Portland/Observer Thursday February I, 1973
Page 3
Equal education seen near I
"Voice ®*the NAACP”
by Ellis C a j i o n , P re s id e n t
+.
The U.S. Commission on
Civil Rights today released a
report which, the Commiaaion
said. “Strongly suggests that
through patience, thoughtful
neaa, and a common sense of
fairness. equal educational
o p p o r t u n i t y for all the
nation's children can finally be
achieved."
The report. The Diminish
ing Barrier," ia based on
studies of school integration
efforts in nine communities in
different sections of the na
tion.
Hural, urband and
suburban areas are included.
Home have been ordered to
desegregate by courts. Others
have acted in anticipation of
court orders.
Still others
have desegregaed on their
own initiative.
The nine communities are
Alachua County, Gainesville.
Florida; Escambia County,
Pensacola, Florida; Evanston,
Illinois; Harrisburg, Pennsyl
vania; Hoke County, North
Carolina; Jefferson Township.
Ohio; Ix>on County, Tails
haasee. F l o r i d a ; Moore
County, North Carolina; and
Volusia County, D a y t o n a
Beach. Florida.
The Civil Rights Commis
aion. an independent, biparti
■an. factfinding agency con
cerned with the rights of
minority groups and women,
said it is convinced that "only
on the basis of objective fact
and experience can the nation
be in a position to make sound
judgments on this vital issue."
The Commissioners gave that
reason for presenting the
report.
The Commissioners are D r
Stephen H o r n , Vice Chair
man, President of California
Slate College. Long Beach;
Mrs. Frankie M. Freeman, a
St. IxNiis attorney; Maurice B.
Mitchell. Chancellor of the
University of Denver; Robert
Rankin, Professor Em eritus
of Political Science, Duke
University; and Manuel Ruiz.
Jr., a lx » Angeles attorney.
John A. B u g g s is Staff
Director.
The study documents both
successes and failures in Inte­
gration efforts. I t points out
both strengths and weak
neaaea in each community's
program. It identifies com
mon problems and shows how
in many rases problems have
been solved.
The report states that
although "none of these dese
gregation efforts can yet be
labeled a total success . . .
from an analysis of the kinds
of problems these communi­
ties have taken in an effort to
meet them . . . we all can
learn and find many of our
fears dissolved.
Thia is
particularly true of our fear of
the unknown."
Six basic elements are
critical in a smooth transition
to integrated schools, the
report states. They are: i l l
determination by the local
school board and adminiatra
tion to carry out desegrega
lion plans and to do so firm ly
and unswervingly; (2) support
by the news media, local
officials, and civic leaders; (3)
action to assure that res pons
ibility for desegregation is
shared equally by the total
community; (4) keeping par
ents informed and involved;
(8) development of an impar
tial and firm disciplinary
procedure for all students and
provision for their full par
ticipalion in all school acti­
vities; and (6) concerted ef
forts to improve the quality of
education while desegrega
tion is underway
Student attitudes, in gen
eral, were deemed "good' by
the study.
in Escambia
County. Flordia. for example,
the students established a
biracial committee whose ef
forts to make the integration
plan work often went beyond
that of other local committees
made up of adults involved in
the desegregation process. In
Hoke County, North Carolina,
students felt integration was
working well in both the
classroom and in non scholas
tic activities. However, in one
c a s e . Harrisburg, Pennsyl
vania. students were deemed
to have less positive attitudes
about i n t e g r a t i o n than
teachers and parents.
Moat communities in the
study were found to have
s t r o n g leadership on the
school baord and cooperation
from all elements of the
community and media.
In
Evanaton, Illinois, the super
intendent was credited by the
residents for having a strong
moral commitment to inte
gration.
One administrator
felt that only the superinten
dent could have implemented
the desegregation plan and
pointed out that ainee his
departure "Evanston has not
moved".
In Leon County, Tallahas
see, Florida, white parents
who were reluctant to place
their children in formerly all
Black schools were invited by
the school administration to
visit the schools, talk with
faculty members, and inspect
school facilities. As a result
many parents became and are
still involved in PTA groups.
The report concludes that
l/con County's relative sue
cess "appears to be the result
of determined efforts by ad
min istra tors, teachers, and
p a r e n t s both Black and
white."
Transportation h a s n o t
been a major issue in the
areas studied. In rural Misire
County. N o r t h
Carolina,
where students have always
been bused, school integration
plans caused only minor pro
blems.
In Leon County.
Florida, parents requested
more busing rather than less.
