Editorials & Comments
Competency Tests - A Poor Measure?
Recently three black Charlotte
-Mecklenburg school seniors who
had failed the state compèntency
tests filed a suit to .prohibit the
use of such tests as a criteria for
blacks to graduate from high
school. Furthermore, the suit
was filed as a class action on
behalf of the alleged 3,000 plus
black 12th grade public school
students across the state who
have failed the competency test.
Authorized by the state legisla
ture in 1977, and first admin
istered in the public schools in
1978, compentency tests were
and are intended as a tool to
determine whether students due
to receive diplomas had mas
tered certain Îasic skills as
determined by the legislature
Kill
The suit argues that the long
history of segregated schools,
the alleged difference in the
quality of éducation blacks have
received since so-called desegre
gated education began; the high
er rate of black student suspen
sions and expulsions; the ter
mination of black administrators
and the schools' inability ' to
compensate for language and
cultural difference of black chil
dren.
In an apparent attempt to
dismiss these points as valid
arguments against the credibi
lity of competency tests, a UNC
Charlotte research report re
leased shortly after the suit was
filed contends that the mathema
tics portion of the state com
petency test is not racially
biased.
What apparently has been to
tally overlooked in much of the
discussion with regard to black
skillsoncompetency tests is in the
psycho-economic dimensions of
mind-set of black students; and
the failurè of educational admin
isters and test planners to Under
stand such dimensions. For
example, the décline in the per
centage of black teachers and
the demotion of many admin
istrators - created as à part of
the néw racism following dese
gregation - has hâd à lingering
affect on black youth about the
value of education and the re
lated reward system.
.Motivational Needs
Furthermore, manv white
teachers, were, and are simply,
insensitivë to the cultural and
motivational needs of black
youth. The motivational needs
are magnified by the fact that
the unemployment rate for them
- black youth in the labor market
- has exceeded 40 pércênt for
over three years and that black
males (including their fathers)
earn only about 57 percent of
what white mâles earn.
The motivational problem is
double-barrelled by the fact that
these economic factors deny
many blàck youth the oppor
tumtjM^^ad^Tewspa^rs^m^
gazines, books and related ma
terials in the home ; nor can they
attend cultural events that many
white youth take for granted as à
normal part of life. These read
ings are cultural activities dis
cussed with parents and other
adults in the home contribute
much toward the skills youth
need when taking competèncy
tests. Schools apparently have
no way of properly judging what
black youth are lacking in this
vital area of development. The
result is lower competency test '
scores for many youth. Until we
learn to measure the impact of
these variables competency
tests will simply not be compe
tent measures of black youth's
educational achievement skills.
Also, two years ago an 18-year
old white youth from a middle
class family was rejected lor
military service because hè was
tested and found to be function
ally illiterate. The youth, who
graduated from one of the best
high schools In his state, had
been deniéd an occupational op
portunity because of a question
able matter on the testing pro
gram. In another situation, a
high school graduate from a
school of high quality whére he
had earned good grades was
denied admission to the college
of his choice because of low
scores on a college admissions
test. How did'such things hap
pen? Does it mean that some
variables are too often missing
with regard to who may or may
hot score well on à particular
:tèst at a particular Unie"?
Thus, until educators can find
ways to measure the unseen
variables and motivational
factors in individual youth; com
petency tests will be controver
sial and unfair because of the
unknown waters in which they
tread. Until such adjustments
are clarified, competency tests
should be discontinued.
Human Mission
Dr. Benjamin Mays, educator,
scholar, writer and paât prési
dent of Atlanta's Morehouse Col
lege was given an award recent
ly for service to mankind. In
remarks just prior to accepting
the award Or. Mays made à
simply statement that has pro
found significance for under
standing the mission of human
existence.
Dr. Mays said, "I've never
done anything to'be deserving of
an award. God put me on this
earth to do two things. First, to
serve my God and secondly, to
serve my fellow man. This is all
I've eVer done or tried to do."
