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Ifcrgjj THE CAROLINA INDIAN VOICE VjJjjB
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RED SPRINGS, ST. PAULS & FAIRMONT
SCHOOLS SUE PARENTS
by Bruce Barton
Following the load of Rod Springs,
Fairmont and St. Paula Schools have
conntoranod die paronta who are suing
diem and the Robeson County System
and the Lumberton City School Unit.
An official familiar with the unique
school situation in Robeson County
termed the legal action "a scare tactic"
saying. "It's like if someone wants to
sell you a rotten apple...you don't have
to buy it if you don't want to..." He was
referring to the contention of the school
officials that their present delimma is
due to the county's inability to sell
school bonds approved by county voters
last March 13.
Officials of the 3 school districts are
asking for damages from the parents
because the parents' discrimination
lawsuit is holding up construction of
school buildings in the county. Robeson
County commissioners have been un
able to sell the bonds because of the
suit.
Last Thursday, officials of the Ked
Springs school district filed a similar
countersuit against the parents asking
for $2 million in damages. The Red
Springs, Fairmont, and St. Pauls school
officials have hired a Raleigh law firm
and joined together in taking the
parents group to court.
Fairmont school officials are asking $2
million in damages from the parent
group because they can't complete a
new elementary and middle school
without the bond money. School of
ficials are particularly concerned lhat
they had to stop construction of the
elementary school before the roof could
be completed.
Lumberton is not a party to the suit;
neither is the Robeson County School
System.
St. Pauls officials are asking for S2.S
million in damages because the lawsuit
has held up the start of construction of a
new school classroom building. The
district has already received bids for the
$1.3 million school, but has a deadline
next month for letting them. Con
struction has not begun on the school.
The parents allege in their lawsuit that
the county school districts and the
county commissioners have perpetuated
racially segregated schools, and charge
that poor quality education exists in the
five systems. All five districts and the
commissioners denied the charges
earlier this month.
The suit is being handled by Raeford
attorney, Phil Diehl.
The Parents' suit was filed against the
Ked Springs Board of Education along
with the Boards of Education of
Robeson County, Lumberton, St. Pauls
and Fairmont. Additionally, the County
Commissioners, the State Board of
Education and the Federal Government
through the Department of Education
and Health and Human Services have
been named defendants.
The suit seeks to correct the abuses
that have existed for generations in the
Robeson County school systems. Fur
ther, the suit alleges many of the
inequities within the Robeson County
school system are based on the simple
fact that there are five separate school
systems operating within the county,
each of which has its own adminis
tration and each of which causes the
fduplication of many expenses to the
detriment of the court's tax payers as
well as the slicing ol the county into
small segments that has- resulted in a
pattern of small school- throughout the
county that cannot provide adequate
curriculum or proper educational bene
fits to the children <>f the county.
According to an ofTiu.il tamiliar with
the case, "The suit Itself docs not seek
to enjoin the sale of any honds on behalf
of Robeson County I he Robeson
County commissioners ,iro tree to sell
the bonds at any time iliey so desire."
According to one of the participants in
the famous double vote law suit no suit
has aroused the attention of those either
for it or against it lik- this one has.
He notes, "everyone is playing for
keeps...this is not a game. Ii is serious
business ...it could, like the double vole
suit, change the whole political and
social fabric of Robeson County society
as we now know it. That is why
everyone is so deadly about it."
This is not the first time Phil Diehl, the
lawyer for the parents has taken on the
establishment, lie recently caused a
policy to be written revising the policy
of school fees in Robeson County in
behalf of some Robeson County
parents.
He also successfully sued the I umbee
River Electric Membership Corporation
in behalf of Rev. Elias Rogers and won
in federal court a few years ago.
Said another attorney, "Diehl is com
petent ...that scares a lot of people in
Robeson County."
Robeson County School System is not a
purl of the legal maneuver by Fairmont,
Red Springs and St. Pauls although they
have asked that the bond monies
allotted to them be released so that they
can renew their building program.
