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☆ NATIONAL ☆
Excess Computers
Headed For City Schools
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Schools get excess U.S. computers - More than 1,000 excess computers from tne i-ieaitn uare
Financing Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, are being donated to Baltimore
City elementary schools. In the first presentation at Liberty Elementary School, HHS Deputy Secretary
Walter D. Broadnax, sits at some of the computers with fifth graders Faith Matthews, 10, and Ja'va
Kane 9 Standing (left to right) are: Congressman Kweisi Mfume; HCFA Administrator Bruce C.
Vladeck; Linda Chinnia, principal of Liberty Elementary: Walter G. Amprey, superintendent, Baltimore
City Public Schools; and Mayor Kurt Schmoke of Baltimore.
Photo by Chris Smith
Howard University confers honorary degree on President Nelson Mandela - Wayman F. Smith II
(left), chairman of the Board of Trustees at Howard University, confers an honorary doctorate of
humane letters degree on South African President Nelson Mandela during Mandela s first visit to the
United States since his historic election last spring. While in the U.S., Mandela urged business and
political leaders to invest in the economic development of South Africa, which has been ravaged y
the aoartheid system.
The federal Health Care Financ-
ing Administration will give Balti­
more inner-city elementary schools
hundreds o f excess personal com ­
puters that have been replaced be
newer models, the agency’s adminis­
trator announced today.
“These computers can offer valu­
able help to inner city schools, which
are often short o f funds for computer
labs and where most students lack
access to home com puters,” said
H CFA A d m in istra to r B ruce C.
Vladeck.
He was joined by Deputy HHS
Secretary W alter D. Broadnax in
presenting the first o f the computers
to Liberty Elementary School in Bal-
timore.
‘The donation ofthe excess com
puters is an extension o f our adopt-a-
school program, in which HCFA
employees volunteer time to tutor
and mentor students in elementary
schools,” Vladeck said.
Broadnax commended HCFA
for “ initiating this important com­
munity service activity. This demon­
strates our belief that government
agencies should provide an example
o f good citizenship in the communi­
ties where they are located.” HCFA
has 2,700 employees in its Baltimore
headquarters complex.
Vladeck said, “The computers
to be donated are sound equipment
Women's
Colleges
Win Nod
Answering questions from journalists recently about the $15-miHion investment by b,ack^ enc^ °
build a Pepsi-Cola bottling plant in Johannesburg, South Africa are Earl G. Graves Publlsher' Bl^
E n lem n^ rgagazine and Chairman ot Pepsi-Cola ol Washington. DC., L.P.. I.h,rd from right and Ian
w Z n ^ v e ^ r ol ,he new company. Egoll Beverages L.P.. third from lelt. With them dunngthe New
York City announcement are, from left: Calvin Grigsby, CEO, Grigsby, Brandford & Co. and Fiscal
FundinaCo. Inc.: Danny Glover, the actor; Dr. William R. Harvey, President, Hampton University and
the Reverend W. Franklyn Richardson, Pastor, Grace Baptist Church. At far right is Khela Mthembu,
Chairman and CEO of Pepsi's South African bottling plant, New Age Beverages. Mthembu is a forme
South African political prisoner who spent three years at Robben Island prison.
Expert Offers Toy Buying Tips
One of the biggest mistakes par-
make when shopping for toys is
ng too much attention to the toy
t'. According to parenting expert
Istar Schwager. more thought
Id be given to the child, rather
the actual toy. when shopping
oliday gifts this coming season.
Schwager believes that keeping
child's individual interests and
ties top-of-mind when making
selection enables parents to
>se toys that will sustain a child s
est over time and also help stimu-
!he learning of fundamental con-
Picking the right toy should be
llcnge - and parents need to
considerable thought to this
1 individualized process," says
chwager. an educational psy-
gist and regular columnist and
or ,o Sesame Street Magazine.
“It helps for parents to think about
everything from a child’s personality
to his or her hobbies,” she adds.
Based on her extensive experi­
ence in the role toys play in the
intellectual and social development
of children. Dr. Schwager suggests
parents can succeed in selecting the
most suitable toys by following some
simple tips:
Always keep your child’s inter­
ests and developmental level in mind.
Think about how the toy corresponds
with your child's favorite activities.
Ask yourself if your child already has
the coordination, attention span and
cooperative skills to enjoy a particu­
lar toy.
Find toys that support your
child 's creativity and spark your
child's imagination. Puppets, blocks,
dolls and other “open-ended" toys
can hold a child's attention for years.
As a child’s skills develop and inter­
ests change, these toys can "grow"
with the child.
Choose tops that cultivate im­
portant social, intellectual and physi­
cal skills. For instance, board games
foster social development, construc­
tion toys support intellectual growth;
and art and sports equipment provide
children with opportunities to prac­
tice their physical abilities.
