Middle Schools Off To Good Start
UTUKSAT, JETTIIISOI II. 1832-TKI CMCUM lmf-
In Durham There Are Problems
By Pamela Bajiks .
: In Ms. Susan
Norman's 7th gradcclass
at Shepard Middle
J: School, f our students
.: peck- away at
typewriters, ;', while -
: another student works '
2; with a calculator, and yet
another group of fpur
students , . busied V
Ti themselves with a game t
called . "Life," that.;
stimulates buying and j
;selling real estate. The
?: student groups are called
testations.
This is part of the
business sector occupa-.
rational education, an in-
tegral part of the middle
school concept, where
six graders concentrate .
on career awareness,
.while 7th and 8th graders!
explore various careers'
through a "hands-on"
approach: . (
Middle schools are
new to Durham City
Schools which operated
the traditional junior
nign scnoois last year.
Junior high grades are
7th, 8th and 9th, though
the 9th grade is really the
first grade of high
school. In the middle
school concept, " the
grades are 6th, 7th and
8th, which takes the last
year of elementary!
school and groups it with
two traditional junior!
high grades. Durham's
middle schools are'
Brogden, Holton,
Shepard and Rogers
Herr. - Three weeks into the,
: new school year, the
middle school program isi
off to a good start in the,
basic academic areas,
but some elective and ex
tracurricular segments of
the concept are not yet in
place-.The middle school'
concept was adopted by'
the School Board earlier
.this year.
And though things
have run fairly smoothly
considering the fact that
the local school system
didn't have much of a
chance to practice the
concept before launching
it, there have been pro
blems. ; At Brogden, toward
the end of the second
school week, one eighth
grade math class was just
receiving its textbooks.'
At Shepard last week,
some 8th grade students .
were just getting perma
.'. nent, class assignments.
H.E. Tatum, Jr.,
Shepard principal, said
i assignments were ad
justed to better suit the
students abilities.
At Shepard, a space
shortage does not allow
students with special
math and reading pro
blems to be taken out of j
regular classes for in
struction by resource t
teachers. According to
Mrs. Blondola Lucas,
Shepard's assistant prin
cipal, these students will
have to be helped where
they are.
But despite the pro
blems, everyone
students,' teachers and
principals have pitch
ed in to make this new :
approach work.
Tatum said they are
not "pushing it,' or try
ing to do too. many
things at one time." He
said the administration
and teachers are working :
on the intramural pro
. gram and hope to start it
in two weeks following a
survey of student in- j
terest.
Wedding Anniversary Party
On Saturday evening, September 4, the children
of Mr. and Mrs. Roy B. Robinson surprised their
parents wi&a Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary Party,
at the West Durham Community Center on i
Hillsborough Road.
The Community Center was decorated in gold,
pink and green colors with floral arrangements of
gladioli. The couple was. present itkcors&gei a,.
goid carnations at the beginning of the festivities.
Music was provided by the Sensational Angels of
Durham. ',. - -
Mr. and Mrs. Robinson were married on
September 3, 1932. She is the former Miss Flossie
Mae Parrish of Roxboro; he is a native of Durham.
The children of the couple are: Roy H. Robinson,
Leon Robinson, Phillip Robinson, all of Durham;
- Mrs. Francis Wood and Isaac Robinson of Newport
News, Va.; Robert Hobinson of Hampton, Va,;
Mrs. Malinda McCullum of Oklahoma City, Okla.
"There are 19 grandchildren and one great grandson.
Guests for the occasion included other relatives
and friends.
Women's Day at Bell-Yeager .
: The 8th Women Day Service of Bell-Yeager
i Freewill Baptist Church, 128 E, Cornwallis Rd.,
: will be observed Sunday, September 19 at 4 p.m.
: Mrs. Celestia Sanders, of Union Baptist Church,
will speak.
Moral ciuD Anniverj
: . The Floral Club of Bell-YeaiierTreewill Baptist
Church, 128 E. CornwallisRd.. will observe its
: '8th Anniversary, Sundays-September 26 at 6 p.m.
