Pag* 2-KlNCS MOUNTAIN HERALD-TuMday. Saptembw 2. IMO
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Letters to the editors
Three cheers for North
Dear Editor.
After reading about concerns dealing with North
School, I would like to share some positive
thoughts.
Because of a temporary transfer from East
School, I had the opportunity of teaching at North
for the 1979-80 school year. During that time I
became increasingly aware of a group of energetic,
innovative teachers. And it didn’t stop there! Work
ing with teachers to motivate learning were
CDITORIhK&OPIhlOW
Your blood is needed
Each day of the year, nearly 26^000 units of
whole bood or packed red cells are transfused to pa
tients in the United States. This flow of life-giving
substance has only one source: the individual blood
donors. About 95 percent of all the blood made
available for transfusions is donated by about S per
cent of the country’s total population.
However, the small source dwindles even further
as individual blood donors tend to take a holiday
during this season when the need for blood actually
Poet's
t^brner
Whot-so-ever Things Ar» Lovely
I would concentrate on lovely things
When all around is sinking sand, .
And let the upper-most thought prevail
God is still in command.
Lovely things are answered prayer
sunshine after the rain,-
Always sounding a note of praise
allowing hope to reign.
Lovely things like counting blessings
with a note of cheer.
Knowing God is not a-far
Knowing God is very near.
Lovely things making life sweeter
spending time with God,
Being aware of His mighty power
that glorifies the poorest sod.
Lovely things as flowers that blossom
Lovely things as birds that sing.
When passing through stages of winter
I would concentrate on spring.
Vivian S. BiltclUi*
(From the Fri., Sept. 7,1951 edition of The Kings
Mountain Herald)
Dr. John C. McGill, of Williamston, S.C., has an
nounced that he will come to Kings Mountain
about mid-October to open offices for the general
practice of medicine.
The congregation of St. Matthew’s Lutheran
Church voted unanimously Sunday to construct a
new church building.
Grady Howard, well known Kings Mountain
man on active duty with the Marine Corps, has
recently been promoted to Captain.
Social and Paraonal
A pretty wedding of the early Fall season was
solemnized at Saint Matthew’s Lutheran Church on
Sept. I and united Miss Ruby Lea Kiser of Kings
* Mountain and Jerry Leonard Simmons of Marion.
• Members of the Ace of Clubs enjoyed the
j hmpitality of Mrs. Jacob Cooper when she cnta-k
« tained at her home Thursday afternoon. *
TODATS BIBLE VERSE
Watch yo and pray lost yo enlor into tompto-
Hon. Tho spirit truly U roady, but tho ilosh is
wook. St Mark 14:38.
increases.
This is by way of a reminder from the Cleveland
County American Red Cross Chapter to give a pint
of blood. Mrs. Martha Scruggs, executive secretary,
said that blood collections have been so low that the
Charlotte regional office has notified all chapters to
plan emergency visits Mrs. Scruggs said that 992
pints of blood is required each day to fill the de
mand in this region yet only 200-4(X) pints per day is
being donated.
Blood can be donated at the Red Cross office in
Shelby, through community blood banks or at the
local hospital.
Small voices count
THEY say you can’t fight city hall. They’re
wrong.
Any observer of the local scene knows that when
a group of citizens speaks to a city council or county
commission, most of the time the politicians, being
politicians, listen.
EXAMPLE: Although they cited reasons other
than public displeasure with a newly instituted $5
monthly garbage fee, Gastonia City councilmen did
kill the thing following protests and rallies by put-
upon taxpayers.
Example: Gaston County commissioners revers
ed a decision against supporting a regional library
for blind and handicapped persons after a dozen or
so blind persons made some phone calls and showed
up at a recent commission meeting.
Example: Last year, commissioners voted twice
to get rid of the dump box program only to reverse
themselves on a third vote and keep the boxes.
Commissioners had received many phone calls, let
ters and, in one case, some garbage on the front
lawn.
Example; Commissioners ditched both a propos
ed zoning plan around Crowders Mountain State
Park and a plan to create a sewer and water district
south of Gastonia following large, negative
responses at public hearings.
EXJIMPLE: Gastonia’s City Council reversed a
decision of its planning and zoning board a few
months ago by deciding not to build a public hous
ing complex. Opposing neighbors had crammed Ci
ty Hall.
The point here is that so often people complain of
elected leaders doing as they please without regard
for public semitment. Sometimes they do. But more
often, councilmen and commissioners are reluctant
to brave the outrageous slings and arrows of civic
criticism.
While it might seem that city and county officials
raise taxes at every turn, their desire not to do so
one year often results in a big jump the next.
IN CASE you hadn’t noticed, and maybe it’s only
coincidence, Gaston commissioners raised county
taxes a nickel last year when nobody was standing
for re-election. This year, when your face voters —
no tax increase.
