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fry.v EDITORIAL & OPINION PAGE V AS I SEE . IT by Druce Gorton a wood oft two aoocrr competency testing Sixteen pasoeal of North Carolina's 1I th graders foiled the state's . first competency teat-far fewer thai had b?n expected. according 10 Governor Jtan Hunt on hit television program Tuesday night. Tea percent of the state's 11,353 high school juniors dunked the reading section of the lest and fifteen percent failed the math section. All told. 13,312 students foiled at least one part of the test, for a 16.4 percent overall failure rate. The tesu were given in November Of I97S. "The meuHs of the teals, "Hunt said, "are not nearly si bed as some people had predicted But they are not good enough." Hunt said he would ask the general assembly to appropriate $3.4 million immediately to help school systems pay for special remedial pregnane this spring for those who foiled. The state has already distributed $4.3 million to school systems for remedial work. Results were about tike many of us expected. Blacks and Indians rod students from rural systems did the worst on the testing. The results show that blacks and Indians did poorly in the lest. For iaataocs, stale-wide twenty five percent of the Black Students foiled the reading last as compared to a four percent failure rate among the white students Blacks failed the math portion of the test at a 34* rate while white students had a seven percent failure rare. 79% of American Indians in reading and 72% in math passed state wide, h could have been wont. A student who foils the lest (either pan) will receive help and at least three chances to pass it before the end of his senior year. A student must pass the test in order to receive a diploma. what (t means in (vooeson county It is difficult to compare the Robeson County Administrative School Unit by state standards because of the nuances and subleties of life here but here ate the totals anyway. As you may know, there ate six school systems in Robeson County. That is mind boggling, indeed! , Watt, anyway, let me give you the totals before I say anything syssem is ante up of ^yinw hn?lj 80* m.noniy enrollment <60% Indian and 20% Black) Harry Weet Locklear was the ftret ladisa >o serve oa da Robaeoa County Board of Bdurattoa. He wee enpniartd by the white powen of feat day. Look leer wae.'ao far ae we know, the flnt ladiaa to tarve oa (he coaaiy board of education They (noo-iadiaae) taiaad oar children aad taught than what to think and wfcoaegoda to worship It eapiaias ia pmt why many of ue today strive for middle claa* vaiuea, turning away from "our raisings" and trying to amulaie WASP (white at*ioaaaoa protes taat) vaiuea. Before the evil political acherae was ruled uncooetitutioaal by the federal court* the late Senator Luther Brio mid. in retponae to Indian parent* who wiahod to end it, "...to eliminate county-wide voting (double voting) ... would tend to drive our race* further apart educationally, politically, economically, and tocially...'" Senator Britt waa proven wrong on every count before he succumbed to a heart attack last year. Double voting wa* the tyttem whereby voter* within the five city tchool *y stems voted on their own tchool board election* and voted also on the make up of the Robeson County Board of Education (where moat Indian* and Blacks attend school). In other words they had a "double vote". In that way they were able to determine who served on the city tchool boards as well as who served pa die county school board. The practice made it viituall/lrfiptflliiBte for an Indian or black to win a county wide election. A concerned group of Indian parents took the matter to federal court and had the evil practice over turned. The federal courts found that double voting was unconstitutional to Indian parents. Yes. all the above has something to do with our low ranking on the competency lest. We were administered by non Indians until double voting was broken. Therefore, this failure (and many others) can be laid at the door of B.E. Littlefield. Young Allen and other non Indian administrators who administered our affairs for so many yean. The present superintendent, Pumell Swett, an Indian, ought to be realistic and honest with us. He should call a press conference and