THE WEEK IN OUR VIEW

BAD GRADES?

Parents with kids at at least three schools in the Newport-Mesa Unified

School District got quite a shock when they received the first progress

reports of the year. Because of an apparent computer glitch, many

students with good grades got negative comments such as “poor work

habits” and “excessive talking.” While the district apologized for the

mix-up and vowed to send out corrections, rumor has it that a few unlucky

students paid for the district’s mistake in the form of discipline over

the weekend. But what if if the mistake was much greater? In a day and

age when the average personal computer is practically capable of

launching a NASA satellite, we have to wonder if blaming a computer

glitch is a scapegoat that is a little gray around the edges.

HELPING HANDS

More than 200 Corona del Mar High School students volunteered their

weekend time on Sunday to work with children in the Make-a-Wish

Foundation who suffer from life-threatening illnesses. The school hosted

a Halloween carnival, complete with face-painting, games and prizes. The

costume-clad kids had a day of fun and a break from the indoors, while

the high school students reaped their own rewards: “We take a lot of

things for granted and this is a way to give back,” said 16-year-old

Lauren Mirowitz. And we can’t say this enough that despite the

stereotypes of uncaring and apathetic teens, we in Newport-Mesa are

blessed with an overwhelming number who prefer a more active role.

EBBING TIDE POOLS

In an attempt to help improve the health of the fragile ecosystem in the

tide pools at Little Corona State Beach, the Orange County Coast

Commission has created an information brochure. The pamphlet,

appropriately titled, “Between a rock and a hard place,” will be widely

distributed to teachers and students in the county. The intent is to

encourage schools to make field trip plans far in advance so that the

excursions can be guided and therefore be less of an impact on the

environment as they walk along the seaside habitat. While we think the

tide pools are in dire need of better management, the informational

brochure is a great first step, er, effort.