THE “CITY COUNCIL,” left, faces its citizens in a
ninth grade classroom at Allen Jay School during a week-
long course called “$$$ To B . . . U . . . R . . . N . .
coordinated by members of the Model City Qnnmission
staff. The CouiKil, elected by the group, consisted of
(left to right) Becky Powell; Vickie Hill, mayor; Tony
Sparks; Joey Luck; and David Key. Lou Cecil was
absent from the picture. In the picture on the left,
one of the host teachers. Bob Laidlaw, is standing
in the background.
Course Is A ^Mock Model Cities’
A class at Allen Jay School last
week was given money to bum.
The class was told they had $1
million to spend however they wished.
They had only to decide how.
The students were participating in
a new Model Cities “mini-course” call
ed “$$$ To B . . . U . . . R . . . N . . .
(Build Urban Responsibilities Now)
For Community Improvement.”
Conducted by four members of the
Model Cities staflF, it was given one
class meeting a day for one week.
The purpose of the course, geared
for school students on grade levels
seven through twelve, is to orient
young people to the process of par
ticipating in decision-making. It can
show them how, as citizens, they can
make a positive impact on the de
cisions that shape their own lives,
and the life of their community.
Hosting the representatives of Mod
el Cities were Jeane Hilderbrandt and
Bob Laidlaw, teachers at the country-
run school in southeast High Point.
The 27 ninth graders in their com
bined Vocations and Basic Occupa
tional Training classes participated.
Consumer Education is a big part
of the Model Cities agency called
Consumer Credit Counseling, located
at 142 Church Avenue.
Recently, Doris Lindsay, educational
counselor of the Consumer Credit
Counseling staff, visited Mr. Shields’
sixth grade class at Union Hill School
and presented a course in cohsumer
education.
Here are excerpts from some of
their comments:
Greg Handy —“I learned to read
before buying something. And to use
our money wisely. ... So we won’t
get jipped. ... It was fun to leam
what CONSUMER EDUCATION
means. I hope Mrs. Lindsay will come
back.”
Odell (no last name given) —“Take
newspapers to the store to see if
the price is the same as the paper’s
is. When you go to buy furniture,
buy what you want and don’t let the
seller make you buy something high-
er.
Michael Blackmon — I learned very
much about Consumer Education.
When I grow up I’m going to read
ads closely and read contracts. And
I think consumer education is a help
to everyone. When something is too
high, FORGET IT!”
INVOLVED CITIZENS
To show students how citizens can
actually become involved in the de
cision-making process, the class broke
itself down into four groups: one con
sisted of an elected mayor and five
City Councilmen, and the others of
special interest groups — task forces —
to identify problems and plan solu
tions.
This “mock Model Cities” set-up en
abled the four Model Cities staffers
to coordinate discussions and guide
students in seeing the importance of
speaking out, establishing priorities,
gathering information, planning a-
head, and working together to solve
problems.
The class itself identified the pro
gram areas they were most interested
in: physical environment, education,
and health. As the task forces planned
their projects, so did the “City Coun
cil.”
On the third day, spokesmen for
the task forces presented its ideas and
proposals to the Council, who voted
on the expenditure of the $1 million
which they had been “given” at the
April Tuttle — “Always save your
money. Never spend your money fool
ishly. Only buy things you really
need. Always make sure the things
you buy aren’t broken. Never buy
food that is not fresh or stale. Always
get your money’s worth.”
Lori Nall — “Consumer Education
is help. When I tell my parents they
will save a great deal of money. I
learned a great deal of information.
Thank you a lot!”
Pam Graver — “Always read the
contract before you buy a home, car
or anything that has one. Never buy
until you do. Never deal with dirty
dealers. Always make sure your deal
er is honest.”
Dwayne (no last name given) — I
learned not to buy anything without
a guarantee. And I also learned that
most advertisements are crooked. And
some are straight. And some are puf
fed up. And still some have no infor
mation on the project.”
Tina B. (initial only) — “Don’t look
at something that you think is too
much. Because you might just slip
and buy it and your husband will
kill you. And do not buy things that
look like junk. Because you might
take it home and it will fall apart.”
beginning of the week.
On the fourth day, the class heard
what the High Point Model City Com
mission did with a similar amount of
money. The Model Cities structure
was discussed, with staff members
stressing the need for residents to un
derstand their government and keep
informed of its work.