In Jefferson Township, Ohio,
2,500 children are now bused
compared to 2,000 prior to
integration. Incidents of mis
behavior on buses in Jefferson
Township have been few. Of
10 fights reported in 1971 72,
none was identified as being
racially motivated.
The Commission concuded
that, while “the process of
change from segregated to
desegrated s c h o o l s often
creates difficulties and places
great burdens and responsi
bililies on all concerned.’’
school desegregation can be
made to succeed.
Education report
to be published
DR JEFFREY
BRADY
M O D fF N
DENTAL
PLATES
P A R T IA L PLATES
A N D EXTR A C TIO N S
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DR. JEFFREY
BRADY
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2?H 7545
Education finance, racial
Integration, and aid to paro­
chial achoola are among the
tim ely and critical laauea con­
sidered at length In Volume 1
of THE FI.E1SCHMENN RE­
PO RT. To Insure that the
comprehenaive study of ele­
ments ry and secondary edu­
cation
prepared
by The
Fletachmann Commission re ­
ceives the permanent form and
nationwide distribution it de­
serves, The Viking P ressw lll
p u b lis h
b o th hardbound
( | 14.95) and Compass paper-
bound ($6.95) editions of Vol­
ume 1 on February6.Volum e«
II and 111 of the Report w ill be
available thia summer.
When
the
distinguished
elghteen-memher New York
State Commission, appointed
In 1969 by Governor Nelson
A , Rockefeller and the Sum
Board of Regents to study the
quality, cost and financing of
elem enury and secondary ed­
ucation, printed l u limited
supply of Volume I In March
1972, The New York Tim es
Commented:
It Is clear that the Comm la-
slon’ a firs t set of recom­
mendations, if put Into ef­
fect. would radically re­
order the system by which
New York Sum finances
the education of Its children
, , . The recommendations
are, therefore, expected to
set the term s for t historic
deham during the months
ahead, just as the report
as a whole Is expected to
become
a
standard of
authority to which those a r­
guing about education w ill
repair for years to come.
The central them e of this
firs t volume Is in Its plea;
•"The promise of equal educa­
tional opportunity must be­
come a reality In thia decade."
At a time when the constitu­
tionality of the method« used
fo r funding public education
In 49 of the 50 state« of the
union are facing eave re con­
stitutional
challenge,
the
Commission argues that only
bold reform w ill cure current
defects. The Commiaaion rec­
ommends full su m funding of
public education particularly
through a statewide property
u x in place of local property
taxes and a substantial in­
crease of federal aid.
In controversial chapters on
Racial and Ethnic Integration
and on Aid co Nonpubllc
School«, the Report document«
Increasing segregation In the
North and argues that busing
Is necessary to reverse that
trend, and that public funds
should not he used to support
non-public schools (a sugges­
tion from which five Commis­
sion members dlasentedl.
"B e tte r
education
for
everyone
offers the best
chance for m ajor improve­
ment tn the quality of human
life tn the years ahead.” Manly
Flelschmann, Chairman of the
Commission and distinguished
Buffalo
and
New
York
attorney, writes in the For­
ward to Volume I .
Three
years, the assistance of many
independent consultants, ex­
tensive public hearings and
funds amounting to $2 million
have produced the most com­
prehensive and highly financed
study on education in decades.
The heated public discussion
that the Report has already
generated attests to its Im­
portance.
Acknowledging the mon­
umental scope of the Report.
The New York Tim es wrote
that the Flelschmann Com­
mission has "created one
of the biggest, most ambitious
and most sophisticated ven­
tures In Information-gather­
ing and analysis yet under­
taken In Amerlcaneducatlon."
In a letter to Manly Flelsch­
mann, commenting on the work
of the Com m iaaion,Dr. James
Bryant Conant wrote: "You
and your co-workers have set
a modal for other states to
follow by your exhaustive and
original procedure."
Volumes II and III of the
Report contain extensive con­
sideration of the following
subjects;
curriculum, sec­
ondary schools, children with
special
needs, «octal prob­
lems In schools, school gov­
ernance, Including approachea
to greater fiscal aa well as
performance accountability,
New York C ity, and more
effective and efficient uses
of human resources.
Blacks lose a frie n d
United
Last week while in Wash president of the
ngton, D t C :* attending a States.
Being active and con
F IIW A Civil Bights Work
shop, the nation was shorked cerned about civil rights, I
watched the actions of the
at the suden death of Lyndon
President to see if that
B. Johnson.
Being at a Civil Bights commitment he expressed to
us was real. I'm proud that
Conference, we reflected on
I've lived to see the 1964 Civil
the life of this man who did so
Rights Act
1965 Voting
much for Civil Bights in this
Rights Act 196b Fair Hous
country.
ing I .aw, plus other laws that
Being here in Washing
have helped the Blacks, mi­
ton, I had to pay my respect to
norities and the poor to over
this great American, there
come. Lyndon Johnson took
fore. I joined Boy Wilkins,
the lead and Congress acted.
