfair, equal effort should be given to both groups! Academics should never take a back seat. If academics always have. then they should form a group, take their issues and proof to the papers and powers that be and start a protest on the disparagineg way that they are represented in the media as well as other venues. Do you know any parents that would be interested in this? Jeff says that I am encouraging “civil unrest.” But to just let it go, is to, in effect, endorse and approve of the unfairness of the lack of equal representation.

Ruby_Finney (Ruby Finney) says…

Terri,

Your goal would be a good one but you probably would lose the support of the parents of a lot of jocks and cheerleaders!

patrandall (Pat Randall) says…

Ruby,
Look at how many kids were listed under the Academic Scholars. I think it is 165.
I thought it was pretty impressive. Think how many missed it by maybe one point.

I would like to know how many were cheerleaders and/or jocks.

Soul2Soular (Terri Bland) says…

I am thinking that a lot of the parents that I know of the current youth that are athletes would not mind sharing the spotlight. What would be interesting is to see how many athletes are on the academics list. Anybody have any inkling or know enough of the kids to get a guesstimate?

Ruby_Finney (Ruby Finney) says…

Pat,

Some of the paper isn't included on the internet version, so I don't get a lot of the things you speak of on the forum.

But I think the same thing is true in every cxommunity. The sports pages here consume a minimum of 3 i/2 pages of the daily paper. Pictures along with blow by blow accounts of every football, basketball, volleyball and track event is printed. Once a week, one page is devoted to the arts (and I have to say there are some very talented youngsters in our area) and an occasional report of a scholastic event. Part of this may well lie with the school system itself. I think there should be a statewide scholastic “decathlon” to choose a team or individual who would be an Olympic Gold Medalist. Something like the National Spelling Bee or National Geography Contest.

The schools themselves should elevate the scholastic accomplishments with more than a good report card and a couple lines in the local paper.

Terri, that might be a good goal for your parent's protest group. The Honor Roll students do get recognition at graduation but I would think more kids would get interested in a “contest” if a new twist could be put on it. Maybe some special treat - like a 6 month movie pass or whatever is the in thing at the moment and to be awarded every year.

patrandall (Pat Randall) says…

Goldplay is right, there was no sports section but the jocks were on page 6 and scholors on last page.
I wouldn't be so negative if they had been on pages facing each other.

patrandall (Pat Randall) says…

Ruby,
That's my point.
The tail is wagging the dog.

Most of the time it is either sports or the kids that do something wrong that are mentioned in the paper.
Oh yes, the drama class gets thier news coverage.

Ruby_Finney (Ruby Finney) says…

Just a note of possible reasons:

I think all newspapers are having a tough time financially now, so maybe that is the reason for reduced coverage. Nevertheless, academic achievement should be recognized equally with the sports coverage. Of course there is a game every few days to report on, so some effort has to go into finding stories of interest on a regular basis to report scholastic excellence as well.

I have been reading reports that both the LA Times and the New York Times are in financial trouble and most advertising revenues are down right now, so I imagine most papers are cutting some pages out right now.

Ruby_Finney (Ruby Finney) says…

Shovelhead,

Where else could the macho guys gather on Monday nite for their fun?

Football, Basketball, golf, soccer etc. etc. etc. will always have big appeal to sports addicts. And of course Miller and Budweiser can afford the air time!

I don't know what happened to College Bowl, but I can tell you that Jeopardy is still going strong and has high viewer ratings in its 25th year. They have regular contests for Middle School ages, High School ages and College ages as well as the adult stuff. May daughter and I watch it regularly and are amazed at the variety of knowledge some of the younger kids show. Makes me realize how my “recall” won't call these days!

patrandall (Pat Randall) says…

S.H.
Think about it. The football fans are not smart enough to understand the College Bowl.
The TV station has to keep showing replays on the football games so they can understand what is going on with the game and announcers to tell them.

This is parlly a joke folks. No need to respond. (:

Goldplay,
Have you noticed how dumb some of the contestants are on the 5th grader program?
When I can answer most of the questions means to me they don't screen them very well.
I watched it one night when a teacher missed a first grade question.

Ruby_Finney (Ruby Finney) says…

Getting your name printed in the paper at the end of each year doesn't seem very rewarding to me. However, at least recognizing those that are above average should build their self esteem. I just think that a youngster who applies him or herself enough to get an “A” or “B” in science, languages, Arts or any other academic subject should get a great big Hooray from the student body just like the jocks do.

