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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (April 20, 1989)
Page 4 Portland Observer April 20,1989 Big Bad Wolf in Sheepskin by A. l ee Henderson T ru th is not so distant fro m the fa iry ta le parables o f o u r childhood. Disguised as fantasy, it masks the ugly REPUBLICANS CLAIM CREDIT FOR DROP IN BLACK UNEM PLOYM ENT achievement i f they are “ good” c h il dren. W hat are the deeply rooted social values that im pact o u r m inorities? W hat does the m in o rity Black child extract fro m its environm ent and is there any c u ltu ra l expectation to fu nc tio n , to achieve a “ good” ch ild level to participate in o u r w o rld o f com m erce, c o m m u n ic a tio n s , c re a tive fu tu re . So 1 was rem inded on a recent trip th rough O kla ho m a where 1 tuned in by ra d io to a debate among educators on the incursions o f Parental Preroga tive legislation in the public schools. M innesota, Arkansas and O k la hom a were reported to have passed such legislation w hich could provide parents w ith a choice in itia tive o f placing th e ir children wherever they desired w ith in the school system. Freedom o f choice was propounded as healthy, yet as 1 listened, the im p li cations rang a bell o f foreboding. W h a t w o u ld happen i f every m in o rity - integrated school in the geographical borders accessible to m in o rity stu dents were stripped o f its m a jo rity Caucasian students th rough “ freedom o f choice” Parental Prerogative? Was this the a n ti-c iv il rights, a n ti in te g ra tio n Big Bad W o lf stalking m i n orities fro m the halls o f education arm ed w ith the sheepskin deception o f “ freedom o f choice” to graduate fro m the schools o f choice? A lth o u g h the general p ublic, and even some o f the to p media people such as Elaine W o o , Los Angeles Tim es E d uca tio n W rite r in C a lifo rn ia to ld one they have not researched the issue o r covered it as yet, the spectre stalks o u r legislative county and gu b e rn a to ria l houses. M s. W o o ac knowledged that B ill H onig, Superin tendent o f Schools in C a lifo rn ia u ltim a te ly wants Parental Prerogative Leg isla tion passed, and it must be ger m in a tin g in one fo rm o r another am ong legislators there! T o date, she was n ot aware o f any media coverage on the issue by the August Los Ange les Tim es. C a lifo rn ia is unique since the Los Angeles B oard o f E ducation “ faced w ith grim statistics showing pervasive low achievement w ill consider approv ing an a m b itio u s ten-year $431 m illio n plan aim ed at reversing years o f aca demic fa ilu re , p a rtic u la rly among p oo r, m in o rity students.” W hat exists here in m icrocosm shows up en masse across the nation. H igh d ro p o u t rates and ch ro nica lly p oo r test scores demand action. In L .A . C ou nty the M a rc h 27 release o f the docum ent “ The C hildren Can N o Longer W a it” p u b lic ly states that “ in s titu tio n a l racism ” prevents m i n o rity youngsters fro m getting the q u a lity o f education available to A nglo students; b u t co m m un ity lead ers are concerned that the report is s till inadequate in addressing the specific needs o f B lack. L a tin o , and A. Lee Henderson school subject to parental request.” Parents w ho wish to e n ro ll children in “ m agnet” schools, a designation fo r specialty arts, m usic, and accele rative academic program s may con sider such schools as options. Perm its w ith tra n s p o rta tio n are available, and these schools are draw ing increased a tte ntio n and interest. F ilm executive Ross M e rrin whose son Beau, twelve-years-old cu rren tly (and G raham , nine-years-old, subse quently) attends the Magnet L o y o la School in Santa M on ica , C a lifo rn ia , notes that the creative teaching s ta ff enjoys a U nited N ations cross-section o f students fro m wide m in o rity ethnic groups. M e rrin , an activist in hum an rights-and-potential causes, enjoyed his ow n childhood in integrated co m m u n ity activities w ith his brothers Bruce and Scott M e rrin . (Indeed, they played basketball as m in o rity m em bers o f m y a ll-B la ck team !) A t the magnet schools, the diversified ethnic groups enriched the c u ltu ra l and aca demic potentials o f the pupils. E x panding fu tu re horizons o f the w o rld and its peoples as a planetary experi ence m ust be shared e quitably to be fu lly enjoyed socially and econom ical W ASH IN G TO N , D.C. -- Republican National Committee (R N C ) chairman Lee Atwater said today that another drop in the unemployment level among black Americans w ill be a helpful factor in the Republican Party’ s e ffo rt to reach to ll o f o u r psychological resources Yet we must determine