Clarence Mitchell and every
This man was not a talker
major Civil Bights leader in
but a doer when it came to
America by attending the
Civil Bights. In his last major
funeral service for the late
public appearance where he
President of the
United
had gone to Austin to attend
States.
the opening of his Civil
As I sat there in the
Natinal City Christian Church t n Bights Papers at the LBJ
Library, despite his doctor's
my mind went back to the
orders, got up to speak and
first time 1 met President
said:
Johnson fare to face. It was
"To be black to one who
September 1963 and I was
is black is to be proud, to be
invited to attnd an “EEO
worthy, to be honorable. But
Conference on Equal Bights"
to be black in a white society
in lx»s Angeles by then Vice
is not to stand on level
President Lyndon B. Johnson.
ground.
I was truly impressed by
"While the races may
this mam from the South who
stand side by side, whiles
had such a strong commit
stand on history's mountain
ment for Civil Rights. How
and Blacks stand in history's
ever, that day I spent visiting
with him I didn't know that in „ hollow.
Unless we overcome un ••
two months he would be the
equal history, we can not
Ellis H. Casson
overcome unequal opportun
ity. That is not
nor will it
ever be
an easy goal to
achieve.
"We know there is dis
crimination and suspicion and
division among us.
"But there is a larger
truth. We have proved that
great progress is possible. We
know that much remains to be
done."
A man like Lyndon B.
Johnson will be missed and
we pray that God will send
another to take his place as
President of the
United
States.
Sent Up The River By You ~
D oing it fo r the kids
by BUI Jeffery,
Staff Assistant
The 57th Legislative ses­
sion has begun to gather
s te a m . R e p r e s e n ta tiv e
P riestley's office has a back­
log of bills to be Introduced.
We have tried to use legis­
lative power to correct the
problems that society is hav­
ing.
There Is nothing of greater
Impact on society than the
education of children. The
alarming drop-out rate Is a
reflection of the difficulty that
children have adjusting to the
strangeness of the school en­
vironment.
There is a partial remedy
to this problem. It Is the tim e-
tested Institution of kinder­
gartens. In a kindergarten, the
child finds out what school Is
all about, without being sub­
jected to the pressures of in­
stant achievement.
R ep. W a lly P rie s tle y
Representative
Priestley
believes In kindergartens. He
has introduced a bill to pro­
vide kindergartens In all com­
mon school districts. The
money to do this wUI come
from the State. It Is our un­
derstanding that the funds are
readily available if the public
chooses to get Involved in
changing priorities.
An excellent example of
public involvement is the ac­
tivity of the Steel headers Club
in the conservation battle.
Representative Priestley Is a
cosponsor of the sportsfish-
e rs ’ package of b ills. It will
be quite a struggle to put
Oregon’ s fish resources on a
proper footing.
Any reader of the Observer
who is interested Inthlseffort
should contact Len Malmquist
at 281-8426 In Portland. Len
Is a D irector of the Steel-
headers Club and a very ac­
tive advocate.
Tax relorm is certainly the
m ajor issue this session. We
have prepared several refine­
ments to the Governor's ex­
cellent plan to eliminate pro-
p e r t y ta x f o r s u p p o r t o f
s c h o o ls . R e p re s e n ta tiv e
Priestley intends to discuss
these issues aa soon as the
workload In the Revenue Com­
mittee decreases.
Largest recycling p la n t open
7 he nation's newest perma­
nent aluminum recycling cen­
ter was opened today with the
prediction that aluminum re­
cycling for 1973 would reach
two billion cans for the firs t
tim e.
Paul Murphy, Vice Presi­
dent.
Packaging
Division,
Reynolds Metals Company,
forecast the aluminum Indus-
try would recycle about 87
m illion pounds of aluminum
cans In 1973.
He said It
would m ark the firs t time that
aluminum recycling programs
were available In all 48 con­
tinental states. He also fore­
cast that aluminum collection
centers would grow to more
than 1,500 before year end,
up from 1,000 in 39 states In
1972.
M r . Murphy said Industry­
wide aluminum reclamation
and recycling programs are
the most successful of their
kind In the country, and that
the growth of can collections
continues. F o r example, he
noted that in 1970, the firs t
year of the program, about
185 million aluminum cans
were recycled. The nextyear,
the number quadrupled to 770
m illion, and In 1972 approxi­
mately 1.4 billion aluminum
cans were recycled.
