P•t• 2 Portlend ObHrver June 11. 1al0 EDITORIAL/ OPINION 'W ar of lib,e ratio,n 1in Lesetho7 By N. Fun1ai K umbula Firing indicates power shift The termination of Robert Blanchard as Superintendent of Schools has a greater significance than the future of one man. It is an indication of increasing power in the hands of the people. For the first time, the down- town business establishment is not running the school district. The effort of the "establishment" to main- tain control was great - with some represen- tatives speaking before the board, others at- tending the meeting Monday night, a still others making high pressure phone calls in- dicating that they would not support a needed school levy if Blanchard was not retained. But their efforts failed and four members of the Board voted to terminate Or. Blanchard. The efforts of the Black United Front - its successful Boycott, its fingering of allegedly incompetent administrators, its call for Or. Blanchard's resignation, its laying the respon- sibility for the miseducation of Black children at his feet kept the issue before the public and kept the pressure on the Board to resolve the issue - the issue of who runs the public schools. The Black United Front and the Black com- munity are being credited - or blamed - but the real decision was Or. Blanchard's. He found it impossible, or unacceptable, to work cooperatively with the new Board - a board no longer dominated and controlled by the representatives of the "establishment." As the • four members of the Board most closely iden- tified with and most responsive to the people . coalesced it became more and more apparent that Dr. Blanchard could not stay . As the Oregonian so aptly stated, he was a "businessman's educator." It should be carefully noted that if a threatened recall vote materialize it will come from the downtown business establishment. The disatisfied West side parents who threatened to recall the "old" School Board if they adopted the Coalition's pairing plan are now threatening to recall the "new" Board . But this group has no vested interest and will fizzle. The real recall effort will come from those who have always controlled and who believe they still know what's best for Portland. Although the termination is being ref ered to as the "end of an era," it is also a beginning - an opportunity for a new Board to begin a new decade with a new administration. Many problems - opportunities - need to be ad- dressed in the coming years. The Board will find a dynamic new Superintendent who will prepare our children for lite in a multi-cultural, rapidly changing world. The "new Board" is now firmly in control and it must retain its unity in spite of the threats and criticism that will come . Ter- mination is sad for any person and the Superintendent, whatever his faults, is a man. But it happens every day. The great disaster predicated for the district will not happen - no more than it happened to PP&L when it fired its leader ltwice). Those staff members and dissenting board members who truly care about children will join together and work with the Board and with Or. James Fenwick as they launch the district into a new, more sensitive and caring era. Fenwick's success, and that of the district, depends on his and the Board's desire and ability to address the educational needs of Black children. The real " discord, fragmentation and tumult" will occur if the white community con- tinues to use Blanchard's termination to heap racist recrimination on Blacks. Letters to the Editor The uses of student power ro the Editor: I have had the pleasure of having several articles published in the "Obstntr" while bein1 confined at OSP, and now that I am soon to be released, where I will enter the bi1gest arena of confinement, I would like to see this article published, as my aood-bye and hello. Three para1raphs from the book "Tht Studtnt as Nir,tr" by Jerry Farber. "How do you raise hell'l That's a whole other article. But Just for a start, why not stay with the analo1y'l What have Black people done'! They have, first of all, faced the fact of their slavery. They've stopped kiddina themselves about an eventual reward in the Great Watermelon Patch in the sky. They've oraanized; they've decided to get freedom now, and they've started taking it. "Students, like Blad peo ple, have immense, unused power. f hey could, theoretically, insist on par- ticipating in their own educa11on . fhcy could make academic trecdom bilateral; they could t each their teachers to thrive on love and ad- m I rat ion, rather than fear and respect, and to lay down I heir weapons. Students could discover community, and they could learn to dance by dancing on the IHM card, they could make colorina books out of cataloas and they could put the grading system in a museum; they could raise one set of walls and let life come blowin1 into the classrooms; they could raise another set of walls and let education tlow out and flood the streets; they could turn the classrooms into where it's at a "field of action" as Peter Morin describes it. And believe it or Supports two commissions Dear Mr. Henderson: I applaud the insi1ht of the Ob- server shown in the editorial of April 2"', "Two Commission: Not one," pointin1 out the need for two special minority commissions to examine the needs of Black and Hispanic communities. I endorsed this idea as a State Senator and continue to endorse it as Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries. There already exists a Governor's Commission for Women. And the Black and Hispanic communities badly need a similar aroup 10 uaminc the economic, community and social barriers they face. I openly oiler the services of the Bureau to facilitate the formation of such a commission and would be more than