say, "Here is the situation as it really is. Because of past racial and political schemes this is where we find ourselves today. Here is the problem... and here is how we are going to solve it." He ought not to spend a minute justifying Allen and past administrators who led us down this misguided educational path. Before Swett assumed the office. Y.H. Allen (his predecessor) thought so little of the county system that he lived in the Lumberton administrative school unit district where his children went to school. Swett is still surrounded by many of that "old crowd." For instance, David Whitfield (Swett's administrative assistant) lives in the Lumberton Administrative School District. If he has children in the Lumberton School System, his loyalties probably are with that system. I would not blame him for that. All of us who have children side with the better interests of our children. At least we ought to. If the county system is not good enough for Whitfield and other administrators in the county system how can it be good enough for me and my children? And yours? In times past county school administrators "administered" our schools and sent theirs to the city units or to private schools. That has a little bit to do with our low scores. It's called Condescension, the past county school administration's calling card. They treated us with scorn. That's why Swett should surround himself with people who share our dreams and hopes in the county school system. If they live in . the system and send their children to the schools therein you'll see a new attitude, a re-committment to education. But not until then. Too. Hdians themselves helped to (Pembroke State University) thru now threatens to devour us. Prob ly 83% of the professors and at least fifty percent of the admini -ators at Pembroke State University work ii\ Pembroke and live in Lumberton where their children attend the Lumberton City Schools. They add considerably to the quality of the educational offering at Lumberton, as well they should. But Pembroke State University is located within the confines of the county school system. Pembroke State University (but begun as an educational facility for Indians only) was the beginning of education for the Indians of Robeson County. Until 1887 when now PSU was created by a legislative act, Indians in Robeson County were denied the right to an education. Our people grew up in ignorance. Pembroke gave the Indians a chance. I shudder to think where we would be today if it were not for now Pembroke State University. It is a true saying: "teach a slave to read a book and he will refuse to be a slave." J Because of Pembroke State, Indians learned to refcd books. And things are changing. But it has taken time to break double voting, register people to vote, send Y.H. Aliens packing etc. It takes a long time to undo a social injustice, sometimes generations even. SOME CONCLUDING REMARKS But many of us are committed to improving the quality of life for our children. Many of us now turn away from the red necks and racists in our midst. We do not follow them any longer. Many of us are committed to improving the quality of education in Robeson County. But six school systems is not the answer. Racism is demeaning and threatening. Common sense must prevail A lot is at stake. Pumell Swett, the Indian superintendent of the county school system, can be a calming influence and keep the winds of racism from blowing too hard. He must turn from the old ways, in effect, his teachers. He must devise new ways to solve old problems. He must not be afraid And he should spend little time appeasing racists in Robeson County. He should expose them, not dicker with them Swett should admit the failures of the past; after all, he was not its architect. And he should weed out the incompetents around him. They will destroy him and the efforts of progressive forces in the county We want a bold leader, not a Machievelian type like some of those in the past who kept everyone off balance with their political trickery. And. most of all, the people of Robeson County (all six units) must let common sense prevail. We must improve the educational life of our children. We must admit that the city units left for racial reasons and that the county adherents let them stay away for racial