/ · .·
These words reflect a philoso
phy of life if all men and all
nations would adopt - there
would be no need Tor war and
nimors of war. We need not say
môrë.
THE CHARLOTTE POST
Second ~lass Postage No. 965500
"THE PEOPLES NEWSPAPER"
Established 1918
Published Every Thursday
by The Charlotte Post Publishing Co., Inc.
1524 West Blvd.-Charlotte, N.C. 2820B
Telephone (704)376-0496
Circulation-9,200
62 Years Of Continuous Service
BILL JOHNSON...Editor, Publisher
BERNARD REEVES...General Manager
Second Class Postage No. 965500 Paid At
Charlotte, N.C. under the Act of March 3,1878
L. Ik Τ A ! 1 m.«
Mouuiidi newspaper ruoiisners
Association
iNorth Carolina Black Publishers Association
■ ■
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become the property of the POST, and will
not be returned.
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MRS.R0SAP,ARK8\
(WHO REFUSED TO \-!:···'"** y
GIVE UP HER BUS SCAT) ^ /
* IF / CAN DO MY DUTY AS
A CHRISTIAN OUGHT.IFIÀ
CAN BRING SALVATION TO A
WORLD ONCE HROU6HT. IF I j
CAN SPREAD THE MESSAGE.
AS THE MASTER TAUGHT. \
THEN MY LIVING WILL NOT
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50HEB0PY TO SAY THAT
DAY, THAT MARTIN LUTHER
HING JR. TRIED TO LOVE
SOHFBQOY."
7
Less We Forget
As I See It
CompetencyJTest Attacked Again?
Rt> /\ ■_· -
—„ ——- v. ifVUUBVn
Post Columnist
Three high school seniors
are suing the state of North
Carolina's School Board for
using the high school com
petency test as a criterion
for graduation.
The suit cites discrim
ination and past segrega
tional practices as major
reasons for the unfairness
of the test. The three stu
dents are asking to be
given their diplomas
despite having failed the
test.
Perhaps, if we looked
cloeer at the situation, we
could say they would like to
receive their diplomas
despite having failed to
earnestly attempt to pass
the test. They are asking
for their diplomas despite
having failed td attend tu
torial sessions that the
School Board provided.
Whatever the reason, the
whole thing is a lot of bull
feces. You see, three stu
dents incapable of passing
a competency test should
not be capable of thinking
of filing a class action suit
without some prodding. So,
once again we the Black
folk of this community will
be saved by those civil
rights fighters who seek
out hidden injustices re
gardless of what it costs.
Well, this injustice could
cost a plenty. IF this case
gets off the ground -1 don't
think it will - then the
taxpayers (you and I) will
foot the bill. You see, we
pay for the School Board's
expenses in law suits. De
pending on the income
bracket of the student's
family, we may have
squeezed our pockets to
pay for that, too!
Now, let's assume the
case goes to court and the
students win. Even if they
Gerald 0. Johnson
win the case they will still
lose. Receiving a diploma
without an education is
useless. The diploma is to
document the fact that you
have learned basic skills.
If you haven't learned
those skills, but you have a
diploma, means absolutely
nothing.
You have postponed the
stigma of being a failure,
until such time when it will
really hurt.
Why then is the case
being brought up? Money.
Lawyers will make a for
tune out of this case. We,
the taxpayers, lose; the
three students lose; but
justice must be stomped
out at any cost.
The competency test is a
vital part to the assurance
of equal education to black
children.
The transitional period of
integration found black
children being passed
through the school system
like beer passes through
the kidneys. The kidneys
don't have to change the
beer's color so, beer passes
on through. This "social
promotion" has produced
kids unprepared to face the
new challenges that are
coming. Consequently, we,
fhp taxDavers. have to tote
the note through welfare or
some other government
program.
The competency is the
first step in trying to cor
rect this injustice. The test
has some short term ine
quities, but over the long
run it could prove to be a
blessing in disguise to
many black children who
think education is a joke.