Reynolds Metals Company
recycled more than 800 m il­
lion aluminum cans in 1972,
paying the public nearly $3.6
m illio n. The aluminum firm ,
which pioneered aluminum can
recycling in 1967, expects to
recycle about 1.4 billion cans
In 1973. which w ill he worth
more than $6 million to the
public.
Reynolds operates 12 per­
manent recycling centers and
a fleet of 11 mobile units
which carry recycling to many
cities.
In
addition,
beer
wholesalers and breweries
and soft drink companies
serve as cooperating collec­
tion centers for public re-
demptlon of aluminum cans in
many other areas.
Recycling programs are
maintained by members of
the aluminum, beer and soft
drink industries. The public
is paid 10 cents a pound for
used aluminum cans. More
than $6 m illion was paid the
public by the Industry in 1972
fo r the more than 60 million
pounds of reclaimed alumi­
num.
This valuable metal
was recycled and used In the
manufacture of new and use­
ful aluminum products.
M r.
Murphy noted that
Reynolds, the leading produ­
ce r of all-aluminum beverage
cans, would recycle one in
three of its 1973 can pro­
duction. In 1972, one in five
was reclaimed and recycled.
M r . Murphy acknowledged
that aluminum's high scrap
value - about 10 times as
high as most other common
packaging
m aterials - ac­
counts for the continuing suc­
cess of the recycling and en­
vironmentally.
The two billion cans to he
collected and recycled tn 1973
represent approximately 87
million pounds of aluminum
which cannot become solid
waste or litte r. The value of
the metal to the public is
nearly $9 m illion. M r . M u r­
phy said. "Money w ill have
twen created from what would
have become litte r and solid
w aste."
He added that en­
ergy and valuable natural re­
sources w ill have been con­
served.
ACOA condemns
American policy
The American Committee
on African today released a
statement on the assassina
tion of A m ilrar Cabral. Secre
tary General of the African
Party for the Independence of
G u i n e a and Cape Verde
(PAIG C), by agenta of Portu
guese colonialsm.
The statement said that al
though this brutal act re­
moved a man of almost
unparalleled ability from the
African scene, it cannot stop
the victory of the people of
Guinea Bissau in their strug
gle for independence and
self determination.
Am ilrar Cabral was one of
the founders of the PA IG C in
1956. He played a central role
in the development of the
Party, stressing the impor
tance of the peasantry and
emphasising the needs to
engage in an extensive pro­
gram of political education in
the countryside before em
barking on an armed struggle.
Ten years after the launching
of the armed revolt in Jan
uary. 1963. Guinea Bissau is
virtually i n d e p e n d e n t ,
the Portuguese controlling
less than one quarter of the
territory.
The A.C.O.A. statement,
condemning U.S. complicity
with Portugal concludes that
"inspired by Am ilrar Cabral's
example, all those who love
freedom will renew their
pledge to support the struggle
against Portuguese colonial­
ism and give unstinting sup
port to the PAIG C and other
liberation movements in the
Portuguese colonies until in­
depence is won."
Black unions ask Senate
rejection of Brennan
reach workers not now pro
Lucy presented the Com
Calling the recent record of
t e c t e d ; extension of the
the Labor Department in en
mittee with a list of questions
Emergency Employment Act;
crucial to Black w o r k e r s
forcing e q u a l employment
the right of striking workers
opportunity laws "dismal", a
Brennan should answer he
to receive food stamps; and
leader of the Coalition of
fore Senate confirmation The
his attitudes on guaranteed
Black Trade Unionists today
Committee. Lucy suggested,
collective bargaining right«
asked the Senate Ixibor Com
should find out if Brennan is
for public employee«, includ
mittee to recall for further
personally c o m m i t t e d to
ing teacher«.
questioning President Nixon s
strong enforcement of equal
nominee for Secretary of
employment laws concerning
During his testimony. Lucy
Labor.
government contractors, in­
was accompanied by Charles
William Lucy, a member of
cluding the use of numerical
H a y e s. vice president of
the Coalition’s steering com
goals; to strong enforcement
A m a lg a m a te d M e a t
mittee, told the Senate com
of Title V I of the Civil Rights
cutters and Butcher Work
mittee that "W ith the sorry
Act; and strong support of
men, AFL-CIO; R i c h a r d
record of the Department of
Parrish of the Distributive
OFCC.
