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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 4, 1991)
RVER PORTLA Volumn XXI, Number 36 September 4,1991 "The Eyes and Ears o f The Community" Parents Face School Daze, Part 1 by Professor McKinley Burt A d d P reach in g to R ead in g , W ritin g an d R a p p in g b y M cK inley B urt PAGE 2 A ctivist to C on v en e E m ergency C on feren ce on Black In d e p e n d e n t P olitics b y R on D a n ie ls PAGE 2 In L oving M em o ry Jessie M ae V arner an d G en ev a W arren PAGE 3 It's In T h e M ix b y M attie A n n S pears I he local education scene is infinitely more important to Portland parents I than those news reports from Russia of Batman facing up to Robin (Gor I bachev vs Yeltzin). But will they, and the community, face up to the fact I PAGE 4 besiege us again? We expected some shocks, with the economy down and all; the state’s main industry, lumber, at the mercy o f that Spotted Owl — with a corresponding cut in education funds that come from timber cuts. And, certainly, the media has kept us well aware that the fallout from Proposition 5 produces a new cutback in educational services each week. But how many are aware of a corresponding attrition in vital services (and commitment) related to Portland Public School s nationally acclaimed multicultural program that was said to be the best in the O p e n in g th e D oors of th e C h u rch b y M ich ael L in d sey PAGE 4 C an M en R eally C hange? b y U lly sses T ucker PAGE 5 S urv ey G ets th e Scoop on P o rtla n d Ice C ream T ren d s O reg o n C a m p aig n to E nd C h ild h o o d H u n g e r to G et B oost F rom Texaco PAGE 8 w INDEX ▲ country? As a consultant and participant from its inception, I have an experience- based perception that the detractors o f the Baseline Essays and other forward- looking models for the motivation and self-image of minority students are clapping their hands in glee. Why? Because under cover of the fiscal constraints cited above, the operational structures of many such beneficial programs have been gutted or modified just as surely as has the communist apparatus in Russia - but hardly with the same altruistic intent. Any observer at the district’s recent * ‘budget adjustment conference could see the pendulum swinging in a new/old direction. But it would have required a degree of familiarity with the system to determ ine exactly how these decisions would play out down in the “ trenches.” Now, in this first month of school, we may view and assess the ramifications of this NEW ORDER. Things have not been perfect but the new look may spell catastrophe. PAGE 8 News Religion Religion News Entertainment News News Classifieds Bids/Subbids & News that some basic problems in the “ learning gam e” have come full circle to 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 First, let us take a look at the “ Integration Services Specialists,” the cadre of multicultural personnel assigned to schools around the district for on-site im plementation. These specialists have been absolutely essential to an effective liaison between students, teachers/administration and parent. It has been their dedication and yeoman work (far beyond an 8 hr. day) that has bolstered attendance, reduced dropouts, resolved conflicts and conducted year-around motivation and image-building sessions. The results have been exactly what the district has built its boastful statistics on. But w hat do we find happening now? Those “ fruitful” budget sessions saw their jobs first cut out entirely and, then restored to half time! And how will their “ non-advocacy” hours be spent? A number will become DRUG AND ALCOHOL SPECIALISTS! Sinceoverthe years 1 (and many others) have been enabled by this personnel to come into classrooms and auditoriums to interface with students and teachers in a very effective manner — as successful role models and bringing historical and contem porary information for motivation — we especially deplore such a short-sighted dislocation of the multicultural process. But there are more “ glitches’ ’ in the system facing the parents and commu nity this year. We will mention several, but will have to explore them more in depth next week. The ‘ * D-MAC” (desegregation monitoring) Committee has its budget reduced and has lost its secretary. In other w ords, the watchdog has been muzzled. There is still a vast underutilization o f qualified African-American math and science teachers who arc assigned to hall-tim e classroom service at b est-w hile white professionals, new to the system are brought in from outside. I wonder what the local district is going to tell the “ M ilwaukee System ” now. I will hear because I have two former students teaching there who are running a “ technology-motivation program ” I designed. See you next week. Ron Fields Receives Police Hall of Fame Award Lt. Ron Fields o f Empire Security Service received an award of merit from the American Police Hall o f Fame W ednesday, August 14. The ceremony was held at the State o f Oregon Human Resources Building to recognize Lt. Field’s work in handling a disturbed and suicidal youth June 21 at the build ing. The American Police Hall o f Fame is a national memorial to law enforce ment officers established by the Na tional Association of Chiefs o f Police “ to recognize service and valor above and beyond the call o f duty.” Capt. Charles Moose, commander o f the Pordand Police Bureau North Precinct, presented the award to Fields. Fields is the Site Supervisor at the State of Oregon Human Resources Building for Empire Security Service, a division of Coast Industries, Inc. Coast Industries is a diversified services cor- poration serving security and building maintenance needs for government and commercial clients throughout the W estern United States. Adoption and Foster Care Summit to Educate the Community “ Preserving the African A m eri can Family through Adoption and Fos ter C are” is the theme and focus o f an informational summit to be held on Friday and Saturday, Septem ber 13 and 14 at the Cascade Campus o f Portland Community College. The summit is sponsored by One Church, One Child o f Oregon and W ashington states and will feature Father George Clements as a guest speaker. Father Clements founded the One Church, One C hdd program in Chicago in 1980. The reception on the night o f the 13th (6:30-9:00) will feature entertain ment by Nyewusi Askari and Company which will include African American voices and drummers, poetry, and por trayal o f historical characters The sum m it will take place on the 14th from 8am to 5pm; a box lunch will be provided. The sum m it will address the issues o f African American children in the perm anent planning system o f the state. Some o f the topics to be discussed: drug-affected infants, extended family, advocacy for children, culturally com pentent adoption services, and foster care needs and recruitment. Objectives o f Summit * To provide information on the issues facing African American chil dren in the permanent planning proc ess. *To provide an opportunity for public and private agencies, childcare providers, parents, organizations and others to purposely plan for the future o f African American children in the permanent planning system o f the state. *To provide information on legis lation needed for the priority place ment of children o f color and the legis lative process. *To make deliberate plans for the process o f finding extended families as resources. *To make available the ready re sources o f One Church, One Child of Oregon and W ashington States. *To use the information for na tional distribution through the National One Church, One Child program. Program objective: “ to promote the adoption of primarily homeless African American children by provid ing educational services and other in struction relative to the problem to adoption.” MINORITY BUSINESS SPECIAL O c to b e r se co nd