The price you pay for
failing the competency test
is short lived, but the price
for ignorance is a lifetime
of indebtedness.
I am disappointed that
any black lawyer would
help to perpetuate ignor
ance for a price. Many men
and women, both black and
white, have given their
lives to erase the injustices
of a segregated and racist ,
society. As the curtains of
injustice continue to be
pulled open, they are un
veiling black preying on
blacks. I find it both dis
gusting and disheartening
to witness.
I find that many have
died to give us the oppor
tunities that exist today,
yet the mass of black
people are not in a position
to capitalize on it. The
attack on the competency
test is an indication that a
lot of us would like to see
the trend continued.
Inflation
And Energy
Inflation and energy
costs are having a big
influence on home furnish
ings in the 1980's.
Both are reducing the
size of home a family can
afford to buy, according to
Wilma Hammett, interior
design specialist with the
North Carolina Agricultur
al Extension Service.
ly Vernon Ε. Jordan, Jr.,
TO
BE
Balanced Budget Has High Cos
The corridors of the Capitol are running
with the bFood' of programs visciouslv
slashed in thé iiame of balancing tiff
budget. But this symbolic exercise of
bringing federal revenues and expenses into
balance bears a tremendous cost for
America's poor people.
That cost is made even more unbearable
by the knowlédgé that a balanced budget
will not do what its supporters claim - slow
the inflation rate.
Even President Carter, who submitted a
revised budget, admitted àt a news
conference:* '
' "It is true that by itself, in direct effect, a
$15 billion reduction in fédéral expen
ditures, compared tô a more than $2 trillion
economy, would involve less than a half of
one pércent'icût in the inflation rate)."
The cuts are justified by the supposed
"cOnfidénce" they would instill in péople
that the government is serious about
controlling inflation. But no one suggests
the obvious - that "confidence" can be
achieved through means other than brutal
izing the poor, and that substance, not
symbolism, is the way to deal with inflation.
"Evén if a balanced budget is necessary -
and there are no convincing arguments that
it is - there are other ways to go about it.
Taxes could be Increased to balance ex
penditures.' Federal spending could be
slashed in areas that don't hurt the poor.
New military initiativés' such as the costly
MX missile system could be scrapped or
delayed.
Instead, the cuts fait heaviest on those too
poor and powerless to prevent' them. Thé
Administration's proposed budget cuts are
unfortunate, but even worse is Congress' hit
lief*
Food stamps have become a prime
target. Thé Senate Budget Committee
proposed chopping $1.4 billion out of the
food stamp program, a move that would
push many to the brink of hunger.
Food stamps are under attack because
the cost of the program has risen sharply.
But why blame the poor who depend on food
stamps? The rise in food prices is re
sponsible for the program's higher cost^
And that rise makes the program even mo"
crucial to America's poor:
Current benefits are" based on a low-diet
plan that provides the bare minimum of
nutritional adequacy. Cutting benefits or
excluding some who are now eligible won't
balance thé budget or cut inflation, but it
would increase the numbers of America's
hungry.
Public service jobs are another target of
thé budget cutters. The Administration,
which has done so much to' 'make public
service jobs available to" more of the
jobless, proposed cutting CETA job slots.
But the Senate Budget Committee wants to
end the anti-recession' jobs program '
entirely.
Just as the nation enters what many
economists believe will be a severe re
cession, those Congressmen want to kill the
only program that providés federal job
support for recession's victims.
Thé kicker is that thésé futile gestures
will just nudge the economy deeper into a
recession.
What a miserable formula has been
chosen for the future!
■ * ! 1/1» I tut
I Administration's South Africa Policy Only Mild Rhetoric?
I Alfrxl· I M.JI ' ~
Special To The Pm(
It has become a Jimmy
Carter habit in the past few
months to play his cam
paign rallying Iranian
song. It has been the same
theme since the hostages
were taken in November
but with some variations.
The tune is played at press
conferences. In November
the refrain echoed Presi
dent Carter as pouring out
compassion for the ailing
Shah and condemnation of
the inhumane Iranians.
