Word from the Utah Education Association is that its 40 member associations across the state are now in nggmtiations with their school trict for 197576 teacher contracts. In ,fact, say UEA spokesmen, prospects for early conltracts appear b’ tatt is stage. rTgl:is is good because the need for speeding un the negotiations is demonstrated almost every year as contract settlements in some districts invariably go right down to the wire. In such instances, the public including the children themselves – are kept guessing as to whether school hgls will ring on the o ning ay. p’?’his condition, if perpetuated, can only lead to increasing demands on the part of e public for a better plan. In the past such suggestions have advanced as three-year instead of annual contract, and group negotiations covering all school districts in one package. I The UEA spokesman said . this week a number of districts “should have contracts finalized and approved by their teachers within two weeks.” He added: “At this time we can see no impasses in talks, and may of the districts are nearing the final stages on the salary package portion, usually one of the difficult . areas of hargaininl-” We would encourage the UEA, which represents more than 13,000 of Utah’s teachers and administrators, as well as school boards and negotiating teams to exercise wis om and good ludlglrnent and pursue the a s rn a spirit of cooperation with a goal of completing contracts by a reasonable deadline. The public has an important stake in the talks in more ways than one and will be closely watching the ‘ results. n . U.S. in the Long View Seventeen years after America’s first space satellite went into orbit (has it really been that longi’), Americans can buy a photographic map showing what their entire coimtry looks like, on the eve of its 200th anniversary, from about 570 miles out in space. The black and white mosaic of images taken by NASA’s LANDSAT-1 earth resources survey satellite has been printed in pictures taken by LANDSAT-1 between uly and October, 1972. Two versions of the U.S. mosaic are available. One is from images made in a visible band of the spectrum (Band 5) that accentuates urban areas and other works of man. Tlie other is from images made in infrared light (Band 7) that accentuates water and topographical features. Both versions have state boundaries outlined with . broken white lines. Copies may he ordered prepaid for $1.25 each from the Branch of Distribution, U.S. Geological Survey, 1200 South ads vStreet, Arlington, VA 22202. Orders should specify either Band 5 or Band 7. .