to ro ll fo r wards, not backwards! Beyond Parental Prerogative fo r m in orities, let us bag the Big Bad W o lf fro m m arauding our civ il rights, and in the best measures available to us, let us keep alert to the legislative processes in our respective constitu- ences so that we not only stand our ground to protect o u r educational e qu ality, but struggle fu rth e r to a van tage p o in t o f educational superiority in co m p e titio n w ith ourselves. E ducation, a milestone to so many o f us before achieving our fu lle r ad vances in to economic prosperity, can jo lt the per capita index in to a new story in the annals o f Black achieve ment. Success is as viable as fa ilu re By gearing our children to w ard “ The New Jerusalem ,” we may gain the m om entum to rocket us in to a sta rtlin g new page in the annals o f our C a lifo rn ia State. H ow ever, in the guise o f providing creative schools to g ra tify the p e rfo r mance potentials and m otivate stu dents to increased levels o f learning, can we shield ourselves fro m the nega tive, the downside im pact o f pervasive Parental Prerogative legislation? W ill the a rb itra ry choices o f parents push m in o rity students back to a lonely, in adequate educational ghetto? country.” * ‘ Even though this drop shows great progress from the figures we inherited from the last Democratic administration, there is s till a m ajor difference between the w hite and black labor force. We must strive to achieve equal employment fo r a ll Americans, “ he concluded Asian school children. W hen we lo o k at the n a tio n ’ s sec ond largest school d is tric t, Los Ange les, we see that the m in orities are kept at a disadvantage by the way they are taught academ ically, fa r below th eir c ritic a l-th in k in g level and their poten tia l. But instead o f directing a fro n ta l a t tack upon the p revailing inadequacies o f overcrow ded classrooms and low - paid, lim ite d teachers, the problem is being approached fro m an adm inistra- tiv e /o rg a n iz a tio n a l re-structuring that seems inadequate to the problems fa c ing us on the local, state and n ation w ide levels. G o o d intentions decorate the Big Bad W o lf’ s disguise like a pretty bon net. D e tra ctin g fro m the carnivorous bite o f the m onster w ho w ou ld prefer to reign upon his ow n terms and g ra ti fy his selfish appetites at the expense o f hum an progress and dignity. R e fo rm , however, is sorely needed and m ost welcome. W e welcome its beginnings in Los Angeles and hope that it is precedent-setting in its ex em plary national scope. A unique view o f Parental P reroga tive came to us fro m Stuart G o th o ld , Superintendent o f the Los Angeles C o u n ty O ffic e o f E ducation, in an ex clusive telephone interview w ith us. G o th o ld was to ta lly aware and in fo rm e d o f the issue, c itin g M innesota as the state where this has made far- sweeping gains. G o th o ld ’ s considered views were readily shared w ith us in his earnest attem pt to cooperate and share his personal and academic evaluations on a q u a lity professional level. “ W e now have m o d ifica tio n s o f Parental Prerogative program s in Los Angeles,” he pointed o u t. “ N o longer is the school d is tric t attendance m an d atory to residential areas. C hildren can q u a lify fo r a school outside their residential fa m ily boundaries. W o rk lo ca tio n o f parents can also define where the child m ay elect to attend ‘ SPECTACULAR FIRE KNIFE DANCERS "YOU 0 0 N T NEED TO GO TO THE ISLANOS, WE LL BRING THE.1SLANDS TO YOUII" Tickets available for a limited time only. Table Reservations Will Be Set Up A t The Time You Buy Your Tickets. ^3 C h itte rlin g s • M e a tlo a f M ix G re e n s • B e e f S tew C a tfis h • A n d M any O th e r S o u th e rn D is h e s \ In c lu d in g : C le o ’s Z e s ty R ibs In S a uce ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ B efore. HOME-COOKED DESERTS - Come See 'L u b e rta ' F o r D ow n H om e C o o k in '! a GUESTS ★ Best Cash Prices ★ Speedy Service AT y H E D R A QON ROOM - DELICIOUSiAjlTHENKt -7 — Tickeo onsais'^y^LU N G FUNG R E S T A U R A N T S ? ^ “ ' ^ Ages 10 to 18 $10.00 HOUSE SPECIALTIES MEMBERS problem that gives me great concern, to o . Should we be m arketing schools like candy bars or products and reduc '" S L e/$ . _ Ethnic Cuisine Southern Style Stuart G o th o ld expressed reserva tions. “ It can lead to racial is o la tio n ,” he concurred. “ The better fa cilitie s w ill operate at capacity. A nd there is a Greetinn » 3041 N. W illiams 2 8 4 -7 1 5 0 Jerusalem !” Mules Cannot Pull And Kick At The Same Time $ 17.00 in Advance 20.00 at the Door sponsored by The Samoan Community of Oregon Cleo’s Cafe own success. NOTE: C arly