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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (April 24, 1996)
I m: P ortland O bserver • A pril 24, 1996 d u c a t ■?. o n P age B5 Who Will Ride The Information Superhighway? by B etty J. T urock , P resident , A merican L ibrary A ssociation Today, pow erful technology can connect a student to a lib ra ry in an other stale - or country. It can help you fin d a jo b , research a medical condition or get the latest stock mar ket reports. But what it a c h ild ’ s parents or school ca n 't at lord a computer? What il you d o n ’ t own a com puter -- or know how to use it? The inform ation superhighway threatens to widen the gap between the “ info rm a tio n rich " and "in fo rm a tio n poor” even as it revolutionizes how we live, learn, w ork and connect w ith one anther. The solution to public access ex ists in v irtu a lly every com m unity. I t ’ s doable and affordable — i t ’ s the library. A m e ric a ’ s libraries have always been the great equalizer, helping peo ple o f all ages and backgrounds to lead better lives, regardless o f their a b ility to pay. Over the years, their N ationally only about one in five p u b lic libraries o ffe r p ublic access to the Internet, the vast netw ork o f com services have expanded to include not ju s t books, but magazines, video puter networks w hich makes up the inform ation superhighway. Even fe w tapes, CDs, telephone reference and er school libraries are connected. computers. A nd they provide some thing more, the professional assis H ow our governm ent confronts the challenge o f developing our na tional inform ation netw ork w ill test one o f our most basic values in a democracy society - p ublic access tance o f a librarian. In the age o f electronic inform ation, this role is more critic a l than ever. The theme fo r N ational L ib ra ry W eek, A p ril 14-29, 1996, celebrates the changing role o f today’ s libraries w ith the message "L ib ra rie s Change Lives. C all. V isit. L o g o n ." More and more people are getting access to inform ation they need fo r their jobs, their health, finances and ju st plain enjoym ent online at their libraries. They are the lucky ones. to inform ation. Just as not everyone can afford to buy all the books they need; some can’ t a fford computers andexpensiveon-linecharge. In fact, the most recent statistics show that o n ly one in 10 Am ericans has access to the vast netw ork o f databases know n as the inform ation superhigh way. es. P olitical leaders as diverse as Vice President A lbert Gore, Jr., and Speak - er o f the House N ew t G ingrich (w ho called libraries "the most cost-effec tive investment in learning that we can m ake") agree that our nation’ s libraries must be linked to the in fo r N othing is more important to the future ot our democracy than ensur ing public access to inform ation. We live in an inform ation society. O ur jobs, our education, the health and w ell-being o f our fam ilies depend on it. Today, more and more o f the in mation superhighway. We need more than words, how form ation we need is in computers. That is why we need all o f our na are to be able to ride the info rm a tio n superhighway, it w ill take leadership trom our elected representatives o f all p o litica l persuasions. A nd it w ill ever, i f there is to be equity on the inform ation superhighway. M any o f those seeking to influence our na tio n ’ s telecom m unications policies tio n ’ s public, school, college univer sity libraries online. require those w ho stand most to ben e fit - members o f the public - sup I f Americans are to continue to port, not just their local libraries, but all libraries in their effo rts to ensure that all people have the info rm a tio n they need whether in p rin t or online. The 21st century is almost here. Am ericans can’ t w ait fo r equity on the inform ation superhighway. They are driven by a p ro fit motive. They have deep pockets and access to p ow enjoy the same open access to in fo r mation that we do today, our com m u nities, states and federal government er at the highest levels. Unless steps are taken to protect the public in te r est, the inform ation superhighway w ill most lik e ly be available only to those who can afford to pay the charg must invest in libraries as centers fo r inform ation in all forms - electronic as w ell as print. The new provision to r discounted telecomm unications rates for libraries must be enforced. Problems For Minority Students Continued from front ▲ Foundation, is scheduled fo r June I The w a lk, in cooperation w ith the c ity ’ s Rose Festival A ssociation, is scheduled along the S tarlight Pa rade route. O rganizers hope that these effo rts w o u ld yie ld about $15 m illio n to help salvage some teaching posi sphere, it is u n lik e ly that the school d is tric t w ill have enough funds to fu lfill this mandate. Inspite o f the fact that unem ploym ent in the inner- c