The class also discussed ways to
improve government, reverse unpop
ular decisions, elect new officials, and
so forth.
On the final day, the class was
asked to evaluate the course itself.
Revenue sharing was explained, as
well as city-wide task forces and the
future of Model Cities in High Point.
COURSE AVAILABLE
“$$$ To B . . . U . . . R . . . N . . .”
is available to any class in High Point
whose teacher requests it. It is de
signed to blend into students’ normal
courses of study, and enhance lesson
units in civics, social studies, history
or political science, or sociology.
Besides showing students the op
portunities they have as citizens of a
community, the mini-course also
shows the importance of keeping a-
breast of current affairs on a local
level. It shows the possible partner
ships which exist between people and
their elected officials, as well as leav
ing a positive image of Model Cities
and the link it provides citizens with
City Hall.
The idea for an in-school course
such as “$$$ To BURN” came from
the Minneapolis Model Cities pro
gram, who conducted a similar series
in the public school system there.
High Point Model Cities staff mem
bers redesigned the course, added to
it, and hopefully made it more com
prehensive relevant for local class
rooms.
Those involved in the planning and
carrying out of the mini-course were
Rosetta Hudson and Melinda Holmes
of the Information and Evaluation di
vision, themselves former school
teachers; social planner Dot Lang,
a certified teacher; and Emily Hedrick,
public information officer.
Sickle Cell Outreach
Agency will hold an
open house at their
office at 402 Harri
son Street Sunday,
December 17, from
2 to 4 o’clock. Re
freshments will be
served. The
public is invited!
Know Your Rights
(In the last issue we discussed how a wife
could get a court-ordered separation from
her husband that would divide the property
and give her support and sometimes alimony.)
If I get alimony without divorce, is this
a permanent payment?
In North Carolina this type of alimony
is permanent so long as no divorce is grant
ed. If the wife files for a divorce this
alimony stops when she is granted the
divorce. However, if the husband is the
one who files for the divorce, then the ali
mony continues even after the divorce. Of
course, all alimony of any kind stops when
the wife remarries, although she can still
collect child support if there are any children
involved.
Is there any way I can get a divorce in
North Carolina for any other reason than
one year’s separation?
Yes. A wife can be divorced from her
husband, or husband from wife, on the
grounds that the spouse has committed adul
tery. This action can be brought six months
after the adultery occurred. The husband or
wife cannot testify against each other, and
the adultery must be proven by the testi
mony of independent witnesses. This trial
will always be before a jury. If the depend
ent spouse proves adultery she will be di
vorced and may be granted permanent ali
mony and attorney’s fees.
There is no reason to bring this kind of
action unless you are sure of your proof,
because it usually involves a long and ex
pensive trial. Most people prefer to use
the simpler method of one year’s separation.
What about the rights of a husband in a
separation or divorce action?
Sadly, the husband does not have too
many rights. His major protection is that if
his wife abandons him without legal provo
cation, she cannot demand alimony or at
torney’s fees and usually the husband will
get to keep more of his property.
The husband always has the right to rea
sonable visitation vdth his children, unless
he is found to be a very bad influence on
them. He may have the right to custody
of his children if the circumstances are right
or the mother is unable to care for them
for any reason.
The husband usually has a right to retain
half of the marital property, although if thwe
is not much property the wife may get it all.
Letters to the
editor, story ideas,
and comments are
welcomed by What's
Happening! It's your
newspaper; use it!
Contact Emily Hedrick,
885-9081,
WHATS HAPPENING is published
bimonthly by the Model City Com
mission of High Point, North Carolina,
William S. Bencini, Mayor; Dr. Otis
E. Tillman, Commission Chairman;
Don J. Fomey, Past Director; Wayne
S. Pray, Acting Director; Cecil A.
Brown, Information and Evaluation
Specialist. OiBces of the agency are
located at 609 S. Main St, High Point,
N. C. 27260. Telephone 885-9081.
The preparation of this magazine
and its free distribution were financially
aided and made possible through a
federal grant from the United States
Department of Housing and Urban
Development under Title I of the
Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan
Act of 1966.
Editor Emily Hedrick
fFhy Consumer Education?
^So We Won^t Get Jipped’
I