Labor in carrying out his
Workers of America; Horace
Brennan, Lucy said, should
responsibilities in the field of
also be asked his views on
Sheffield of the United Auto
equal employment o p p o r
repeal of Section 14(b) of the
Workers; and William H.
tunity -- we are concerned
Taft Hartley Act (the right to
Simon, president of Local 6.
because the nominee, Peter J.
AmericanF e d e r a t i o n of
work law); expansion of the
Brennan, is a man who has
Fair Labor Standards Act to
Teachers, A F D C IO .
indicated his lack of support of
these very programs the
Secretary of Labor is called
upon to enforce.
Lucy told the Senate Com
mittee, which is holding hear
mgs on Brennan's nomination,
that the 3 million Black
H igh fashions in clothing, leathers
workers represented by the
Coalition are concerned that
and hats
the Office of Federal Contract
Compliance, which is respon
able for seeing that 225.000
government contractors act
to eliminate racial discrimi
nation, is "being frozen to
death in a bureaucratic ice
box."
4 9 5 0 N.E. Union A v e.
2 8 2 -4 9 0 0
Lucy, secretary treasurer
of the 600,000 member A m er­
ican Federation of State,
County and Municipal Em ­
ployees. AFL-CIO , said the
Coalition also is concerned
that since 1969. T itle V I of the
1964 Civil Rights Act. calling
for equal access to Labor
Department Programs has
gone unenforced.
Specialize in Bar-B-O Foods
Only a strong comitment by
the Secretary of Labor will
reverse thia record," Lucy
Hours: Sunday thru Thursday
told the Senate Committee.
11:00 a j n . to 10:00 p j n .
‘ But the nominee's personal
F rxday and Saturday
record shows him to be at
12:00 noon to 3:30 a j n .
odds with these guarantees.
The Coalition believes that
it is important for the nomi
nee to e x p r e s s
before
this committee his personal
commitment to the affirm a­
W e offer food to go,
tive action needed to correct
delivery and catering service
past employment discrimina­
tion against Blacks and to
213 NO RTH KlLl-INGSW OR FH
state his views on other issues
Í5O3) 283-4573
of historic importance to the
labor movement."
The Coalition, an organiza
tion concerned with unifying
Black union members, asked
Brennan to meet with them
three weeks ago to discuss
issues of concern to Black
workers, but the nominee did
not meet the Coalition's re­
quest
The Coalition was
formed in September 1972
when 1200 Black trade union
ists representing 3 million
workers met in Chicago.
"We have not been per­
mitted to ask our own ques
tions; we c e r t a i n l y have
received no answers," Lucy
said in his testimony. "W e
trust that this Committee will
wish to fill this void before
passing on iBrennan’s) nomi­
nation.
Leon’s M a n ’s Shop
Pig on the Pit
Restaurant
Senior Citizen
o f the Month
House to
assert
control
Introduction of a bill to
reassert control by the House
of Representatives over the
federal budget has been an
nounced by its sponsor. Con
gressman Wendel W y a t t ,
RO re.
The measure is an effort to
remedy the present picemeal
method of federal appropna
tions. The House would be
required to approve a budget
specifying revenue forecasts
and an expenditure ceiling
prior to the spending of
federal dollars.
W yatt stated. "It is the
Constitutional responsibility
of the House to raise and
appropriate money, and yet
we do not have a budget of
our own. Congress receives
the President's budget and
divides it among the frag
mented committee system.
Passage of this bill would give
us more businesslike control
over our budgetary respon
sibilities."
provisions of the bill require
a two-thirds vote for passage
of any legislation which woule
exceed the House authorized
budget. Members voting for
overruns will be forced to go
on record as voting for an
unbalanced budget.
MRS. E D W A R D . W. S M ITH
M arie S m ith is Chairman of the Senior A du lt
vice Center A d viso ry Com m ittee and past
rm an of the planning com m ittee that coordinated
urogram of citizen participation. A senior citizen
, has devoted a life tim e of volunteer «ervices to
wide enterprises as well as for the aged, she is
le n tly a mem ber of the City County Commission on
• 7 Sm ith is Chairm an of Church W orld Service of
gon and U n ited Church Women of G reater
¿land Council of Churches. She i« a cha rte r
Tiber of the N A A C P Credit Union and is cu rre n tly
j i t com m ittee chairm an. She is a past president
organizer of the Oregon Association of t olored
men's Clubs. M rs. Sm ith was the
sident of the P ortland Branch. N A A ( 1 , in 1919
I 1M50 She was chosen as one of the I en
"m en ot
•omplishment by the Oregon Journal in I960 and
the O utstanding Negro ( itizen ot 19oU.
I