ity is s till tw ice the c ity average, a c c o rd in g to the W o rkfo rce Center. N o rth e a s t The state also has a law mandat ing textbooks be replaced every seven years w ith new material. U n fortunately, Portland schools have tions. Even i f this happens, the d is tric t w o u ld s till need an additional $7 m illio n to help rescue the d yin g cut the textbook fund from $3 m il lion to $1.5 m illio n and the rem ain special education programs that have helped some students stay in school. ing money is no longer in the d is tric t fund. It is now distributed in block H ow w ill this shortfall affect the lo w -in co m e and students o f color? The E ducation R eform A c t For grants to every school in the city, w hich may spend it at their discre tion. the 21 st C entury, passed by the state legislature in 1991, mandates school- In many schools this choice has pitte d having needed technology against updating cu rricu lu m m ateri al. This is already a problem because the Portland D is tric t has a total en to -w o rk opportunities fo r every stu dent. School d istricts have to help graduating seniors fin d jobs. W ith the austere funding atmo- ro llm e n t o f 57,266 students w ith more than 10,589 below the poverty line according to last year’ s figures from the d is tric t’ s Research and E val uation department. M in o rity and low -incom e students are going to fin d it tough to make up fo r the shortfalls in learning m ateri als. Jim Sager announced that teach ers already have spent almost $1.5 m illio n last year on books, supplies, and other m aterials fo r their class rooms. A n o th e r headache th a t these students w ill have pay w ith is the su m m e r s ch o o l p ro g ra m , w h ic h served 5,0 2 8 stu d e n ts in 1990 and o n ly 707 students last year. T h o se students had to pay th e ir o w n way th is year. K in g S ch o o l ran its o w n s u m m e r sch o o l fo r 90 stu d e n ts last y e a r th ro u g h fe d e ra l and p riv a te g ra n ts fu n d ra is in g . O rg a n iz e rs say it to o k to o m uch tim e to put Congress must also act to ensure that any change in co p yrig h t p olicy p ro tects fa ir use o f electronic in fo rm a tion by library users. I f all people - not ju s t those w ho are rich enough or smart enough - need it now - at their libraries. School Aid Proposal students w ho re ly on th is p ro g ram w ill m iss out. C o m m is s io n e r Earl B lu m e n - uaur’ s announced his school aid proposal last week to add a p p ro xi mately $3.8 m illio n in school aid to the C ity 's tw o-year fiscal budget. In addition the plan makes an ongoing A lready over $1 m illio n has been yanked from the special education budget in the past three years and the c 28064 safety and athletics. Blum enauer addresses three concerns: program restora to g e th e r and the p ro g ra m d o e s n ’ t have a re lia b le fin a n c ia l back bone. I t ’ s ce rta in that lo w -in c o m e m a jo rity o f those involved in this program are poor folks. S a lly Jo h n so n p r in c ip a l o f AlamedaElementary School summed up the frustration. “ We w ill try and pick up the pieces as best we can. M ost o f us (principals) do n 't have the counseling skills. O nly the most critica l w ill be handled by the coun selor," she says. It is still not clear how many teach ers w o n ’ t be back next year. But the school d istrict is o p tim istic about resolving this impasse. "L o n g term solutions is the right way to g o ," says Frederick. tion, equity, and continuity. The $2 m illio n C om m unity C hal lenge Fund w ill directly restore in other governments are strongly en couraged to make con trib u tio n s to this C om m unity Challenge Fund. " It is critical that talented, new teach ers and their students not give up hope,” Blum enauer said. By adding $1.8 m illio n to the $2(X),(XX) currently proposed by the Mayor, Blumenauer’s plan balances C ity funds promised to the Portland novative programs and protect class size. Portland Public Schools are Public School District w ith Portland’s other school districts. D avid D ou glas, Parkrose, C e n te n n ia l and Reynolds represent 22% o f Portland’ s currently cutting teaching positions, in clu d in g some o f the best and brightest educators in the district. T his C om m unity Challenge Fund children enrolled in public school. Blumenauer summed up his pro posal by stating, “ M y bottom line is to treat all our children equally and do com plim ents the e ffo rt underway, through school foundations, to se more to avoid unnecessary reduc tions in their educational opportuni ties while we struggle The C ity o f Portland's budget for FY 1996-97 andF Y 1997-98 already includes $2 m illio n per year.” cure revenue fo r the current budget shortfalls o f Portland and Parkrosc school districts. In d ivid ua ls and businesses in the private sector and Free Scholarship Awards Are you a H igh School Senior, through the organization's A m e ri Am