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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 12, 1978)
Portland Observer Thursday, January 12, 1978 Page 3 From behind the wall by Larry Baker *35021 O.S.P. ('orrai,tondent * As Chuck Berry, one of the mos. famous Black guitar blues singer's would have shouted during the 50s and 60s. “Up in the morning...back to school." This is rapidly becoming the moat popular phrase uttered throughout half of the general population of the 1,500 residents who reside at 2606 State Street in Salem. Oregon. It is becoming very noticeable to the tiny community on the eastern outskirts of the state capitol, that at 7:30 a.m. it suddenly becomes alive with the ringing of loud bells, shouting and commanding voices combined with heavy racking sounds of steel barred cell doors. Slowly, many of these individuals who live in multi colored cells start filing out, rubbing their half awake eyes, trying to tuck in their blue colored shirt-tails while finding it almost impossible to balance the large stack of books and notepapers under their arms, all in one motion. These are some of the prisoners, JO E F A B IS ranging in age from seventeen to sixty years, who are incarcerated inside the Meet Joe Fabis, Director of Education walls of O.S.P.: prisoners with an educa at O.S.P. Bom in New Buffalo, Michigan tional or academic background ranging Fabis is married and has five children. anywhere from the first grade to a Education: B.A. from Michigan Tech - college degree; prisoners who may be 1960; M .B.A. from Michigan State Uni carrying a sentence ranging anywhere versity - 1971; 1960-62 - U.S. Army; from eighteen months to life; prisoners, 1962 74 Industrial Engineer - Philip who come from all different types of Industrial, Plains, Georgia - State of life-styles, racial backgrounds, and eco Oregon and various firms; 1974 - Teach nomic standards of living. They are er, Chemeketa Community College. Sa prisoners whose number on their prison lem, Oregon; 1976 - Related Trade files might become more important than Instructor - O.S.P.; 1977 - Supervisor of the name they were born with. Many of O.S.P, Education Programs - 1. Voca these individuals would have frowned at tional Training - 2. College and High the thought of participating in any type of School Program - 3. Apprenticeship educational program beyond these walls Programs. prior to their convictions. But now these O.S.P. Corres.MMMfent: "What major individuals find themselves eagerly goals and achievements do you wish to climbing six flights of stairs many times foresee in the near future with the O.S.P. during the day and evening; up to the Educational Program under your super Education Department at O.S.P. vision?" What is it that motivates these Fabis: “I would like to get the O.S.P. inmates to all of a sudden want to im Educational and Vocational Programs prove their writing skills and manners recognized for the job they are doing (i.e. of speech? Why should so many want to State of Oregon Legislature, Emergency place an invested interest in subjects Board and the general public). I t is time such as math, social studies and English we start talking about what we're doing, composition - when all that was stated by because we do have some very good a Judge during their sentencing proce results. We are here to serve the needs dure was that they be sentenced to prison of the inmate. They're the one every to do time...time...time - and nothing thing is centered around and the inmates about reading, writing or arithmetic. do appreciate what is being done in these In brightly-lit rooms these inmates fields while they are incarcerated here at struggle to find an empty desk and chair the Oregon State Penitentiary." as they begin to busily go over many of their notes and problems they received as home assignments from the previous day. Many may even have wished that they would have invested just a little more time and effort into their work assign ment. instead of reading the latest issue of Playboy or Hustler. But yet, the majority of these individuals eagerly wait patiently for their teacher or instructor, so that they may swell with pride in demonstrating that they did work hard and got it all together. Once again, the question must be examined - where did it all begin? What has been the motivating factor which has brought forth the drive within these prisoners who want to obtain an educa tion? And once the motivation is instill ed. who are the people who keep this drive going? People who every legisla tive session find themselves struggling to improve the education budget, banging on desks during different state education committee, in order to explain their W IL L IA M CROCKER different purposes and needs of new William A. Crocker, Supervisor of books and material. People who many O.S.P. College Programs; Bachelor's De times find themselves desperately beg gree in English, Master's Degree in ging the community for volunteer teach Education, University of Portland. era so that they might help meet the O .8.P. Correa.»oodeot: “M r. Crocker, educational needs of these inmates...Peo being the longest state employee in the ple who have shown they care, not by Education Department at the Oregon their words, but by their actions. State Penitentiary, with over 20 years of Through a series of "Behind the Walls" service, what do you consider the most articles we are going to meet with some major change you have seen in this of these prisoners and their dedicated department over the years?" teachers, along with staff members who Crocker: “There have been so many live and work behind these walls at major changes made since my first being O.S.P. Because they are important to employed. More books, larger budget this institution and important to every which have a_ better program, more Oregon taxpayer within this state - but interest by the inmates and state certi most of all they are important to prison fied teacher” where we once had to use ers in search of a better life upon release. inmates as teachers." A ty.iical O.S.P. classroom |above|. 