r * —
Page 8, Portland Observer, December 16, 1987
Apology From Roseburg
The following statement was
given to Nyewusi Askari Decem
ber 14, 1987, 11:00 a m. by Mr.
Steve Iberson, Principal, Rose
burg High School.
"On behalf of Roseburg Senior
High School and on behalf of the
community at large, I would like to
share that this community is deeply
hurt by the allegations related to the
football contest with Benson High
School. It is very disappointing that
a few people can give off a message
that's certainly not representative of
this community or Roseburg High
School. This community, nor Rose
burg High School, will not have any
part of, or contribution to, any
forms of racial incidents.
It is my hope that the alleged
racial incidents are not construed as
a philosophy, a way of thinking, a
practice or a racial perception on the
part of Roseburg High School or the
Roseburg community by students
of Benson High School or the com
munity at large in Portland.
To the contrary, we feel really
good about what has happened in
Roseburg in the past in our contests
with the basketball and football pro
grams that have come down and
participated. It has been a very
positive experience for our commu
nity. Many times team members
have stayed overnight at the homes
of both our students and athletes,
and it's been just a super, rewarding
experience.
It would be a sad time, I believe,
for interscholastic athletics and aca
demics when school cannot come
together and share blessings of fel
lowship and competition. That has
been our experience in the past. It
would be our hope, and the hope of
our students, that we can continue
to work to develop the type of
school relations tnat will bring about
the kind of world where all people
can live and share with each other.
We re certainly not going to allow
anyone or anything to prevent us
from making a very positive step in
this direction.
I think one of the things both
communities can now work on is
engage in more athletic contests,
and give more articulation of our
arts and academic programs. I think
the more contact we have between
both communities, the closer we ll
get to our ultimate goal of produc
tive growth of our students and citi
zens.
Whether this contact be cultural
or athletic, there is always going to
be those who don't see the greater
good of the purpose. Those people
certainly don't represent Roseburg
High School or the larger commu
nity of Roseburg.
I have heard
some really positive comments
about the relationship between the
teams from the city of Portland and
the Roseburg community.
The
good far outweighs the ugliness or
the problems we've had.
I certainly apologize for the ac
tions of anybody who caused pro
blems tor the students and fans
from
Portland's Benson High
School. I am not aware of who they
are or who they were, but for the
best interest of everybody, I would
not want that to represent the
school of Roseburg or the commu
nity. We will work hard to maintain
a positive association with our
neighbors from Portland and else
where.
We would welcome, at any time,
groups, schools or individuals to
contact us to further discuss this
issue. I am confident that our stu
dents feel the same way.”
Parent Advisory C o m m ittee Reports
on School Transportation Safety
Recom m endations
by Nyewusi Askari
After many hours of observing
boarding and unloading of buses,
examining training and safety re
cords, talking to school bus drivers,
school staff members, bus loaders
and community agents, the Trans
portation Parent Advisory Commit
tee has submitted its recommen
dations for the safety of young
school children.
cation tags during the entire school
year and be instructed by bus load
ers. This measure must be adopted
and enforced by all schools,
.
• Identification tags must be
standardized for the entire districj
and should be the same in size»
material and information on them; <
• All pre-kindergarten student$
must be met. Drivers must assuré
students are met. Students' grades
not age, shall determine if they rnusi
Education: Not to Despair,
The Genes are Still There
by Professor McKinley Burt
Correction to last week's article:
Dr. Helen Edmonds was brought
here in 1969 to conduct a Black
History Workshop for Portland High
School 'teachers', not teenagers.
It is in the area of science and
technology that most committed
educators and parents find the most
alarming trends and omissions in
the preparation of our children for
full participation in the modern
world.
It is not debatable whether those
of African descent can make major
contributions to our sciences or cul
ture. They have always done so,
from 4000 B.C. to our space pro
gram: Plato gave Africans credit
for originating mathemathics, astro
nomy, and letters
Isaac Newton
Crediting the African astronomer
Atlas with developing the concept
of the sphere (spherical geometry)2;
ED U C A TIO N
and Dr Tompkins documenting the
intricate mathematics and geodesic
mapping incorporated into the Pyra
mids at a time when the Greeks
were illiterate barbarians (like Ho
mer) — not yet having attended the
Egyptian Temple Schools (like
Pythagoras, Thales and Democri
tus) 3; we note here that Isaac New
ton, that great researcher into A fri
can History, Science and Religion,
held up his Theory of Gravitation
for two years, awaiting confirmation
from Africa of the cordinates of the
earth and solar system as given by
that Mensa Perpetua, The Great
Pyramid at Gizeh *.
