Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Aug. 14, 1986, edition 1 / Page 5
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|jst 14, 1986 sAS 1HE FORUM More opinions, columns and features. ^ill school reforms include blacks? W YORK - A new report, ition Prepared, has been ed by the Carnegie Cor- ion and it proposes sweep- (forms in the way schools [ganized. The report would ip teaching, turning it - as port says - from an occupa- 0 a profession. jh standards for teachers J be set by a national cer- lion board. A new masters t, including teaching intern- ,would be a requirement for ing, but the classrooms i also include non-certified ffs and others who could [ibute to learning ex- ices. tools would be run by teams ad teachers, and teaching would change as new ologies enter the classroom, itract top people, certified ers would be paid far more TO BE EQUAL By JOHN JACOB than at present - on a par with professionals such as accoun tants. What keeps this from being a blue-sky proposal is the broad support the Carnegie Corpora tion has received from educators, teachers, administrators and government officials who would have to implement it. And the corporation’s historic role in other revolutionary developments, such as medical education, suggest it has the respect and the clout to make its report a reality. Fortunately, this is one of the few reports that demonstrates concern for minorities. It specifically calls for mobilizing the nation’s resources to prepare minorities for teaching careers. and it draws attention to the needs faced by the historically black colleges that produce half of all black teachers. But translating that concern in to action will be difficult. Blacks have a history of noble plans that backfired. School desegregation, for example, led to purges of black teachers and principals. That can’t be allowed to happen again. So some big questions need to be answered if this reform plan is to work. Questions such as: Will blacks and minorities be adequately represented on the powerful na tional board that sets standards for teachers and certifies them? Will accreditation of teachers depend on proven ability to teach students of different races and cultures? What consumer protections will be built into the system to assure responsiveness to com munity needs — and will resources be distributed to assure that the schools that need the most get the most? What specific aid will be given to cash-starved black colleges to help them revamp their curricula and establish graduate schools in education to train students for certification? What will be done to help black teachers to gain accredita tion and get the additional train ing required for lead teacher posi tions and to participate in school administration? What will be done to broaden the numbers of blacks in the pool of potential teachers — by cutting school dropout rates, raising aspirations, improving the quali ty of secondary education to en sure that more blacks go on to college, and helping disadvantag ed minorities afford college costs? The report implies a massive transfer of resources to education in a time of austerity, so the reforms could take place without necessary investments that would assure black participation. A Nation Prepared has some bold answers to education reform issues - but is our nation prepared to implement those answers so that minorities share in the outcome? John Jacob is president of the National Urban League. •Winston-Salem Chronicle-- An independent, locally owned newspaper UEWSROOM: Robin Barksdale, community news sditor; Wanda Johnson, typist; John Hinton; Yvonne H. Bichsel Truhon, copy editor; Cheryl Williams. iPORTS: David Bulla, sports editor. PHOTOGRAPHY: James Parker, photo editor; Art Blue, Joe Daniels. ADVERTISING: Julie Perry, advertising manager; \rt Blue, Wenna Yvette James. }FFICE STAFF: Stephanie Walls, Fernice Wardlaw, /erisia West. PRODUCTION: Vinson Dewberry, production Tianager; Tim Butner, Keith Holland, David Irwin, fvonne H. Bichsel Truhon. CIRCULATION: Jacqueline Hale, Harry McCants, Blandelia McMoore, Angela Ross, James Dixon. North Carolina commitment to black business ■ The following comments are excerpted from Gov. James G. Martin’s July 24 ad dress to the North Carolina Association of Minority Businesses in Raleigh. RALEIGH - More than 18 months ago, when I took the oath of office as governor, I brought with me a strong and sincere commitment to build a system of government in which all citizens could participate openly and fair ly. Central to this commitment was the implementation of a pro gram that would enhance the par- 1NE GUEST COLUMN By JAMES G. MARTIN JR. ticipation of companies owned by minorities, women and disabled people in state government pur chases. Working with my assis tant for minority affairs, and with the enthusiastic support of my cabinet, we established a Pilot Goals Program in July 1985. It was a trial run, so to speak, designed to test our performance, identify strengths and weaknesses and help us develop a viable pur chasing system through which targeted groups would be afford ed the maximum opportunity to compete. Today, I am pleased to report that we have accomplished what we set out to do, and in the process, we have achieved some remarkable results - and learned what works and what doesn’t. During the 11 months that end ed in May of this year, more than 300 contractors have been cer tified under the pilot project by the nine departments of govern ment within the jurisdiction of the governor’s office. Of that number, some 225 companies are minority-owned. Undoubtedly, there are many other North Carolina companies , among targeted groups that offer services and products utilized by the state. And we are working to assure that all of these firms in terested in doing business with state agencies are certified. Another remarkable ac complishment of the project has been the awarding of contracts exceeding $8 million to com panies competing under the cer tification process. The best way of judging performance is to Please see page A17
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