8 T E V E GASSNER Steve Gassner, Supervisor of O.S.P. Basic Education Programs. Horn in Portland, married with one child. Grad uated Grant High School; 1969 Whitman College. B.A. Political Science; 1971 Reed College, M .A .T. Political Science. Em ployed: Chemawa Indian School, 1972. Salem; O.S.P., 1972, English teacher; O.S.P., 1975, Supervisor, Basic Program. O.S.P. Corres.tondent: "M r. Gassner, you have seen a few changes made in the O.S.P. Education Department since you have been here can you tell me of those changes?" M r. Gasaaer: “When I first came to teach at O.S.P., there were only four teachers in the budget. I am happy to say today there are eight teachers and the budget for books and materials has increased. We have also developed a learning center, so that we are able to reach more students on a one on one concept. Our G .E.D. Program is one today that we can all take great pride in seeing it's improvement. Today, any inmates in this institution can go to school if they want to improve their education.” Thia Correspondent, during the month of November, was given the opportunity to interview some of the inmates who attend the O.S.P. Education Department. Here are their comments. Jerome Ivory #38978: “The school at O.S.P. has helped me to get a better education." Joe Bekesz #37390: "Would not have had the education I have now, if I had not enrolled in school while incarcerated here." W A L T G IL M O R E Andrew Pettibone #38948: “I am at tending school in the Education Depart ment at O.S.P. full time. I realized that I have a great need for a better education and since I have started I feel it already has helped me greatly. (This is only the first in a series the “Behind The Walls" staff will bring to the general public's eyes, involving O.S.P. Education and Vocational Programs. We believe it is one of the most valuable tools needed within these walls to help any prisoner return to his community with a better opportunity then he may have had when he first entered the gates.) Joe Bekesz receives s;teclal hel.i in reading from a volunteer tutor |u;»:»er right). O.S.P. classes teach academic courses on the high school and college level (right). AdmiRÍstratíoR proposes job tost guidelines The Carter Administration has pro posed uniform guidelines for employee testing and other selection procedures. These guidelines are aimed at protecting the rights of workers to be hired and promoted on the basis of job-related standards and without regard to race, sex, or ethnic background. The proposed guidelines, developed jointly by the Department of Justice, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Department of I^tbor, and the Civil Service Commission, would replace the two different sets of employee selection guidelines that have been in effect since November, 1976. One set - the Federal Executive Agency Guidelines ■■ was adopted by Justice, l^ibor, and the Civil Service Commission at that time. EEOC adopted separate guidelines in 1970 and republished them in November, 1976. The uniform guidelines are being pro posed to implement the requirement of the U.S. Supreme Court that employers justify the use of tests or other selection procedures which disproportionately ex clude minorities or women. Under the proposed guidelines, any selection proce dure that adversely affects members of a particular race, sex, or ethnic group must be validated, or shown to be job-related. If a selection procedure is not shown to be valid or if the adverse effect is not eliminated, the employer could be subject to enforcement action by the govern ment. Adverse effect refers to a substan tial difference in selection rates for two or more groups. In choosing a selection procedure, employers must make a reasonable effort to identify alternatives which might have a lesser adverse effect Employers may also choose to elimi nate adverse impact by modifying exist ing selection procedures or using alterna tive procedures. Such alternatives, out lined in the guidelines, include using an applicant register of persons who are economically disadvantaged and giving weight to such factors as experience or language facility. The use of alternatives to test valida tion is part of the "bottom line” concept adopted by the enforcement agencies. This concept provides that if analysis of the overall selection process demon Maybe he thinks he's a real thinks he should be admired I hope he doesn't think he's because, outside of God, the mean dude everytime he's rude scaring anyone wise fear none To make your point understood, it's not necessary to cuss Study the English language, it’s useful to us We as a people are moving to a higher stage And there are many words in English to express our rage But Profanity? From a civilized person? and aside from that, it hurts M Y ears t M J MAYTAG MAYTAG Heavy Duty 57 Washers . neoendable heavy d u b construction • AU fat>- ^ e ' X . i o n s . E n e « y - « v i n g . Long hie ad coat steel cabinet • Fabnc softener , o Tough polv pum p • t nderw ater If-cleanm g porcelain enamel wash bask Sale Priced! Save Now on Maytag Dependability MAYTAG Big Load Dryers M AYTAG1 MAYTAG • Three level w ashing • U n sur passed capacity • Balanced racking • M u lti-c v d e • Easy installation plus front service • Q uiet opera tion • Self-cleaning M icro-M esh * filter • Power M odule Ask about Special installation offer w e g iv e y o u m o r e . . . r a r a know VARIETIES you like SIZES you w an t M i l V I . M il w a u l la Nabob I Dennis W hitlow *37077 J Sale Priced! FOR BRANDS FOR you You'll seldom hear So now can we do something about cleaning this up? They say a word to the wise is sufficient enough Words make people isn't that true....... Or..., maybe I'm talking to everybody E X C E P T YOU à\J shop BIENOW 'S federal government itself are subject t< the same requirements. The proposed guidelines are consistent with existing law on employee select ior and reflect the test validity standards currently accepted by professional psy chologists. The proposed guidelines were publish ed in the Federal Register. They providt for public comments to be received until March 7th. Come Now and Save! more capacity • Exclusive low-tem p. stream-ot-heat d o in g a M u ltic y c le selection • Fast, efficient energy-saving operation • tffic ie n t drum sice • U nique air-tide d rying system P R O F A N IT Y The man who uses profanity, will always be a puzzle to me What kind of image does he carry in his brain that causes his speech to be so profane? strates that an employer has overcome adverse impact by in fact hiring and promoting minorities and women, federal agencies generally will not require that employer to justify the individual ele ments of the selection process. The new guidelines insure that for the first time all employer groups -- private employers, government contractors and subcontractors, employment agencies, state and local governments, and the Fri«ndli«tt ldffc M ltilla ltlv r n iia s J ie d llJ r s d A H l G ilta n to rn N . lo m b a r d e f G e a la y J V d ■atol«»i Mills Ptan , 'la k e I H a d a l C l- 0 1. t le o K ing te h Geo so a 1.1. M e rrta e A N . ( . H am aal < S .t. A W a tt Zorn si O tw e f J t i City muui « ot itwmo « o a t s h o m e f u r n is h in g s 30th and S.E. Division 234-9351 S h o p 9 to 9 T u e s d a y thru F rid a y S aturday 9 to 6 (N ot O pen S unday o r M o n d a y)