Simon w on the 1989 Oscar fo r her song “ L et The River R un” featured in the m ovie “ W o rk in g G ir l” where the phrase “ the New Jerusalem” is used, iro n ica lly, in context w ith the accelerated pace o f executive achievement and compe titio n to connote the m egafrontiers o f the business w o rld as “ the New t ; f ; Adult,: LtlAU out to black Americans. ^ ‘.UNG^yjlcaBI 8001 S.E, Division Street at 82nd ¡j|opoR S ™ According to Department o f Labor ^¡.ESlAURA^gB statistics, the rate o f unemployment D ay^(503> 477& l!7] __________ »SHOW among blacks dropped from 11.9% in (f ,4,'^ (5 0 3 ) 283-65731 S A T U R D A Y , M A Y 20, 1989 hostbai 5 ; 0 0 t o 1 1 ;0 0 p m February 1989 to 10.9% last month. “ Since 1982, when the Reagan-Bush Administration submitted its first budget, the unemployment rate among blacks PRESENTS has dropped from 18.9% to the current level o f 10.9%,” said Atwater. “ A D V E N TU R E S IN PARADISE" These figures show that our party FEA TURING has provided opportunity fo r all EXOTIC SOUNDS & DANCES BY "ISLAND MAGIC" Americans through sustained economic Cast of over 25 Performers grow th,’ ’ Atwater continued. “ Black Americans have taken an active role in the revitalization o f our nation’ s economy, and these figures are proof that Republican leadership is the key to continued growth and prosperity fo r the plishments. E conom ic blight takes a torm enting Superintendent G o th o ld cited a specialized high school magnet p ro gram available in Los Angeles co u n ty wide through the Fine A rts College at -2 \_ N e arts? The m a jo r Parental Prerogative we have to in itia te is in the choice o f pre paring children, less in our image than in o u r clear and urgent vision o f vaulting fo rw a rd to become progres sively better, challenging our children to accom plish and enjoy their accom ly- 2nd A N N U A L B efore y o u k n o w it. Making a sizable difference in the way you look shouldn't take forever That s why Weight Watchers created the New 1989 Quick Success' Program with its simpler to use. expanded food plan and optional exercise plan All to make it easier for you to lose weight fast. Last year's program was more than 20% faster than before. Our new 1989 program is even better So call the number below for the Weight Watchers location nearest you. And you'll be the size you want before you know it J o in b y A p r i l 2 9 th a n d P a y $ 1 5 . 0 0 R e g i s t r a t i o n F ee O n ly S u b s e q u e n t M e e t in g s $ 7 .0 0 ( O f f e r good o n ly i n A re a 0 8 3 ) DAD’S OIL SERVICE Heating Oils ing educational in stitu tio n s to popu Tillamook Park Bldg. la rity contests?” 104 N.E. Russell St. Portland, O R 97212 (503) 282-5111 Indeed, we m ust be careful, as Su perintendent G o th o ld counsels, to sidestep the p itfa lls that place our school choices fo r o u r children in the arena o f m a jo r and m in or league sports teams. Yet the challenge to achieve on a student level, scoring to to p oneself when encouraged in academic co m p e titio n is exciting. The objective o f p roviding our children a basic education in our dem ocracy is founded on a premise that by developing skills, knowledge 2108 N E41st Ave. Mon. 7:00 p.m. Tues.7:00 p.m. Wed. 9:30 a.m. & 5:00 p.m. Thurs. 7:00 p.m. Fri. 9:30 a.m. PORTLAND OBSERVER ty to the racial and ethnic language/ p e rfo rm a n c e expressiveness and values inherent in o u r new citizens and recently enfranchised m in o ritie s can be n urtured to overcome cu rren tly dism al o utlo oks. The problem s w ith in our school na tio nw ide im pact a ll children, a ll pa rents. U n til we deal actively w ith these problem s and accelerate aggressively to correct the deficiencies, a ll w ill su f fer. Jaim ie Escalante, the heroic teacher portrayed in the film “ Stand And De live r” whose challenge to his students emancipated them fro m th eir inner deprivations o f viewing themselves be low the levels o f th eir potentials to ex cel, can be the fo lk hero o f an inspired teaching profession and aspiring stu dents in m in o rity neighborhoods. W e m ust pay careful a tte ntio n, however, not to regress in to ghetto isolation. Deeply rooted social values impact education in o u r children. The Japa nese youngsters have been inculcated w ith a respect fo r a high-tech indus tria l w o rld w ith in which they are ex pected to fu n c tio n a, peak levels o f 4 M * * 4 - < ¿ 7 é * 5000 N. Willamette Columbia Ilall (Enter from Portsmouth) Wed. 5:00 pun. 4222 NE 12th (Enter on Skidmore) Sat. 9:30a.m. 288-0033 Rivergate Community Church 4737 N. Lombard St. Tues. 7:00 p.m. and tra in in g in in fo rm a tiv e years, we can equip o u r children to fo rm u la te th eir fu tu re . 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