erican College Fund Scholar College, Trade School or U n iv e rs i ty student? Are you or your fa m ily experiencing financial d iffic u ltie s in meeting the cost o f your C ollege, Trade School, U niversity, Pre-pro can Citizens Scholarship Program, M iddle Class (E conom ically D isad vantaged) S ch o la rsh ip Program , M in o rity Scholarship Program and worldw ide through the organization’ s fessional or Professional Licensing International Scholarship Program. S cholarship A w ards are being ship A w a rd " and "W h a t new oppor tunities w ill become available as a result o f receiving a Scholarship A w a rd .” must be submitted. Financial need (as determined by the student’ s Am erican College education? American College Fund may be the answer to your d ile m ma. Am erican College Fund Schol arship Programs have set goals and are seeking yearly to award over 9,(XX) Scholarship Awards. Awards ranging from $250 to $ 15.0(X) per ye a r arc a w a rd e d n a tio n w id e awarded to H igh School Seniors. C ollege, Trade School and U niversi ty students based on a grade point “ L a st M o n t h , I W a l k e d I n t o U .S. B a n k A n d S u d d e n l y E v e r y t h in g C a m e U p R o s e s .” Fund Registration A p p lica tio n and Student Scholarship F o rm ) w ill also be considered. average o f 2.0 o r above on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent). For R egistration A p p lic a tio n s send a se lf addressed envelope w ith 2 stamps to: Am erican College A T ypew ritten essay o f 250 to 500 words explaining "W h y the Student believes he/she should receive an istration, 9357 S. Burnside Avenue, Ste. 101, Chicago, IL 60619. Fund, O ffice o f A p plications Reg Dropout Retrieval Programs Bring Students Back D ro p o u t rates in P o rtla n d h ig h schools are g o in g d o w n , a lth o u g h the d is t r ic t ’ s success in b rin g in g d ro p o u ts back to s ch o o l caused an increase in the o v e ra ll a n n u a l d ro p o u t rate re c e n tly re p o rte d by the O re g o n D e p a rtm e n t o f E d u c a tio n . “ W e w e n t out and a g g re s s iv e ly re c ru ite d d ro p o u ts and we g o t hundreds o f them back in to o u r d ro p o u t re trie v a l p ro g ra m s ,” says C a ro l M a ta ra z z o , d ir e c t o r o f P o rtla n d P u b lic S c h o o ls ’ A lt e r n a tive E d u c a tio n P ro g ra m s. “ W e expected o u r rate to ju m p th is o f the success o f some 55 district and com m unity-based dropout retrieval programs, according to Matarazzo. D istrict figures show the dropout rate fo r A frican-A m ericans students at 5.8 percent in 1994/95, compared to 9.7 in 1993/94; fo r H ispanic-A m er- icans. the rate dropped to 15.2 per cent from 17.6 percent. J e ffe rs o n H ig h S c h o o l, w h ic h has the d is t r ic t ’ s la rg e s t m in o r ity p o p u la tio n , posted a d ro p o u t rate o f 7.3 p e rc e n t in 1 9 9 4 /9 5 , c o m pared to I 3.4 p e rc e n t in 19 9 3 /9 4 . New & used books on Business, Music, & African-American Studies ^ \.n d u re s.” P o rtla n d 's o v e ra ll d ro p o u t rate fo r 1994/95 is 9 .04 p e rce n t, c o m pared to 7 .25 p e rce n t fo r 1993/ 94. D u rin g the 1994/95 s ch o o l year, h o w e ve r, P o rtla n d e n ro lle d 2,571 stu d e n ts in d ro p o u t re S o u n d g o o d ? T h e n y o u s h o u ld ta lk to U.S. B a n k. Because w e m ake it easy to get a sm all business lo a n . Y ou d o n ’t need a H a rv a rd degree, w in n in g lo tte r y n u m b e rs , o r a to n o f c re d it, e ith e r. So w h e th e r y o u 're in th e business o t h e lp in g p e o p le p la n t, package, plaster, o r a n y th in g else, stop by y o u r lo ca l U.S B a n k b ra n c h and a p p ly fo r POWELL'S CITY OF BOOKS a sm all business loan today. T h e n sit back and w a tc h yuur business b lo o m /■or w o rt' w / o n w ilio ii, o r /<>r f/tr liKiition o) tin I '..S'. lid iik briinch iicdrcsl you, c,ill I-8OO-I '.S' /I.4 .\'K .S . S m a l l B u s in e s s L o a n s F r o m U .S . B a n k trie v a l program s and n e a rly three- fo u r th o f th e m re m a in e d in school. O f some 630 students w h o are lis te d as d ro p o u ts fro m those p ro g ra m s, 100 earned G E D ’ s but are lis te d as d ro p o u ts u n d e r the s ta te ’ s re p o rtin g system . Dropout rates fo r m in o rity stu dents in Portland Public Schools also continue to decline, in part because i w e 're n o t ta lk in g a b o u t flo w e rs . W e re ta lk in g business. >i>nr business. H o w to keep it r u n n in g and h e lp it g ro w . year because i t ’ s the f ir s t tim e the state has in c lu d e d a ll s tu dents in P o rtla n d 's a lte rn a tiv e p ro g ra m s in th e ir d ro p o u t f i g i i i ), 9 AM - 11 PM Monday through Saturday 9 AM - 9 PM Sundays Used books bought every day till 8:30 PM On the #20 Bus line • One hour free parking 1005 West Burnside Street 228-4651 | U lls . 5 . JÌ B A N K , SB IS 0 6 ( | « m U S B.tiik M em ber I DB