happy to meet with community members interested in spearhcadin1 the effort. Very Truly Yo urs, Mary Wtndy Roberts, Commissioner, Oregon Burea u of Labor and Industries no t, they could study eagerly and learn prodiqiously for the best of all possible reasons, their own reasons. " They could, theoretically. They have the power. But only in a very tcw places, like Berkeley, have they c~en begun to think about usin1 it. For students, as for Blad people, the hardest battle isn't with Mr. Charlie. It 's with what Mr. Charlie has done to your mind." And in closln1, I would like to continue quoting and quote the words of Portland's own, Georae Page, "Back what you believe in!" Nathaniel Scott 41877 Thanks Dear Editor: A most sincere and warm thank you is extended your way from the Community Services Proaram, U.S. Census Bureau, for contributina outstandin1 printed covcra1c of IIJ80 Census related materials. this altitude is reflected t'rom the Director's office downward throuahout the staff. I am cnclosina a Certificate of Ap- preciation, si1ncd by our national Director with this letter to add to the numerous awards, plaques and trophies that you already have received. About the size of Maryland and surrounded on all sides by South Africa, Lesotho is an independent Black republic that has been s1ru88lin1 to stand up on her own since a1tainin1 independence from Britain in 1965. Her peculiar geoaraphical location has necessitated her danaerous depen- dence on South Africa, Free Africa's Public Enemy Number One. Consequently, despite her small size and relative .. obscurity," Lesotho has been one of the mos1 successful African countries when it comes to soliciting international aid . Both East bloc and Western coun- tries seem to think that providina aid to Lesotho will reduce her dependence on South Africa. That as ii may, this has tended to overshadow Lesotho's shameless repression and Prime Minister Leabua Jonathan's authoritarian rule. A brief look at the country's history will suffice to show this authoritarianism and a total disreaard for the people's political, civil and human ri1hts. Durina the time when Europe was shamelcsly raping Africa and placin1 virtually the whole continent under colonial domination, Kini Moshoeshoc placed the then Basutoland under British "protec- tion." The idea was to forestall any colonial designs on Basutoland; the King intended to revoke the "protection" agreement as soon as the threat of colonialism was removed. Following the end of World War II and as was happenin1 all over Africa, Basutos began to agitate for self-rule also and to demand the ouster of the British. A party called the Basutoland Conaress Party, BCP, wa~ formed in 1952, and over the years managed to pressure the "brutish" British to arant the Basothos local autonomy. The BCP managed to sweep village and district council elections and 30 of the 40 scats in a National Council. The BCP platform stressed local participation in self-aovernment and opposed chieftainship which it saw as a tool of continued British Corporation. Between 200 and 500 domination. of the protesters were killed. In the meantime, another rival The only option left open to the oraanization, the Basotho National opposition was 10 launch an armed Party, BNP, had been formed and, stru11le; to try to overthrow th alona with the Marema-Tlou Jonathan rc1imc by force. In April Freedom Party, MFP , had con• 1979, 8CP leader Ntsu Mokhchle, tested the 1%0 election prior to in- then in e"ile in Botswana, announ- dependence in 1%5, elections were ced the formation of the Lesotho held 10 determine who was 1oin1 to Liberation Army. Jonathan has form the new nation's aovernment. tried to portray the LLA as the By this time, the HCP and MFP had creation of South Africa, intended demonstrated their popularity and to "destablize a lc1al Black aovern• Britain, ever fearful of a "radical" mcnt. " This claim has succintly African aovernmcnt comina to been rel'utcd by Ed1ar Motuba, power in a former colony, opted for editor of a Lesotho Evanaelical the Kenya solution: this calls for Church newspaper call Leselinyana back ins a less threatening faction. (" Little Niaht"). Araucs Motuba: "Jonathan's aovernment was put In Lesotho that fact ion was into power with the backina of Jonathan's BNP; si1nificantly, South Africa." Others also charac Jonathan also received the en- that 35 HCP members were arrested dorsement and backina of South by South African police as they At'rca and the Roman Catholic crossed the border and handed over Church. Thou1h the elections were to Lesotho authorities in e"chanae heavily rigged and there was a lot of for South African refuaccs hidina in intimidation, detention of known Lesotho. HCP supporters, entire (HCP The week of June 1st saw a fierce strongholds) villaaes not counted, day lon1 battle ensue between HCP the BPN mana1ed 10 win by only auerrillas and government troops. two scats: 31 scats to the BCP- In the end the aovernment displayed MFP's 29. nine bodies, alle1edly of the HCP Jonathan was in and both South 1uerrillas and huae quantities of Africa and Britain sighed with relief weapons captured. What this as did the Catholic Church. demonstrated was the seriousness of However, the drama was far from this lled1lin1 war of liberation in over. The Basotho merely waited this unlikiliest of places. After the five year period to the next elec- Jonathan's naked usurpation of tion. In the 1970 elections, the BCP power followin1 the "70 election," was winnina handily when Jonathan some African leaders are havina suddenly called to halt the elections, second thou1hts about how closely declared a state of emeraency and they want to be allied with such a suspended the constitution. to date despot. there have been no more elections