Then later there was the
flag-flying day and letter
writing campaign for a
show of patriotism with the
hope of impressing the
Iranian that all America is
behind the President The
failure to light all Christ
mas trees but one was
emphasized at the Christ
mas tree lighting to show
that the President and
Americans were, symbolic
ally, making Christmas sa
crifices for the hostages
Then, of course, the mor
ning of the Wisconsin pri
mary there was the 7 a.m.
press call to express that
hostages would be turned
4
Alfreda L. Madison
over to the Iranian govern
ment.
Now after the loss in New
York and Pennsylvania,
the rescue mission was
made, even though It is
reported that preparations
began in November. Yet, it
seems the decision to carry
out the mission during the
week of April 20, gives rise
to questions, whether or not
the Texas and Indiana pri
maries were considered in
the decision making.
The April 29 Presidential
press conference concen
trated almost entirely on
the rescue mission. Mr
waiter stressed me tac'
that the mission decisior
was his and that there Is s
deeper failure than the losi
of eight lives, five person!
injured and millions of dol
lars in equipment and not
one hostage rescued ·
which was better than no
attempt.
Evidently, Secretary
Vance, the Methodists
around the world, some
members of congress and
many citizens and Euro
pean allies don't share the
President's views that the
mission was proper. The
Europeans have expressed
a partial sanction support,
but they are against mili
tary action.
One of the most pointed
questions asked at the
press conference was the
one asked by Askia Mu
hammad. He called the
President's attention to his
own words, when he said a
great nation like the United
States can be forgiving,
and since painful blood
shed, loss of life and suffer
ing of so many innocent
Iranians under the Shah for
27 years, and that we have
53 hostages, the loss of
»
eight soldiers, couldn't he
find some honorable way to
resolve the mutual sorrow
of both without further con
frontation? Mr. Carter re
sponded with a long dis
course on the Inhumane,
irrational ghoulish Iranian
terrorists, with no real
government, so such a
course would be an im
possibility.
Mr. Carter has been say
ing that just «bout all the
foreign decisions have been
his alone. Well he has had a
series of "no wins." Bring
ing the Shah here gave us
fifty hostages, Russian
grain embargo and Olym
pic boycott have incon
venienced Americans, but
has not had an affect on the
Russian-Afghanistan ques
tion, rescue mission, which
he says was not a failure,
so It must have been ·
success, but no hostages
were freed. The drunk in
the little delicatessen, that
I ran into as shelter from
the rain, expressed it best..
He said, "If President Car
ter calls those victories,
what in the hell does he call
losses? He and I must be
using different diction
aries."
Now that the President is
getting out on the cam
paign trail, is he going to
level with the people or is
he going to give a snow Job,
shake a few hands, kiss a
few babies and say now the
problems have been allé
viated, while innation and
unemployment are soaring
and nothing has been ac
complished in the foreign
policy? Is he going to lead
the public in singing a
gullible non-reasoning
tune?
Business Activity Edges Upward
The level of business
activity In North Carolina
edged upward in March,
according to the Wachovia
Business Index. The Index
registered 157.8, up 0.1 per
cent from the revised
February level.
Non-manufacturing em
ployment was up slightly,
while manufacturing em
ployment declined. The
workweek In manufactur
ing industries was un
changed from February.
Average hourly earnings of
manufacturing employees
were down in March after
adjusting for price in
creases.
In the manufacturing
sector, employment de
creased 0.3 percent due to
employment losses in du
rable goods industries.
Non-durable goods indus
tries registered a gain from
lr ' - ■"
the February level, led by
an increase of 1,000 work
ers in textiles. The rise in
non-manufacturing em
ployment was supported by
increase· in contract coft
struction, services an#
government Jobs, while
trade employment was un
changed from February.
The seasonally adjusted
unemployment rate for
North Carolina was 5.4 per
cent in March, up 0.4 per
cent from February. TtM
national rate for Marct
was β.2 percent, up 0.!
percent from February