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j^B"Editoria^j|
Guest Editorial by Beaufort O. Bailey.
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The'Board of Education's decision to turn back
$360,000 to the'Department of Health Education and
weiiare nas all the earmarks of sacrificing the best
interests of our school children on the alter of political
expediency. A careful reading of HEW's expediency. A
careful reading of HEW's letter reveals that, while it
-- might well have been phrased more diplomatically, the
government's comments can in no way be described as
"outrageous demarfds" or "excessive interference" in
local matters. - ^
What did HEW actually say? First they addressed the
subject of ability grouping. They did not categorize the
practice as useless or discriminatory. They did ask that
some form of objective measurement be used to group
children. I see nothing so terrible in this. r
*' Let's face it - our schools, lust like anv othpr 1 arop
, ? - ? ~-?y
institution, contain a certain number of racists, botfi^7
conscious and unconscious - Any child, black or white,
"also speaks with a heavy dialect, does not dress well or
fails to reflect exposure to middle class values in the
home, stands a good chance of being categorized as
"slow" and thus placed in a remedial group so long as
the decision-en?grouping rests solely on individual
teacher judgment. HEW did no^ say-that teafcher
judgment in this area had?o b? eliminated, but did ask
that it be supplemented by some form of objective
evaluation, free of personal bias.
" fVjo irlon U/\Ui rkUHIi.. ?i? ? - 1 1 * *
nit iuca uciuuu ctuiiiiy grouping is~inai aisaa.
vantaged children require extra help if they are to catch .
up with their peers. Smaller pupil-teacher ratios and
more individualized instruction are supposed to enable
the disadvantaged child to progress more rapidly than if
he were in a regular classroom, make up the differences
t^at hinder his progress, and when he has caught up
with his age group mnvp into rpgnlar Hassps
? HEW asked that the local schools show that our?
system of ability grouping was achieving this gOal. If
grouping is working, then it should have been easy to
satisfy HEW. Can it be that the system in Forsyth
County was not helping children in the slow group
progress more quickly than in the regular classroom? If
so, that would explain the Board's reluctance to meet
HEW's criteria.
Anyway you look at it, the rejection of the HEW
money has worked a hardship on the middle class arid"
poor people of Forsyth County. When the School
Adminisiratiotmrged tis all to support the recent sales
tax increas6~;they told us that if the sales tax referendum
failed "every program in the school system could
suffer." Now we see this same group turning away
$360,000. It makes no sense to me.
If there is discrimination in either ability grouping or
discipline, it should be rooted out and eliminated without
the need for HEW cOerscion. If our policies are not
discriminatory and if grouping is serving the needs of
our children, then it should have been easy to convince
HEW of these facts.
The State of North Carolina has stringent laws
prohibiting discrimination in the schools. If we are in
violation of HEW regulation we are very probably in
violation of state law also. If we are in compliance witfr
our local law, in all probability we are in compliance
with federal law and thus had no reason to reject these
funds.
i t
It seems clear that four School Board members acted
against the best interests of both the taxpayers and our
school children. HEW's letter did not make
unreasonable demands, officials in Atlanta offered to
negotiate, the tutoring program funded by this mOney
? -
has adjudged a success, and sufficient local funds to
continue the program are not available except at the
cost of robbing a school library and the Career Center
budget.
In my opinion the action of the Board in rejecting
these funds was a blatent example of -trying to rouse
latent racial prejudice in time for the November
election. I'mconfident that the voters of Forsyth County
will see through this transparent political manipulation
and elect*School Board members who will act in the best
interests of our children. ^ B.O.
Bailey
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INSTON-SALEM CHRONICLE ^ .
A Warning to Mai
Stop, look and Listen - Open
AND REM
The Life You Save May I
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, We must protect and provide for the elderly because we are he
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Dear Sirs: Dear Sir:
On this evening (Sept. 5) I was? Thank you lor introducing
introduced to the "Maiden Issue" paper in our home. I a
of the Winston-Salem Chronicle. 1 dedicated reader of news
was indeed happy for this simple talning to our people,
reason: now we may be able to progress and anything th
read about the good things that good for us to leave on this
are happening in and around to let others know we have
Winston-Salem. This was my first here and have left a legac
imDression. I do believe that this mir fw?ro
? ?u?tuw gvnciairiuiiOi
is what we, as a black race, need.
Freedom of its own news media . ?An
to let the reading public know of
our progress, advancements and .
our hopes for a bright future. We
do not wish to destroy, neither do
we wish to make news as a public nuisance;
in other words, news of Dear Sir.
robbery, assault or drugs, but to May l ^ke ^ opp0rtuni
have something good to read wjsj1 y0U jqj success in
about our people. . publishing of your wt
I have had experience in newSpaper. I am confident
writing about our progress in y0Ur paJer will add substan
dkm . ^ew York> to the continued growth ol
Philadelphia. We as a race, community.
seemingly different from, any Please call on me at any
other are really happy and proud if X can be of assistance.
tn rpnn ahnut rno nrncfikioo /vf ahi?
w? . VWW M?rvw? M1V VI VIU
people. We still have much to Sincerely y
learn and so very much to gain CarlL.Wr
from our learning .by simply
listening.
I hope to become a writer of
this new baby paper and make it III II
proud of its name. .
There are so much good things THE WINSTON-SALEM CH
happening to our people but not by the Winston-Salem Chroni
enough strength to make it known Ave. Mailing address: P.O.
to the reading public. Phone: 722-8624
I do wish we as one would make individual copies 20 cents
this an enjoyable paper to read Subscription: $10.40 per yeai
and a reference to who's who in eluded) S
the progress of our people and ...
nation Editor-in-chie
Society editor
Mrs. Evangeline Brooks Reid Business edit<
2909 Patterson Ave. Publisher
Winston-Salem, N.C. 27106 "
723-8284 Opinions expressed by colum
Refer your news to me and I will ? ' ^
be glad to forward it to the
Winston-Salem Chronicle.
/ 0 } P '
?v->t fi
SEPT. 12, 1974
forlsts: - - ?
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.Schools Are ^ |
EMBER ;
>e Your Own.
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re through their efforts, struggles and
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J The Chronicle |
j welcomes letters j
I to the Editor | *
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RONICLE is published every Thursday
cle Publishing Co., Inc. 2208 N. Patterson ?
. Box 3154, Winston-Salem, N.C. 27102
r payable in advance (N.C. sales tax inf
Ernest H. Pitt >
Linda Mnrrell
or Charles T. Byrd Jr.
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in this newspaper do not necessarily
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