Even with the happy resolution of and the con st it ut ion remains the Zimbabwe problem and the susoended. projected imminent peoples victory in Namibia, it appears Southern The HCP aovernment then moved Africa will continue to be a hotbed in with a vcn1eance to crush HCP of revolution at least for quite some resistance. Hundreds of HCP sup- time to come. Lesotho's war of porters were arrested and others liberation also underscores one most forced into exile but, support for the important point: suppression._ BCP has been arowin1 rather than repression and oppression will not dyin1. The Jonathan regime went so be tolerated any more, whether it is far as to bomb miners who were practised by a Jonathan (Black) or a protcstina the reaimc's decision to Botha (white). arant minina rights to the South African based Anglo-American Pamberi Ntchimuren1a! Notes from City Hall By Charles Jordan Commissioner of Public Sq/tty VICTIMS. "You 'vt just cashtd your paycheck and you are walking 10 your car. Suddtnly, someone grabs your arm, hits you 011,r lhe head, and when you rtco11er from tht blow, your monty is gone and your arm is broken. " "A polict o//ietr or ambulanct takts you to the hospital, and you rralir.t you will bt unable to work for awhile, but you ha11t many financial nsponsibilitits. " The Portland Police Bureau will send a report to the Victim's Assistance Pro1ram, or you can call them at 248-3222. This proaram will help you make financial "arranaements" to cover your obliaations, as well as lend emotional support throuahout the Court ordeal. If a suspect is apprehended and socs to trial, the Victim's Assistance Program helps you understand the Criminal Justice System in a Criminal Case. They also offer community re- source referral, so that your im- mediate needs can be assessed and filled -- from emeraency food, to shelter, to someone who can fix a window. This proaram aids all assault victims whose major needs are referrals, comfort, and case infor- mation, however, no financial reimbursement is made. The Victim's Assistance Pro1ram will inform you of other service agencies available to help you. One such program for victims is sponsored by the State of Ore1on Department of Justice. Under a law passed by the 1977 Oregon Le1islaturc, v1cums, physically injured durin1 a crime, can receive financial assistance. The law reco1nizes that brinaina the criminal to justice is not enouah. Crime victims suffer long after the crime has been committed, due to physical disabilities, loss of income, and perhaps even the death of a Joved one. This program will compensate in- nocent victims of crime by payina medical bills up to SI0,000 (or the amount not covered by insurance up to SI0,000). In addition, the State will pay up to 5200.00 per week for loss of wages up to S I0,000. If physical therapy is needed for your rehabilitations, SJ,000 is available to cover that cost. Aaain, thank you for your concern and assistance. Louis H. Drakt Community Services Specialist 1st Place School Board dumps Blanchard (Continued from Pqe I Col 6) commitments 10 real educational opponunity, improved elementary education, equitable and effective discipline, and much increased openness in communication with the public and the dedicated teachin1 staff of the dillrlct.,. In response to questions whether his statement wu proper at the time, Sc:ott said he wanted to call public attention to what Is hap- penina. "Too much is at stake to chanae the hones at this time.•• He said throu1hout his su1 months as chairman, the Boud has not 1tvt11 adequate attention to 1sa11CS. "I have tried to use rational prOCCSICS to trJ to 1et rapontc from the Board "careful decision makina." He also said the com- munity is not focusina on the critical problems. "I am nabber1astcd that he would do this," Steve Buel said. "I don't believe personnel decisions slaould be made m a press conference. He stepped outside ot· a process that we wrote and we qrecd to, and he did so without informin1 r,., .. Sarah Newhall said the press con- ference was inappropriate and that she had not been informed. ••He's auilty of brcak1n1 away from the process imposed on all of us and thi1 ts divcrsive. I am very upset about it." The Board had adopted five criteria 11amst which to measure Dr. Blanchard. These criteria were a adopted at a public mectin1 June - which was attended by ad- ministrators. The criteria arc: I) personnel manqemcnt; 2) relation- ship with Board includln1 preparation of materials for Board mcctinas; J) comprehensive plan• nin1; 4) community/public relations; 5) Curiculum and instruc• lion. One Board member added, "Bill talked about a comin1 crilis; there is a cram now bcausc of the lack of cooperation of staff." Aside from Blanchard's reluctance to par- ticipate in Board meetinas and his neaa11vc attitude toward Board members. the defiance or acl- m,mstrators has bca>me more open in recent months. Thi Porit•ruJ Obwrwr !USPS 9!'J9 IB>I II publiahed every Thura- day by E•ie Publilhing Company, Inc, 2201 North Kllliligewo,tti Portland, Oregon 97217 Poat Offtee Bo• 3137, Portland, ~ 97D. Second clau poatage paid ■t fl'ortllnd, Oregon. Subecriptione '7.50 Pllf yqr in Tri County erN; M.00 per YNr outaide Trl-Caunty ■re. . Poetm■■t■r. Send addr- c;hengN to the Portt•11d el not ,___ Nrity rellec:t the opinion of the Port1-fld ~ - 283-2- Nattonal Advertt9lr19 llepreNfltaltV'e Amale■ m■ ted Publlltlerl. Inc. ALFRED L. HENDERSON Edltor/Publlaher N-Yorli ONPA 1973 1st Place Best Ad Rnultl ONPA 1973 5th Place Best Editorial ONPA 1973 Honorable Mention•. Herrick atitorial Award NNA 19i3 2nd Place Best Editorial ' 3rd Piece Commun1tyl.NdarlhiP ON,A 1975 == ■ Oregon I Newspaper 11 Communl1y Service e, I A1soc,att0n Publishers 3rd Place Community Lw:Jliat,lp ONPA 1,978