reasons. " And the county commissioners must he willing to pay the price for Kd education. If need be, they must raise taxes without flinching y must put up the monies and insist that the educators use the monies wisely and judiciously They must speak out against the provincial ones who have kept us in the educational dark We should he alarmed hut not panic about our reUtive low scores The majority of our students perform fairly well under very trying circumatancas And we should be forthright with the people roll them where we Hand and what we are going to do about h In order m Improve the ?durational plight of our children To Subscribe Coll 521 '2676 STTiii ftt # .r , ? w? U. ? QU(V INFAMOUS SUl "i '*1 ? M' tnuPublic School Systems wading School Unit ToUi Number of students No. who failed % who failed fxv?l who took the test K4nk Robeson County 829 192 23% 6 PMnwut 133 23 19% 4 I ??tflim 320 31 10% 1 Mom 103 21 20% 5 Red Springs 134 20 13% 3 St. Pauls 92 13 14% 2 MATHEMATICS Robeson Connty 829 237 31% 6 Mbb?M 133 34 23% 4 I endianm 320 32 16% 1 Maxtos 103 32 30% 5 Red Springs 134 23 17% 2 St. Phab 92 22 24% 3 Statewide then we 149 tchooi systems (ux of them in Robeson Co?>). The Robeton County School System finished 144th out of 145. Thai ie when we rankThat Vthe first thing we ought to aoeapt without flinching ... especially we parents. But why? SOME GENERAL COMMENTS (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER) AOOUT THE MATTER . Initial mnctioo by admiaittraton of the county system is to try and placate at with interpretative analysts complete with figures and Meeehttfee arat percentiles etc. .etc. But mnatly the county admin ipuatmt an reluctant to face up to our lamentable situation, even , g |a i. ,4' ? . _ L* t _. ? i? . ? I ? aa .L. A _ cnougn mon ov n n dct aireciiv innouiiDic 10 uiem Some foBcs toy that Robeson County is a little crmry about race In (he aarty days it was dangerous to come lo Pembroke Juhng school days. Yon might fM ran over by a tchooi bus There were school brim going in ewv conceivable direction. One hus war taking me otacs stuuents to rally ttraucn ana other tsr away places; another has took the whits students to Philadelphus, Red Springs. iotbetltt nd urhsrpian I. The Indians stayed home snd attended dw Ptmhrnhe Schools. But at one time before the busses began to roll, Pembroke (ooneidsnd me ernaomh and spirituel center of the Indian oommmdty) supported dme eeparate and distinct tchooi systems, for moir Meek and white and Indian students la these days of civil rights loghdetinn and enlightened folk, it is imbetieveabie to recall mote crazy days when Roheeoniant worked out their racial prejv dtoei led* school ryatwne. They still do it but they are a little more mhde about it now. tuMir I Stamps WtNdf rr ?SmmISHB THE CAROLMA MDtAN VOKZ P.O. Wmm MT! Pi I* I . NC The Carolina Indian Voice ?itaMMai ttn "nrn 1 J l*"? rtiKjSttAffTON OAMTBABTON * __ I "kmst fll CABOUMA IMOftAJt VOICB L to M if Mi MM. MM jtoM pMtofi fM M WilliMi. N.C. Mm ?. 1U, MmMt (Mi fmm JS7f )? TUB CADOUHA VIDIAN VOICE P.O Dot ion, pmnn, n.c mn Letters to the Editor... A Note From Mrs. Nora Lee Hardin It . I ? i Mrs. Nan Laa Hirik, a bltlMraadavaf llw Caiate Ska la 78 yam at aga aad adl walk* laa ala ta laarimtoa to pay bar bllla aad bay Daar Braeai I wfl writo to yaa. yaa to ptoaa*' pat la Tba Caraltoa late Vain aaw* I am 78 yaan al at*. I MB ?till walking 18 mile* to Lnmlnrtsn to pay Mo aad get groceries. I have moved 6 ndiee fmther from Lambertea, aad live by Myaelf. I atS lave year fandUn Voice ?ewapaper. I don't get eat to Ifl poaeoma aad saakao any more. ha. Ha. Note Of Thanks Dear Bruce: I want to take this opportu nity to thank all concerned individuals and parents that made our Christmas program a success which was held December 20, 1978 at the' Lumbee Longhouse Learning Center. I also want to thank Jeff Maynor for the pig that he gave to us. We raised over $500.00 for the center to buy things for our wonderful children who will be our leaders of tomorrow. Again I aay thanks. SUBSCRIBE TODAY!!! FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE PAGE 9 ? 1 "What Will Happen To 'Strike At The Wind!'