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Sad to see Lodi High's Flame extinguished
Wednesday, August 12, 2009 6:48 AM PDT
As a former writer for the Flame newspaper at Lodi High, I feel saddened by the sudden loss of it. I'm not only sad for the students who will miss out, but sad about how the Flame is a vital part of the campus and its surrounding community.
I first got my start in journalism at the Flame during my senior year in the late '80s. I still remember the first day I walked into Mr. Kirkwold's journalism class. I was petrified, but excited. I was so very shy, and the thought of having to go out and interview someone terrified me. But I knew how much I enjoyed writing and knew I had to give it a try. I was enrolled in creative writing, but knew if I wanted to write someday, I wanted to try all aspects of it.
As a newcomer to the area just the year before, I soon discovered how tough it was to re-establish myself in such a close-knit community where it seemed everyone had known each other since birth. Over time, I found that writing for the Flame helped me to feel connected to the campus in a way that not many have the opportunity to experience. I met a lot of people and made a lot of friends. We had a good time in class and had a lot of laughs.
In addition to writing and attending staff meetings, I can remember coming in after school and volunteering my time to put the pages together. At that time, this was still done by paste-up. It's funny to think that now, technology has made it so much easier. By the end of the year, interviews still scared me, but I knew newspaper writing was what I wanted to do.
I ask myself where I would be today if it hadn't been for that paper.
About a year ago, I was cleaning up around the house, trying to get things a little more organized. I came across all the issues we published at the Flame during my senior year. I didn't realize I had saved them all. There were two from each month of the school year.
It was fun re-living all the old memories that each contained. There were tidbits about old friends, things I had long since forgotten. There were photos of old teachers, some who have since passed on. There were stories I had written. One issue contained a man on the street. Another was a story about the choir. In the next, a story about one of the teachers. And to my surprise, I had even attempted to write a sports story!
I had fun reading all that I had written and laughing at my silly mistakes. The writing wasn't good, but it was a start. It started a learning process that today I am continuing through. I found the ads in these issues to be equally as interesting. They displayed evidence of local businesses that have long been gone — Howard's Deli, Alexander's Bakery, The Toggery, The Greek Hero, just to name a few. This made me realize the paper wasn't just a part of the school, but also a part of the community.
As I read the story our staff reporter wrote about the loss of the Flame, I was intrigued by the fact that a staff of 12 was considered low enrollment. I can remember our staff was not much larger than that. And that was at a time when newspapers were flourishing! I can't help but feel really bad for those 12 people who wanted to learn the art of journalism.
Yes, I know there is the yearbook. But to me, there is no comparison. After looking back at those old issues, I discovered those papers were little pieces of history. They contained old pieces of information that a yearbook just can't compare to. I will forever cherish these little gems.
After leaving Lodi High, I found myself as a writer for the paper at Delta College, and then as the features editor. During this time, I served as an intern at the Senior Spectrum Newspaper. I went on to California State University, Sacramento, where I landed an internship at the newspaper in Dixon, which was followed by a brief stint at the State Hornet.
I was away from the field for a few years and then found myself here at the Lodi News-Sentinel. For the last two-and-a-half years out of my five years of employment here, I have been in the position of the Panorama Editor.
I can't help but feel like I have come full circle. I know many aspiring journalists hope to write for big papers, but it feels rewarding to me to be able to write for my hometown paper — the same town where I first got my start.
Also while reading our staff reporter's article, I found it interesting the Flame had been around since 1922. Like the News-Sentinel, the Flame had established itself as a Lodi icon. It is an icon that I hope somehow will live on. It just might be the deciding factor in a student's future career.
Pam Bauserman is the News-Sentinel's Panorama page editor.