But, is it necessary to perform
these feats all over again - even
through the seminal contributions
of the Black Inventors, whose inno
vations subtended the Industrial
Revolution - before we can per
suade educators to provide Black
children such illustrious role models
for their motivation?
I cited the following disabilities in
the preface to the lesson plans I
used at the Albina Science For Kids
program at St. Andrews (OMSI-
sponsored): ". . • The innercity
student is demonstrated to have
special needs in terms of compre
hending the effect of technology
upon his life in general, and speci
fically upon his academics, career
path, and his economic future. Ex
perience has shown that, generally,
we may not expect to find the same
frame of reference or the same fami
liarity with technical terms and acti
vities as found in the majority popu
lation. I find that less than a fifth
of Black students have such regular
science-oriented experiences as
watching television series like
"N ova",
"National
Geographic
Specials,” "Newton's Apple," or
"Cousteau" — The number of
homes receiving science publica
tions is pitifully low. Children do not
pursue interests or activities for
which they have not been given the
proper frame of reference or cog
nitive tools."
But certainly there are areas of
the country and successful school
systems to which we can look for couple of pieces of round steel,
guidance in structuring as effective and some materials, he constructed ]
a working model of a steam engine.
learning process — and hiring
His master soon afterwards got
proven practitioners, meeting what
him
the place of a helper in the
ever financial considerations neces
department
of Natural and Experi
sary. How many of the readers
mental
Philosophy
in the Naval
know that the recent installation of
Academy
at
Annapolis.
He sold his
state-of the-art computer systems
first
steam
engine
to
a
Midshipman.
for both the Nike Shoe Company
With the proceeds, and what
and the Portland Oregonian News
money he could lay up (his master
paper was supervised by a young
allowing him five dollars a month
Black graduate of Tuskegee Uni
versity (John Timberlake)? What out of his wages), he built an engine
large enough to drive the first cutter
may we say here about the 'caring
environment of certain southern of a sloop-of war at the rate of six
Black primary and secondary teen knots an hour. . .
Professor Hopkins, of the Aca
schools or colleges?
demy, says that he gets up the ex
One again I would like to furnish
the reader with one of those magni periments for the lecture-room
Being shown
ficent historical documentations of very handsomely.
once how to line up the parabolic
the innate Black genius: Slave In
ventor at the United States Naval mirrors for concentrating heat, he |
So
Academy. This letter was written always succeeds afterwards.
with the chemical experiments, he I
to one of the persons who had pro
vided funds to buy the freedom of a makes all the gasses, and w orks'
slave, Benjamin Bradley. Bradley with them, showing the Drummond
helped pay for his own freedom and light, &c. Prof. Hopkins remarks of
him that "HE LOOKS FOR THE
eventually paid back his bene
LAW BV WHICH THINGS ACT."
factors'.
He has been taught to read and
Dear Sir: — I am very happy to
write, mainly by the Professor'’
inform you that the freedom of the
children; has made very good pro
slave Benjamin Bradley has been
gress in arithmatic, and will soon
accomplished by the payment of
take hold of algebra and geometry.
$1,000, to which you contributed
The Anglo African Magazine, Vol 1 INovem
the final $122 necessary to make
ber, 18591, p. 367 Reprinted from the Jour
it up. . . .
nal of Commerce.
Bradley was owned by a master
Aha! The youth had mastered
in Annapolis, Maryland. Eight years
the
'Scientific
Method
(caps
ago he was employed in a printing
above).
How
many
of
equally
intel
office there. He was then about
ligent
youngsters
can
we
rescue
sixteen, and showed great mechani
here in our local system. It will take
cal skill and ingenuity. With a piece
of gun-barrel, some pewter, a all of us, administrators, teachers,
parents, and THE COMMUNITY AS
A WHOLE. Let us work at it
Not to despair
WHY
YOU SHOULD
BUY A LIVE XMAS TREE
4 To delight in its natural beauty and fullness
I To fill your room with the scent of the holidays that only a
natural tree can give
I
Photo by Richard J. Brown
The Committee found that the
existing Transportation Guidelines
clearly identified the extra care that
must be given to four-year-old stu
dents, but felt that the existing pro
cedures should be strengthened by
the adoption of uniform identifica
tion methods. The Committee also
found that King, Boise-Eliot and
Chapman schools have used out
standing efforts to assure the safe
return of their students. They have
been successful in using color
coded tags, check off lists or roll
calls.