; . Rev. C. R. Mitchejlpastor, Northside Baptist
; cnurcn, win pres
fiConcert at Covenant
Thr ushers of Covenant United Presbyterian
irch, will present the Blue Wing Baptist
Church Young Adult Choir in Concert, Sunday,
: .September 26 at 4 p.m.
v.-v -
6th Young Adult Anniversary
: f The Young Adult Choir of Shiloh Baptist
i 'Church, Morrisville, observed its sixth anniver
; sary, Saturday and Sunday. Special guestes were
;i the Bazzel Creek Baptist Church and T. C. Tart
,j Young Adult Choir of Lumberton.
l,
Tatum said that the under the old junior' nigh ;
approach at Shepard is system and the new con
to take "one step at a :cePj t
time" in setting up the ; . Generally, comments
other portions of the ! from t students were
30-minute activity period good, especially the sixth,
such as the mini- ( graders. .
guidance sessions and j "I like it because we.
electives. i rare not with onrteacher
Brogden : Middle -all , day, said -tesley'.
School principal, Dr. ' Bullock, a 6th grader at i
William : B. Rice, Jr., :'Brogden who attended :
said the intramural ' Club Boulevard school i
survev -. has been com- ' last year,
pleted and they are in the t Likewise, Angela .
process of setting up the ! Alston a sixth grader at .
schedule. i i Brogden likes "having ,
The initial "getting ac-f different classes and 3
quainted" stages of the lockers" for her booksv
mini-guidance sessions ana otner oeiongings.
are underwav at One eighth grade
Brogden, Rice said. The ) fellow at Shepard felt he !
purpose of these sessions i had less time between I
is ; to help ': students, I classes to go to his locker
through teacher leader- and that his classes were
i . . ...
-I I
ship, deal with some of
the adjustment problems
adolescents face such as
relationships with;
parents, the opposite sex
and friends in general.
The schools hope to
extend curriculum offer-
shorter than last year.
Cathy Hazelton, an .
eighth grader at j
Shepard, said she liked
the set up better at '
Lowe's Grove Junior
High where she attended ;
last year. She believes:
ines throuch an electives i her math class at
program. However. Rice I Shepard is not as ad
said a survey of student
interests is necesary to
determine offerings.
The program could of
fer foreign languages,
crafts , or computer
technology depending on
whether a staff teacher is
available for instructing
the courses and students
are interested. The pro
gram could also have
volunteer instructors
from the community to
teach.
Overall principals at
both schools are pleased
with the program and. grades
report few problems in
implementing it. Tatum
vanced as' at Lowe's'
Grove.
Another eight!
grader, Tiyann Cole
likes the middle school
concept better because
she believes the "classes
are shorter ' and the
teachers have more time
to spend with the
students.1'
Most of the basic skills
science, mathematics,
social' 'studies and
language arts are
taught in the mornings at
both schools for all
Assistant prin
Mrs. Blondola
at Shepard said
w"'iw'mtmttui '"" i' " j"i,,rii
it jiiHmilr in v:93'viava
v 1
Lucas,
MIDDLE SCHOOL is getting oft to a good start in Durham as these two pictures indicate. In the
photograph at top, an academic class with its three teachers take on one of the basic subjects. In the photo at
bottom, an occupational exploration class gets a look at the world of work. isM.!.nrM
believes . the extensive this was done because
planning by the school educators have found
administration and ' students are more atten
preparation of teachers j tive in the mornings.
ror their basic skills
courses students rotate
between two to three
the
is the reason tor
smooth transfer.