Gastonia councilmen, facing election in just the
opposite years, kept the lid on last year before
municipal elections and blew it off in a big way this
year, more than a year before they face voters
again.
Probably just coincidence.
Of course there have been times when elected of
ficials flew in the face of criticism. In December,
commissioners unanimously voted to establish a
New Generation child health care committee
despite an overflow crowd of protesters. In that
case, commissioners saw the issue as a political one:
Fellow Democratic Gov. Jim Hunt’s child health
care plan vs. the mostly fundamentalist-Christian
opposition.
If people only knew how much real power they
can wield through a simple phone call or ap
pearance before an elected board, they’d be amazed.
Politicians don’t like swimming against the current;
that way lies election day drowning.
IF YOU still don’t believe your small voice makes
‘a'difference, just look at John Jenkins. Almost
^^;>»Jglehandedly, Jenkins has created more headlines
and gotten more reaction from city and county of
ficials than has the entire Republican Party.
With a little energy, and a little organization,
you, too, can fight city hall.
The Gastonia Gazette
It’s not the school,
it’s the principal
of the thing...
dedicated aides, lunchroom workers, secretaries,
and a very efficient custodial staff. All of these peo
ple shared the responsibility of teaching our
children. That’s winning combination! 1 would be
proud for my child to attend such a school.
So.. .Three cheers for Mr. Allison and the terrific
faculty and staff of North School.
Sinc«r*ly,
Cindy Wood
Eost School
School principals and administrators, like politi
cians and newspapermen, find it impossible to
please everyone. There are usually two sides involv
ed in any decisions they make, and their decisions
will be criticized by one of those sides.
Margaret McCarter, a local teacher, passes along
these thoughts by George C. Thawley on principals:
The school principal, like all other educators,
should expect to please no one. All too often he is
caught on the horns of a dilemma regardless of the
action he takes, or fails to take.
If he reports to school early, he has insomnia; if
he leaves school late, he is a slow worker.
If he attends sports events, he is overemphasizing
athletics; if he misses an event, he has no school
spirit.
If he corrects a teacher, he’s always picking on so
meone; if he doesn’t correct teachers, he’s a weak
administrator.
If he has a friendly personality, he’s a showoff; if
he’s quiet, he is anti-social.
If he calls a meeting, he has no regard for teacher
time; if he doesn’t call meetings, he doesn’t believe
in democratic administration.
If he makes quick decisions and follows up, he is
an autocrat, if he is slow in making a decision, he is
indecisive.
If he visits a classroom, he is being nosey; if he
doesn't visit the classroom, he doesn’t care what’s
going on.
If he buys a new car, he must be overpaid; if he
doesn’t have a new car, he must be a miser.
If he speaks up for some new program, he’s on
the bandwagon; if he’s cautious about change, he’s
living in the past.
If he suspends a student, he doesn’t understand
children; if he doesn’t he’s a weak disciplinarian.
If he uses the public address system, he likes to
hear himself talk; if he doesn’t he fails to keep his
staff informed.
If he attends community affairs, he’s a politican;
if he doesn’t he has poor public relations.
When he attends conferences of principals, he’s
goofing off; when he doesn’t he’s unprofessional.
If he checks with the superintendent, he hasn’t a
mind of his own; if he seldom checks, he’s assuming
too much authority.
If he regularly has a hot lunch, he’s not watching
his weight; if he seldom has a hot lunch, the school
lunches aren’t good enough for him.
If he phones there’s no school on a snowy morn
ing, why did he wait so long; if he doesn’t call he
must be driving a snow plow to school.
If he’s young, he got a lot to learn; if he’s old he
just doesn’t have it anymore.
But take heart, fellows. Keep giving your best, for
no matter what you do there are those who will
always say, “It isn’t the school that’s to blame, it’s
the principal of the thing.”
And, while on the subject of education, and for
all those out there who are statistical nuts, there are
some interesting figures being compiled by the
North Carolina Association of Educators on the
number of black teachers and administrators in
North Carolina public schools.
Educators from 17 states participated in a
“Minority Teacher Displacement” symposium at
the NEA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., two
weeks ago. The two-day conference focused on pro
blems surrounding the employment status of blacks
and other minorities in formerly segregated school
"4
IGWJY
newhRT
systems. The overall generalization of the con
ference was that “black educators and other
minorities are retrogressing in their employment
conditions as schools desegregate throughout the 17
states.”
Here are some figures on North Carolina in
1964-55, the first year of desegregation, and
1979-80.
In 1964-65, there were 44,823 teachers, and
32,265 of them were white and 12,558 black. The *
white teachers represented 72 percent of the
teaching force and the blacks represented 28 per
cent.