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dyan wrote on Aug 21, 2009 4:02 PM:
dyan wrote on Aug 21, 2009 3:27 PM:
Inquisitor wrote on Aug 21, 2009 2:56 PM:
dyan wrote on Aug 21, 2009 10:31 AM:
Lodian wrote on Aug 20, 2009 1:46 PM:
Lodian wrote on Aug 20, 2009 1:45 PM:
Robb wrote on Aug 19, 2009 7:55 PM:
Lodian wrote on Aug 19, 2009 12:14 PM:
Robb wrote on Aug 17, 2009 8:28 PM:
Robb wrote on Aug 17, 2009 8:27 PM:
dyan wrote on Aug 17, 2009 3:37 PM:
Too bad school districts don't put their money where the meat is. "
napa valley chef wrote on Aug 17, 2009 1:03 AM:
Lodian wrote on Aug 16, 2009 5:30 PM:
lodi2vegas wrote on Aug 16, 2009 2:45 PM:
I was the sports editor of the Flame throughout my senior year and it was a blast. I do wish that we had taken it more seriously, but we did manage to turn out a pretty good product. (usually after pulling all nighters the Thursday before we took it to the printer) Reading up on all of the old issues from time to time is definitely a kick. Truly a shame to see it go. I guess its just another sign of the times. "
dyan wrote on Aug 16, 2009 10:45 AM:
jeff wrote on Aug 16, 2009 10:19 AM:
dyan wrote on Aug 16, 2009 10:18 AM:
That died years ago. Now, we just repeat whatever our fearless leader tells us. "
Mainframe wrote on Aug 16, 2009 3:33 AM:
Mainframe wrote on Aug 16, 2009 3:26 AM:
Bob Hussein Loblaw wrote on Aug 15, 2009 9:06 PM:
By the time Bryan posts it, it is barely recognizable from standard English. "
Lodian wrote on Aug 15, 2009 5:02 PM:
And this is your reason for stating that math/algebra is not needed? "
Lodian wrote on Aug 15, 2009 4:57 PM:
Lodian wrote on Aug 15, 2009 4:52 PM:
dyan: You said your son is/was a lawyer. Your comment wasn't very respectful to your son. "
dyan wrote on Aug 14, 2009 7:42 PM:
You know as well as I that 50% of kids in LUSD can't pass algebra the first time around. Only 20% make it to algebra
II. 1 Percent make it to trig. By the time most pass it with remedial, it's barely recognizable from general math. Next time I'm at Home Depot, I'll ask the clerk making change how much he or she knows about algebra. As a matter of fact, many prospective teachers can't pass the simplest problems on the credential exam. "
jeff wrote on Aug 14, 2009 7:14 PM:
Leonard wrote on Aug 14, 2009 6:03 PM:
" Well, At least they will still have their algebra that no one ever uses.
I think it has been made abundantly clear here that the reason Dyan doesn't use Algebra is because he really isn't sure what it is.
In this day and age, it is easy for those of us with diplomas to forget that there are people in this country who have to get along on just what they can count on their fingers and their toes. "
Rhodie wrote on Aug 14, 2009 4:15 PM:
Are you saying with all these examples that only 5% of the people in America do these things? May explain why 98% of Americans retire broke. Which was figured out using Algebra.
Face it, math is all around you and, as you stated, you used a 5$ calculator everytime you needed math then your going to waste a lot of time. Which is an Algebra problem by itself. You use algebra X times a day, spend Y minutes using a calculator to tell you the answer, how many Z minutes will you use a day looking at the calculator rather than jusing algebra? "
Rhodie wrote on Aug 14, 2009 4:10 PM:
New parents use algebra: Baby A uses 5 diapers a day and I need enough for a two week trip, how many is that? Now I have two kids in diapers, how many should I bring.
I have X dollars coming in and Y dollars going out which leaves Z dollars to spend on a LNS subscription.
Already used the build projects for around the house.
How about a $$ saver one. Cooling the house to 78 degrees costs X. Every degree higher saves Y. How warm should the house be to only cost me Z?
I drive X miles to work a day and get Y miles to a gallon, how much Z$ for gas do I need for the next two weeks so I can make it to work?
Job X makes me Y$/hour at Z hours a week vs Job A making me B$/week at C hours. Which one is better for my family?
I have X hours in a day, spend Y at work, Z sleeping and N watching tv. How much time does that leave for other things? "
Rhodie wrote on Aug 14, 2009 4:02 PM:
I think you have your numbers backward. Algebra works for 95% of Americans. Algebra isn't just the Train A leaves at and train B leaves at, when do they meet. It is also (as I pointed out) used to figure out how many square feet are needed of something. ANY time you build something you use algebra to figure out how much material is used. Algebra is used to figure out how much you own in taxes Wage A x Bracket b = C too much to Uncle Sam. As variable A increases B and C. Are you saying only 5% of Americans pay thier taxes?
Let's have fun and name professions (not even the day to day use at home) that uses taxes just off the top of my head: Accountants, doctors, advertisers, builders, purchasers, CEO's of all kinds, suppliers, architects, painters, scientists of all kinds, retailers (got to know the variable of profit which uses algebra), everyone in the insurance industry.
I bet others could add more to the list. "
voter wrote on Aug 14, 2009 3:28 PM:
dyan wrote on Aug 14, 2009 2:22 PM:
dyan wrote on Aug 14, 2009 2:19 PM:
dyan wrote on Aug 14, 2009 2:18 PM:
Lodian wrote on Aug 14, 2009 12:31 PM:
Rhodie wrote on Aug 14, 2009 11:24 AM:
dyan wrote " Most people don't play golf and I've never seen anyone yet doing algebra problems at the country club."