Several of the teachers
at Brogden and Shepard
expressed satisfaction
with the planning system
where two or three
students. . At Brogden,
Mrs, Alford put her
1 morning 6th grade
reading class in small
groups to read a short
lesson silently. After-
His influence was so former assistant to Ruf- know that Ruinn has a
great that as a teenager fin, said he works in the master's degree in social
he led a erouo of voutW best interests of black work from the Universi-
peopie.. "He win ten me ty ot Norm Carolina,
and anyone Simmons continued, it
teachers in
skills who are
tHe sati:ufefits designptn'Jone-sttbjieetrajfldf
the basic
(signed to.
teachers who . are
organized in teams con
taining math-science and
social studies-language
arts specialists. '
Students takjuroore
lesson plans together
Mrs. Emily Scott, a
language arts' teacher for
the seventh grade at
Shepard finds team plan
ning an asset to her
teaching. She said this is
the first time she has
worked with science and
math teachers, but finds
no difficulty.
"lean see how it (mid
dle school concept) can
work with people who
can cooperate," said
Mrs. Scott. "I know I'm
in a good situation."
Likewise, Mrs. Judy
Alford, a sixth grade
language arts teacher at
Brogden believes the
system has a positive ef
fect on student learning
attitudes. She said the
only complaint she has
heard from her students
is that they have to wait
too long for their lunch
period, t
However, Mrs. S.R.
Alston, English and
social studies eighth
grade teacher, prefers to
take a wait and see at
titude toward middle
schools since there have
been no pilot programs
in the system or test
scores comparing the
progress of students
each ' ' l specialisi
eliminating the need to
change classes' as fre
quently as under the
junior high format.
In each school classes
are located as close as
possible to allow most
students to walk next
door in changing classes.
School officials believe
this approach cuts down
on confusion and noise..
However, classes . in
reading, music, art and
electives, occupational :
and physical education .
are spread out. .
To help students to
make class changes more
smoothly, Mrs. Jean Mc
Call, assistant principal
at Brogden, said teachers
walk with the students to
their various classes.
At both schools, all
basic teachers instruct
small reading classes on
all grade levels1 for 50
minute periods. This is
usually done when half
the students from a given
team are in music and
art. These classes usually
have about 15 or fewer
students.
The emphasis is.
teaching reading skills
and materials are geared
to the abilities of the
men ana women wno
were only slightly
younger than he. They
trusted him and- their
parents trusted him.
Some of them remain his
friends and followers,
'while a few no longer
"believe" in him. ;
K ??In the 60's Ben was
araUyshprX :maP.n,verythmg,,that4:tt
pollution. She that, que to n be," ; said Vkarry
tioned her class on the Maneum. a 30-vear-old
ward , she visited each
group to quiz them on
the lesson.
At Shepard, Ms. C.E.
Morgan a seventh grade
language arts teacher,
had a student; to read
main ideas of the
passage.
Mrs. Lucas explained
thei team planning con
cept is not used as strictly
with the non-basic
courses as with the
academic. Most teachers
in art, k music, physical
and occupational educa
tion , plan independently
of each other.
Ruffin
Wields
(Continued From FronlV
complacent.
Bright, clever,
capable, and ,shrewd,
Ruffin ,(grew. up in the
streets of Durham. Dur-
a
Durham resident and
graduate student at
i North Carolina State
University. "I was in a
group of young people
that he led in marches
and demonstrations.
Those were the days of.
when Ben wore blue'
jeans and skull caps."
Mahgum said that he
is not bothered by Ben
Ruf fin's change in
clothing, but that he
believes that Ruffin no
longer holds to some, of
the values he once
preached.
'There was a time'
when Ben would have
done anything for black
people," Mangum said,
"I don't think that is the
case now. Now he would
ing the Iate6p's and early . , me us if necessary.
70s he Jed protest mar
ches and groups of
pickets at movie theaters
and eating
establishments that
refused service to blacks.
A Hillside High
School graduate, with a
degree from North
Carolina Central Univer
sity, he was known for
his commitment and his
refusal to accept a se
cond class citizen status.
According to
Mangum, he and Ruffin
were once very close'
allies. Now, when he sees
Ruffin at community
meetings, they speak,
but it is more like seeing
a distant , relative who
you really want to avoid,
Mangum, said. It's only
"hello and goodbye."