In 1979-80, there were 59,971 teachers, including
46,647 whites and 12,664 blacks. The white
teachers represented 77.8 percent of the teaching
force and 21.1 percent black.
The study concluded that although there were
106 more black teachers in 1979-80 than in
1964-65, the percentage of black teachers employed
declined by 6.9 percent.
In 1964-65, there were 1,935 principals in the
state and in 1979-80, there were 2,029. Of the
above numbers, 1,413 principals in 1964-65 were
white and 522 black. In 1979-80,1,627 were white
and 382 black. It was noted that in 1971 the
number of black senior high principals dropped to
eight.
In 1964-65, 27 percent of the state’s principals
were black and in 1979-80 the percentage was 18.8.
There were no black assistant principals in 1964-65. ^
There were 372 black assistant principals in
1979-80.
Dr. E.B. Palmer Sr., associate executive secretary
of the NCAE, took part in the study and said that it
is only the. “bejppning of a more comprehensive ^ \
study th« he will be conducting and reporting to - i
the membership. Governor, General Assembly and
the lay public in the very near future.”
• • * « «
The City of Kings Mountain, and Mayor John
Henry Moss, are well-known for their ability to %
secure federal grants. ^
Since the first Moss Administration took office in
the mid-1960s, the city has received over $20
million in federal funds.
Though that figure may seem huge to local
citizens, it’s only a drop in the bucket. The federal
government dishes out grant support to some
500,000 towns and institutions at a rate of a whopp
ing $22.5 million every hour. So, we can say Kings
Mountain has received about an hour’s worth.
Kings Mountain will have
an unusual fall season...
The cool temperatures (60 to 70 degrees) in
Boston Isist week made us dream of Fall but from
the heat of the past few days in Kings Mountain, it
would appear that Summer may not be on its last
legs, even though the calendar shows that Labor
Day 1980 is past and that the nip and riotous color
ing of Autumn are just around the corner.
Of course. Summer continues officially until Sept.
23 (or is it Sept. 21) when the sun gets even with the
equator on its way to the South.
As further proof that Fall is just around the cor
ner, the footb^l season is upon us and Kings Moun
tain schools are opening for another term.
Kings Mountain will have an unusual Fall
feature this season in the revival of the outdoor
drama, “Then Conquer We Must”, which has
already excited many history minded citizens of the
Piedmont Carolinas. Information and ticket re
quests for the show are coming in regularly, and if
the weatherman cooperates, the drama at the Bat
tleground should play to packed houses on each of
its performances to be culminated during the ex
citing week celebrating the 2()0th anniversary of the
Revolutionary War Battle of Kings Mountain for
which many events are being planned.
MORE LEGION CONVENTION NOTES
The oldest working garment at the Boston con:
vention was a pair of hickory stripe wool and silk
pants called “the world’s wonder trousers” by their
owner, Camillus M. Dancy of Norfolk, Va. Legion
naire Dancy, 84, bought the pants for $30 in 1929
and has worn them 52 Easters and at 34 con
secutive Legion conventions. Hickory stripes are
morning pants, we were told, but it is permissible to
wear them all day Sunday. Dancy’s wife, Bantha,
who has attended 27 consecutive conventions, says
her husband is the best dressed man in Norfolk
.. .(hey call him Mr. Esquire”.
oOo
Secret servicemen closed down the hot dog stands
for two hours before, during and after Ronald
Reagan’s speech because they didn’t want stragglers
outside Hines Auditorium during the speech.
Lib
Stewart
Nevertheless the auditorium’s five concession
stands sold an average of 400 dogs at 75 cents
apiece, 150 gallons of coffee and 15 dozen Danish
before the final gavel.
oOo
Even though there were some folks glad to see'
the convention go, Boston welcomed the large
crowd of visitors, especially the cab drivers,
although they tried to kill us getting us to and from'
meeting places in a hurry to return and pick up
other fares and it got worse the two days that Presi
dent Carter ad former Governor Reagan came to
town. Coffee was 75 cents a cup at the Auxiliary
headquarters at Boston Park Plaza and Boston Bak
ed Beans wasn’t even on the menu. The best place
we found to eat in the area of our hotel was the
nearby Legal Seafood.
oOo
One of the most popular resolutions passed by the
Legion was its decision to get solidly behind efforts
to raise $2.5 million to erect a Vietnam Veteran’s
Memorial for the 57,661 Americans who died in
that war. A two-acre site near Lincoln Memorial, in
Washington, D.C., has already been provided for
the memorial which will contain the name of every
American who died in Vietnam, U.S. Senators
Barry Goldwater and George McGovern are
memters of the national sponsoring committee.
Contributions can be sent to the non-profit Viet
nam Veterans Memorial Fund, Box 37240
Washington, D.C. 20013. ’
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