Pick toys that other members of
the family will enjoy playing with
together. After all. they may be asked
to join the fun.
If your child has expressed in­
terest in a toy advertised on televi­
sion or in a catalog, go to the store
and ask for a demonstration of the toy
to determine if it's appropriate for
the child’s age and ability level
Also consult with other parents
on their experiences.
Lang Downing is one of a grow­
ing number of young women who are
choosing to attend women’s colleges.
A junior concentrating in public rela­
tions and marketing communications
at Sim m ons C ollege in Boston,
Downing says going to a women s
college has given her opportunities
she would never have had otherwise.
“At a w om an’s college, we are
taught how to succeed, how to dream,
and how to make our dreams come
true.” she says. "W e become the lead­
ers and the role models that every
young woman dreams of being.
W hen lo o k in g at c o lle g e s.
Downing says she wanted to find a
school where she could explore new
things and be accepted for herself I
wanted to attend a college where I
would not only be heard, but listened
to. A place where my opinion, re­
gardless of what it was. would be
valued and supported by my peers
and professors,’ she says. Simmons
is that kind of place."
At first. Downing says she took
it for granted that she would be like
her friends and attend a coed college.
However, she changed her mind al­
ter meeting with a Simmons admis­
sion counselor at a college fair The
counselor knew my name and that I
liked sailing and volleyball,” she says.
“I w asn't just a number.
Seven days later. D ow ning
mailed her early decision application
to Simmons, without ever visiting
Boston or seeing the College s cam ­
pus. “I trusted my instincts and got on
a plane," Downing says. I just knew
it was the right decision.
that I would hate to see wasted. We
have upgraded the administration’s
computer capability and no longer
need the equipment, but it will be a
valuable asset in preparing young­
sters for good careers.”
He also said, “We have a vested
interest in the education o f Baltimore
students; many o f them will be in
HCFA’s future workforce."
T he F ed eral P ro p erty Act a l­
lows fo r d o n a tio n o f the e q u ip ­
m ent if no lo n g e r n e ed ed by the
g o v e rn m e n t. S in ce th is e q u ip ­
m ent w as m a n u fa c tu red by IBM ,
the com p an y has o ffe re d to a ssist
HCFA and the sch o o ls in the in­
sta lla tio n o f the co m p u ters.
FÎ Parents’ Corner
Coping With The "Home Alone” Dilemma
Never before has the need for su­ munities nationwide.
KID’S CH O ICE provides children
pervised care for school-age children
ages
6 to 12 years-old with a wide-
been so strong. Today, experts esti­
mate that at least five million school- range of developmentally-appropn-
age children are at home alone every­ ate, supervised activities offered in a
day, for some period of time. In fact, 7,000 sq. ft. facility that includes foil
half of these children are left unsuper­ indoor and outdoor recreation areas
vised during summer days, or before and computerized learning facilities.
and after school. And this trend is U nder the directions of trained
expected to continue : within the next teachers, kids participate in arts and
few years, 75 % of all parents of
school-age children will be in the crafts, drama and dance classes and
organized sports. Breakfast and a
work force.
Experts agree that for the millions healthy snack are served; KID’S
of Am erican families faced with the CHOICE also provides transportation
dilemma, leaving school-age children to and from local schools.
at home alone can be very stressful.
KinderCare plans to open several
According to Dr. Marcy Guddemi, an hundred centers within the next few
expert in child development and vice
years. Although cost varies by loca-
president of education for KinderCare
Leam ine Centers, "many parents aic
tion, it averages $65 during the
Learning Centers, “ many parents are
often very concerned about how well
school-year and $85 per week for full-
their children can cope, both with
routine activities and potentially
unsafe situations. And while many
children enjoy caring for themselves
and happily accept the added respon­
sibilities. others don’t adapt so easily
and often feel lonely or scared "
K ID ’s CHOICE centers, recently
launched by KinderCare. nationwide,
provide year-round supervised activi­
ties before- and after-school for
children 6 to 12 years o f age.
Many communities offer afforda­
ble programs that are designed to
meet the special needs of school-age
children by opening new KID'S
C H O ICE centers, launched in com-
time summer care.
However. for working parents with
older latch-key children who will re­
main at home. D r Guddemi suggests
the following tips to help them foster
independence and build their self­
esteem:
Discuss the importance of respon­
sibility with your child; set rules for
behavior and activities and inform
him /her about basic safety informa­
tion. including the “911" emergency
telephone procedures. Young children
who understand why they are home
alone, and what they may and may not
do. will be more at ease and confident
in managing themselves.
Be sure your child has several ap­
propriate activities to keep him /her
occupied after homework is com ­
plete. li k e time with them to priori­
tize these activities-and assign a chore
for each day (i.e. : “after you walk the
dog, please set the table and practice
the piano” ). Children should be dis­
couraged from watching too much
television!
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