But they don't.

roysandoval (roy sandoval) says…

To answer the question about how many on the list are “cheerleaders or jocks”, the answer is 59. As I perused the list, many others are very active in other extra-curricular areas such as vocational clubs, band, drama etc. The simple fact is there is a positive correlation between academic achievement and a student participating in extra-curricular activities. This holds true whether the extra-curricular activities are sports, clubs, band, chorus etc. That is why it is important for high schools to offer a variety in many areas.
Last year's Validictorian Mark McCarty was a Flinn Scholar and a state wrestling champion. The Salutatorian Esther Linkey was Board of Regents Scholar and Cross Country and Track athlete. The “dumb jock” thing is largely a myth that doesn't hold up statistically if you actually run the numbers.

patrandall (Pat Randall) says…

Mr. Sandoval,
Thank you for answering my question about the scholar's list.
What is a Flinn Scholar?

I never said jocks were dumb, but in my opinion they may be better students if they weren't spending so much time at practice, traveling and doing sports, I think you will have to admit it takes a lot of time away from doing homework and missing classes if they are traveling a long ways to play during the week.
Football was not the only sport I was talking about. I know it is played on Fri. night.

Tim will tell you I have to get in the last word. (:

You did homework during Christmas vacation, I am proud of you.

roysandoval (roy sandoval) says…

The Flinn Scholarship is probably the most prestigious scholarship in Arizona. It is earned by 20 Arizona students a year. The intent of the Flinn Foundation is to keep the brightest and best in Arizona by providing four years of books, tuition, housing, fees and study abroad during the summers. Altogether it's worth between 80 and a hundred thousand dollars over four years. Though we are a relatively small rural school, we have had three Flinn Scholars: Nikki Hale in 1988, Beryl Jones in 2006 and Mark McCarty in 2008. I expect another in the next year or two.

In regard to athletes traveling and missing classes etc. They still as a group have a higher overall grade point average than a random population who are not plugged into an extra-curricular activity. They also have a higher graduation rate.

patrandall (Pat Randall) says…

Mr. Sandoval,
Thank you again.
Do the students apply for it or is that done by the school ?
At 12:25 in the morning you should be asleep so you will be bright eyed at school tomorrow.
Set an example for the kids. (:
.

Ruby_Finney (Ruby Finney) says…

Mr. Sandoval,

A suggestion from someone who admires the achievements of young people: Why don't you make an effort to publicize these scholarships? You may well tell the students about them, but how much information do you get out to the community who may not be aware. I would think that might be a good subject for your creative writing classes. Couldn't the Roundup give you a page each month to praise the achievments of special students? Or a human interest story featuring one of them. And in particular a feature article about the person receiving one of the prestigious scholarships.

My point is that the sports activities are highly publicized and lauded but seldom is there any information about particular academic achievment.

roysandoval (roy sandoval) says…

The student must apply and go through a rigorous writing and interveiw process that has several steps over several months. For our part, we make the students aware that the scholarship (as all scholarships) is available and encourage viable candidates to begin the process. The application process actually begins in October and the final candidates are not announced until March.

Our Guidance office posts scholarships and sends out letters to seniors with scholarship opportunities including websites. We also help students with resume's, letters of recommendation etc. as much as possible.

As to extra-curricular activities including sports, music, student government, clubs and community service; these are all important considerations for students to receive academic scholarships. Most committees look at academics and something more. Though the primary topic for most American media and readers is sports, I can assure you, we keep it in perspective as one component of extra-curricular, notwithstanding, an important one.

Let me give you an example I tell parents and student athletes: Last year Payson students were awarded $840,000 worth of scholarships to post secondary institutions. Approximately $23,000 were athletic scholarships. Now, where do you want to put your best effort? Into the chances of getting a piece of the $817,000 or the $23,000?

patrandall (Pat Randall) says…

Mr. Sandoval,
Depending on what kind of career you are going for.
If the student goes for the athletic scholarship, thinking they will get picked up by a pro team, I think they are wasting time. We both know that is the dream of most of them.
I am the cautious type. Go for the best education you can get for a career that an injury is not going to leave you out in the cold.
How many of the kids that go on athletic scholarships get thru college without an injury that sidelines them there? Does the scholarship stay in effect if they can no longer play?
I posted this somewhere else and of course I can't find it.

Site_Moderator (Site Moderator) says…

Ms. Finney
For one example, I would suggest you go to the little box in the top right hand corner of this page type in McCarty and click on search.
Also, our weekly (not monthly) education pages praising the achievements of special students and teachers is called “Class Acts”.
You can contact our circulation manager, Patty Behm, at pbehm@paysonroundup.com and we would be happy to set you up with an out of state subscription to your Oregon address.