Two comments: First "driving game" was in referance to long distance driving on the freeways to figure out how far I can push the gas mileage.
Second: You do use Algebra in golf, if you don't your short game will suffer. hitting the 8-iron goes how far vs the 7-iron? If the hole is 120 yards away and I hit X club Y far and A club B far which one puts me in the best position. There, and I bet if you were waiting behind some hack using a $5 calculator before every stroke to figure that you'd start wishing they could do a little algebra in their head. "
Rhodie wrote on Aug 14, 2009 11:18 AM:
" Rhodie: Anything on your long list that can't be done on a $5 hand held calculator? "
"I'd say it's elitist."
Should spelling no longer be taught in school then since word check can fix it for you?
Why study history when you can just bring it up on the internet.
I guess the only subect needed in school, by your logic is reading. Oh wait, I've seen cheap reader where you scan the page and it reads it to you.
Sorry, Dyan, I am fully against teaching kids to NOT use their brains but rather to rely on the computer to do everything for them.
Ever been in a store when the registers were down. Using your arguements the customers would just have to wait until the digital dieties came back to life to instruct the workers what money to give. In my world (and having experienced it repeatedly) when the registers go down I think for myself and use math and my brain to keep the business moving. "
dyan wrote on Aug 14, 2009 11:06 AM:
dyan wrote on Aug 14, 2009 11:04 AM:
I'd say it's elitist. They are just trying to keep the poor and afflicted out of the UC system. "
Rhodie wrote on Aug 14, 2009 10:47 AM:
Rhodie wrote on Aug 14, 2009 10:46 AM:
SxT=D
Speedxtime=distance (and variations of)
D/G=MPH
And gas mileage. Distance/gallons=MPG
These are simple Algebra functions in which two variables are used to find the answer.
"Algebra is a branch of mathematics that uses mathematical statements to describe relationships between things that vary over time." (http://cstl.syr.edu/fipse/Algebra/Unit1/algebra.htm)
P.s. This comes from an admitted numerphobe. "
Rhodie wrote on Aug 14, 2009 10:39 AM:
Used it to figure out how many sq ft my new pool is so I knew how much salt to add to the filter.
Also used it on the cement deck so I knew how much I was paying per sqft.
Used it when I built the wooden deck on the other side of the pool so I would know how much wood to buy.
Do any grocery shopping? It's helpful in finding the best deals (figuring out price per unit).
We use algebra constantly in our monthly budget.
Watch Baseball? Algebra is used to figure out most of the stats. I used it for my players to show how much imporved they were over last year.
Run a business? You use Algebra to manage inventory.
Your doctor uses it to make sure you get the right amount of medicine.
Advertisers use it to figure out where they get the best bang for their buck.
So, Dyan, it isn't that we don't use algebra, but rather we use it so mucvh we don't even realize it anymore. "
Mama Llama wrote on Aug 14, 2009 9:02 AM:
dyan wrote on Aug 14, 2009 8:33 AM:
Rhodie wrote on Aug 14, 2009 8:01 AM:
You're kidding right? Now adays they have those new fangle registers that do the thinking for you and tell you how much change to give. Half the counter-jockeys (I was one for many years) I see lately have no idea how to figure change in their heads, throw an extra quarter at them to save a mess load of change and they look lost.
Personally I think everyone should be required to take some kind of journalism class just so the next gen can understand that reporting can be more about bias than facts. "
snowridah wrote on Aug 14, 2009 2:28 AM:
dogbark wrote on Aug 13, 2009 9:27 PM:
I can see a hundred and one solutions to the low enrollment. Sadly a true tragedy. "
Forester wrote on Aug 13, 2009 5:51 PM:
dot dot dot wrote on Aug 13, 2009 5:24 PM:
1voice wrote on Aug 13, 2009 9:19 AM:
1143 wrote on Aug 12, 2009 2:17 PM:
Newspapers, in general, are already a thing of the past.
Now more than 12 people join in editorialising thru: FaceBook,Twitter,Texting and reading on-line.
Hopefully these 12 individuals will be able to find their place in some form of literacy. "
Cogito wrote on Aug 12, 2009 8:16 AM:
dyan wrote on Aug 12, 2009 8:13 AM:
Half Full wrote on Aug 12, 2009 8:10 AM:
dyan wrote on Aug 12, 2009 7:52 AM:
Comments on this story are now closed.