Geoff Simmons, a
Raleigh lawyer and
S-
&ilead 0frafMU
404 DOWD STREET
DURHAM. NORTH CAROLINA 27701
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1982
8:00 A.M. , Morning Worship
9:30 A.M. Sunday.Church School
'11:00 A.M. Morning Worship
TR ASPORTATION IS PROVIDED TO ALL
SERVICES UPON REQUEST. ,
Call 688-6052 or 682-8464 or 682-7160
. . '..'...'
' ;r I..'... ', .
1000 North Street
North Durham School Bldg.
Durham. N. C.
Ftnced-in Parking OH Onslow St. in r tar ( AuiW-'m
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1982
LKkiRFirACIwrtrTlMt
llAHvtAntfEwllitt
1-
Martofl Wright. Pastor
Sunday 10:00 AM & 8:30 PM
Wadmsday-7:30 PM
Friday 8:00 PM
Church Of God
Of Prophecy
800 Grant Street
Durham, North Carofaa
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1982
Sunday School 9:45
Worship Service 11:00
Wednesday Night Service ' 7:30
Pastor WlUte Walters
governor ana anyone
else just what is on his is amazing how he
mind. He is in a very handles himself so well
f powerful situation and with all levels of
the interests of the black people."
community come first." .. "Ben is the closest
Simmons, who work- thing to the governor we
ed with Hunt before have," said one veteran
Ruffin joined his staff, black politician who ask
i' said that his fottner boss ed not to be identified,
cpuid Tiot1 "be bought" "he is effective and he
and that he spent most of ; gets things done.Jf Hunt
his Sundays speaking goes to Washington as a
from the pulpits of black Senator or as a Vice
churches throughout the President one day, Ben
state. will be right there with
"Unlike some special, him. Imagine, we will
assistants, Ruffin does have someone right from
not inst brine ereetines Favetteville Street in the
from his employer, the White House."
! governor," Simmons I Married and the father
I said. "Ruffin talks ( of two children, Ruffin
about the plight of has been the target of
blacks in the state of. many political attacks ,
North Carolina and what over the . years. Most :
blacks must da in order recently, a Burlington-.
j to progress." . based publication, with
"And unlike his ties to the Congressional
employer, the governor,. Club the fundraising
,Ruffin did not remain organization for Jesse
I neutral during the run-1 Helms attempted to
off between i.i. vaien- atscreait KUiiin.
tine and H.M. 'Michaux Undaunted, : Ruffin,
Michaux, during the Se- brushed aside the attacks
cond District Congres- as politically motivated
sional Democratic and continued his march
primary. siraigiu aircau.
"While Michaux was "Ben is strong enough
losing on primary night, to withstand the attacks
Ruffin was at his head- on him," said William
quarters helping to add Bell, a Durham County
up th$ numbers and commissioner and per
grieving when Ithe final sonal friend of Ruffin.
tallies came in. It would "He does not have an
have been easy for him easy job. He is damned if
to stay at home that he does and damned if he
night, but he did not, does not. His concern
deciding to fight for blacks is first and he
instead," Simmons said, us not disappointed
Not manv people js," he added.
M4 VUlia MUUri'
l!
I
I
I
I
4
I
dfyurrfj of ffitfrifit
1715 ATHENS STBEET
. 0URHAM, NORTH CAROLINA 27707
TELEPHONE: 688-5066
"OntheMovttorGod"
Rov. J. Cecil Cheek. B.Th., M.Oiv. Minister
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1982
I
I
9:30 AM.;
11:00 A.M.:
Sunday Church School
Morning Wanhl?
WEDNESDAY
7:00 P.M. Prayer Sarvica
Breakfast win be served at the church between
8-9 a.m. each 4th Sunday of the month. ,?
Bus Service for Church Sunday School and i-
ft to come and join us In afl services.