Soul2Soular (Terri Bland) says…

An open post to Mr. Sandoval and the powers that be at the Round-up:
Thank you for all of the facts about the students in Payson. I think Payson schools have come such a long way since I graduated in 1987 through long time efforts of people like Roy Sandoval, Tim Fruth, and many others who have stuck it out in good times and bad. We all at times forget to applaud all of you for your efforts and achievements on behalf of ourselves (us oldtimers) and our children. I know I have been in your office before Mr. Sandoval! Any student in this day and age that can keep up with academics as well as extra-curricular activities should be applauded. I personally think that the desire for the extra-curricular activity makes the student work harder in the area of academics. Mr. Max Foster did me the favor of finding our the exact criteria for athletes. They cannot have any D' s or F's for a two week period. If they do, they have 1 week to bring up the grade or they go on the ineligible list. I think highschool is the where the students learn the most about responsibility regarding sports and grades. Some highschools and some colleges I know have been in the media for “bending” the rules when it comes to athletes. I truly think that these are the minority, but because of the “media machine” that Tom Garrett speaks about, it is widely overblown. Again, the few ruin it for the majority type thing. Anyway, here is to all of our educators, coaches, and students for what is on the whole, a great job. There will always be individual situations that need to be addressed, I have had a few myself, all of which have been resolved to my satisfaction by school personnel that cared. Thank you to all.

patrandall (Pat Randall) says…

Moderator,
Thank you for the information about the little box at the top of the page.
We all need lessons for us to use the new format on here.
It was so easy to find things, before some one decided it was broken and fixed it. (: JOKE

roysandoval (roy sandoval) says…

Terri:
Thank you for your kind words. I'm honored. A staff that cares makes all the difference. Additionally I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge all of the coverage the Roundup gives to academics and extra-curricular programs other than athletics. For example, the article Mr. Noughton refers to was a front page article on Mark McCarty earning the Flinn Scholarship. Last May after graduation, the Roundup devoted almost an entire page to students and the scholarships they earned. The Roundup works with us to devote a great deal of “ink” to many, many activities. For example the Ag. program, HOSA (Health Occupations Studens of America), fbla, deca, and on and on. Suzanne Jacobson contacts me on a regular basis to ask about activities that would make good stories.
While some may take umbrage to Mr. Foster, I will tell you, he loves the kids, knows the kids and tirelessly works to honor their athletic efforts and recognize their academic achievements.
I'm not sure people truly realize and appreciate the positive approach this paper takes toward education and kids in general.

Soul2Soular (Terri Bland) says…

They are our future. I have been accused of being “overly obsessed” with dissecting my own every move, decision, action as to what effect it will have on my boys in later years. Maybe so, maybe no. We all have to parent as wee see fit and should tread very carefully before judging others. To all of the kids, educators, coaches, and other extra-currricular activity leaders, thanks for putting forth your best, your extra time, your love, blood, sweat, and tears. We all know that some do more than others, but anybody who makes their (meager at times) living with our youth in mind, I salute you. And for ALL on this forum, every part of it, thank you for stimulating these conversations that educate, entertain at times, and leave us all a little bit better for having visited and taken part. And to any of you “voyeurs” out there, join in. Your thoughts and opinions count too. These are all great people on here, intelligent and a heckuva hoot! Escpecially that awnry Pat Randall, God Love Her!
p.s. not meant in a bad way Pat :-)

Ruby_Finney (Ruby Finney) says…

To Mr. Sandoval and the Roundup News Staff,

I am sending my apologies to both of you for the comments I made about the lack of publicity for the academic students ! Obviously I was ill informed about all the good things you already are doing for the scholars. It appears that you are indeed doing a thorough job of letting the public know about the successes and I simply made some pretty stupid assumptions.

To the site moderator:

Thank you for your information about the subscription and the message was not lost on me! However, you must know that I was a faithful subscriber of the Roundup for all the years I lived in Payson. Now that I subscribe to my local paper here, my scanty budget just won't allow me the luxury of another subscription! I truly do appreciate the internet version and will be careful not to comment again on a subject on which I am not current through reading that!

JohnNaughton (John Naughton) says…

Ms. Finney.
Your post was brought to my attention and I would like to thank you. You know, even crusty old newspaper people get defensive now and again.
You live in a beautiful piece of the country (my wife and I lived in Hillsboro, OR for a number of years prior to coming back to our Arizona roots). If you ever get tired of the Coos Bay newspaper give us a shout.

Ruby_Finney (Ruby Finney) says…

Mr. Naughton,
As a Roseburg resident, I only subscribe to the News Review and never get tired of the paper. What I do get tired of is finding out that town politics is exactly the same, no matter what town you live in or what paper you read!

Oregon is indeed a lovely place but I miss the warm DRY days of Payson!