?" Dear Brace: What will happen to "Strike at the WlndT'Haavea kaowa. This is a tremendous drama, 1 must admit, but it lacks leadership, especially (ran the main body, the board of directors. Where are these people? I must say I think that many of the members of the board of directors are oppor tunists. The drama needs money. Why aren't the board of directors working to raise mon ey in their respective com munities? No, you never see one of them until there is a picture to be taken and then they are there. When will there ever be an Indian as general manager? We Indians are the most talented people in the world, if given an opportunity. We have qualified Indian people who could do the job as general manager, yet every time we are bypassed. Regardless to whether the drama fails or not, we will be to blame. Frankly, it is our drama. I'd rather, if it failed, that we be the blame because we had an Indian general manager and not a White. Then Is ? lot of wort to be done sad the oaly way this is" to be done is hard wort sad that's got to stSrt. With the Board of Directors tat, sad the ft nidi at, General M? scar* Dtoectsr sat astasa sad they mast be motivated by the organisatioa. Is this beiag done? I say if Mr. Thompson is going to be the General Manager then let him go to work aew not next week pulling all his resources toget her to the main body -ta Jhettara go to work sad stop setting on a stump watching the birds go by. I will say also that a hard core Indian he picked as Assist. General Manager to take Mr. Thomp son's place whenever he leav es, because I am sure he will leave when he finds s greener pasture on the other side. God knows I have really worked very, very, hard my self along with so many other people to make Strike At The Wind! a success. I won dec have the main officials worked hard. Let them ask themselves this question. CarnellLecUear 'DR. ENGLISH E. JONES'DAY' PLANNED APRIL 20 Imm * tea rmj 11 Ilka 17 MlpAkiiJwill(M ^TrmLmtm^ m*T**Zeki ywdb h ill to BHHBb Ptaknkt State Ualravafty fc? Mi *y? ? a mmM bMte,SNX.<ttmi>>OT Mte^ pfcaaa (tw afflea at [919] Eat. 213. Pembroke Town Council Meets cont'd from page 1 Odell Associates on consignment until the building is completed. A proposed police manuel was also tabled until the next meeting. The town belatedly approved the town's audit after S. Preston Douglas and Associates, the accounting firm, made "certain changes as asked for by town administrators." Said Town Man ager McDuffie Cummings, "The audit was in good shape. It was just that certain accounts were listed under the wrong headings." The.lpwn also heard a monologue from Councilman Sam Dial relative to annexation. Said Dial, "It is something we need to begin talking about and working toward. Quite a few people are in favor of it...I'd like for us to think in terms of 1/2 mile either way. Think about the tax base. Tax revenue increase. Powell Bill monies, etc. A lot of things to consider." The council asked town manager McDuffie Cummings to prepare a feasibility study showing the pros and cons of such a move. - Said Kat.^aWe-Med-fo think abput the future. Annexation needs to be done in an orderly manner..." . NOV/ ACCEPTING ORDERS! FOR A NEW BOOK BY GAMY 1EWB MMOM The Life and Times of HENRY DERRY LOWRY Only S6.19 ($5.95 + 24/ Tax) Publication date is now January 15, 1979. We have tentatively planned an autograph party for author Garry Lewis Barton January 19, 1979. More definite plans will be announced in upcoming issues of THE CAROLINA INDIAN VOICE. In the mean time, order your advance copy today. It will be a limited press run, first come, first served unless advance copies are ordered. y Honestly, we believe you will like the book very much. So, look for "THE LIFE AND TIMES OF HENRY BERRY LOWRY" around January 15, 1979. ;V- ?. ? ?| .. ? Pleose send me o copy of The ISe ond Hm* of Hwwy Beny Lowry," scheduled jb be off The presses before Ovtetmas Enclosed you will fiopa check or money order for 16.19 which includes handling and moiling cosrs G raxes (244 In Robeson). Nam ' ? I 11 Cttf/Um i ' - ZipCMi ? Hi Out Thb Coupon ond Sondl Along tflh Oiodi or Monqr Order To~ M CAAOUNA MIAN VOICX 9.0. Bon 167i Pombrofco, PLC 16679 mJi .<L - ffgsjg ^JSSL^TJSZ grSfe.'ssa;
The Carolina Indian Voice (Pembroke, N.C.)
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Jan. 11, 1979, edition 1
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