The Committee's report is the
result of a request by Superinten
dent Dr. Matthew Prophet, after
several young school children were
mistakenly allowed to get off school
buses without anyone to meet or
escort them to their destination.
Dr. Prophet asked the Committee
to conduct a department review.
The Committee made the follow
ing recommendations:
• All pre kindergarten through
second grade must wear identifica
tion tags from the start of school
until October 15th;
• Pre-kindergarten and kinder
garten students must wear identifi
Cited in text:
’ Plato, The Tim.iem.
> Manuel, Isaac Newton: Historian; 'James,
George G M , Stolen Legacy: 4 Tompkins.
Peter, The Secrets of the Great Pyramid
Do Your X -M as Shopping
Bargain Tree
We Buy
• Sell
Second Hand Store
F u rn itu re — O ur S p e c ia lty
• I rade
Almost \n>thing
WE DELIVER
NO CHARGE
721(1 \ I (¡I ISAN
POR I I AND. OR 972 IT
(503) 252-4011
•
•
•
•
•
• Tools & Eauio
Jewelry
• Cameras
Coins
• Sporting Goods
Collectables
• Appliances
Electronics
• Furniture
Musical Instruments • More
Sun 1T5
To promote the holiday tradition
T o savour the holiday tradition and old-fashioned x-mas
4
To add a warm and glowing center to your home during
the holiday season
BENEFITS OF BUYING A
CHRISTMAS TREE FROM US
Quality and freshness
Discount prices
SA N T A ’S XM AS TR EES
TREES • STANDS •
NOBLE • IX H :GLAS
W K IA IH S
• ilR A N D
Free and timely delivery
(503) 620-9431
Oregon grown tree “BuyOregon
4222 N. W illia m s
N. Williams & Skidmore
Personal and friendly service
Wholesale
Pricing
On Groceries
Gone Public
Did you know that for almost 30 years you could have bought some of
your groceries at wholesale prices? The Bee Company, for over 30
years, has offered the public weekly shipments of name-brand
groceries at genuine wholesale prices.
You I find canned and
packaged goods, pet foods, as well as frozen and close dated deli
products on the shelves. The best feature is that you do not have to
buy by the case. You buy just what you want to buy, just the amount
you need. Located a, 800 N Killingsworth, just east of I 5, they are
open Monday through Saturday 9:30 am to 6:00 pm. Isn t it about
time you save on your grocery bill7
Next to Geneva’s Restaurant
PHONE 283-3171
QUALITY CHRISTMAS WREATHS AVAILABLE
7
HRS:
Mon Sat 9 6
They'll Tell You All About It
i
?•
be met at their home bus stop;
• In the beginning of the school
year, parents should be encouraged
to volunteer to ride buses during
the first few weeks;
• Schools should be encouraged
to establish a "buddy-system in
which an older student assists new,
young students to acquire bus ris
ing skills;
• Parents should be encouraged
to practice with their children the
best, safest way to and from the bus
stop.
They should also discu$s
with their children alternative plans
in case they are prevented from
meeting their children when the bus
arrives.
Upon submitting its report and
recommendation, the Committee
said that all persons contracted to
participate in the review, including
Mr. Ed Green, Mr. Peter Gregg,
and the staff of Laidlaw Bus Ser
vice, were very responsive and gave
their full cooperation.
Members of the Committee said
they hope their recommendations
will prove to be helpful and con
tribute to the added safety of stu
dents in Portland Public Schools.
Academ y
Nom inations
Advisory
Com m ittee M eets
Dec. 18th
;
Congressman Denny Smith an
nounced Dec. 9, 1987 that 44 yoilfig
men and women will be considerfed
for nomination to the various ser
vice academies when his Acaderfiy
Nominations Advisory Committee
meets at his Salem office Decajn
ber 18th.
$
"These kids are impressive. They
are achievers who are active in their
schools and communities, and excel
scholastically. I' delighted thatjso
many people are aware of this ex<j)l
lent opportunity to get a top-nofch
education," said Rep. Smith.
t
Serving on the Congressman s
Nominations Advisory Committee
are: Brigadier General Staryl Austin,
chairman; Lt. Col. Jerry Gooley;
Col. Wil Unverricht; and M ^o f
Doug Carl.
The committee will
review the applications and thjen
submit names for nomination ¡to
I
Congressman Smith.
People between the ages of ¡17
and 21 and who will hold a hx|h
school diploma by July were eligible
for consideration. "r hc ue3dline-to
apply was November 30th.
It is up to the service academies
to make the appointments frpm
among the nominations submitted
by Congressman Smith.