INDIAN HERITAGE WEEK TERMED
A"HUGE SUCCESS"
by Bruce Barton
Officials of the North Carolina Cum
mission of Indian Affairs termed Indian
Heritage Week "a huge success" as the
week of scheduled activities came to an
end.
Locally, the memorial erected in honor
of James E. "Jim" Chavis and the
unveiling of the portrait of Brantley
Blue were well received.
The historical marker was dedicated
last Friday morning with the late and
beloved Jim Chavis" family in at
tendance. His widow, Mrs. Edna
Chavis. was the revered guest as well as
a number of the children and friends.
Organizer Carnell Locklear gave the
dedicatory address in honor of "Mr.
Jim" and lauded his long life of service.
Locklear spelled out "Mr. Jim's"'
name with virtues and goodly attributes
...for instance, he spelled out "J-i-M
this way...
J is for "Joy" ...I is for "Integrity"
and M is for "Maturity." That seemed
to spell out Mr, Jim's life pretty well.
He was. indeed, a joyful and mature
man with lots and lots of integrity.
The historical marker erected in his
honor stands on Highway 711 almost
directly in front of Old Main beside the
parking lot fronting the railroad that
cuts through the campus.
Mr. Jim passed away in 1979 at the
age of HA; he left a mark for many of us
to aspire to. He was associated with the
great Indian leader, Joe Brooks, back in
the 30s and 40s. They and their mighty
"Siouan Council" put events into
motion that are still coming to pass.
For instance, they were responsible for
a spark of Indian activism that resulted
in the "Lumbee" name change al
though they championed the name
"Siouan" and then later "Cheraw."
Too. they developed the old Red Banks
Resettlement lands and championed
Indian recognition for the Indians of
Robeson County.
Internecine feuds within the Indian
camp have kept the full power of the
Indian recognition fight of the 30s from
coming to full fruition but the recog
nition of the "22" as 1/2 Wr more Indian
blood by the Bureau of Indian Affairs is
their most lasting achievement.
Said one familiar with the situation,
"As soon as the Indians quit their
lighting and feuding they can have the
full benefits of federal recognition,
thanks to Joe Brooks and Jim Chavis
and men like that, the work has already
been done." Too. a federal law suit in
the early 70s brought by famous
attorney Tom Tureen demanded that
the federal government give federal
services to the surviving members of
the "Famous 22."
The inability of the Indians in both the
Lumbee and Tuscarora camps to
achieve unity seems to have bruntcd the
impact of the federal suit brought and
won by a Tuscarora group in behalf of
the surviving 22.
Friday was also a day to honor
Brantley Blue, the famous and in
fluential Lumbee barrister who passed
away in 1079 also.
. The portrait, painted by Lumbee artist
Craig Locklear, will hang in Old Main,
on the Pembroke State University
campus. Brantley Blue was one ot the
warriors who saved Old Main by his
efforts in behalf of the "Save Old
Main" movement.
Brantley Blue was the first Indian to
serve on the U.S. Indian Claims Com
mission. He constantly charged his
friends and associates with the query:
"What have you done for your people
lodav?"
Brantley Blue was an advocate for all
Indian people, especially Indians living
on the eastern seaboard of America.
Old friends Adolph Dial and Law
Barton gave remarks in his behalf (sea
Us Barton's column "Anecdotes Il
lustrative' elsewhere in this issue for
additional comments).
Appropriately enough, the weak was
begun wMh a prayer breakfast al the
PrmbriAe J a vera Hut wMh Rev Mike
(emmmgs speaking, As he noted,
religion Is pari and parrel of lite
Moke sun (mints Indian heritage.
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PEOPLE
AND PLACES
AND THINGS
PLATE SALE PLANNED
The Burnt Swamp Baptist Church
of Route 4. I.umberton will have a plate
sale (chicken and barbecue) on Friday.
Oct. .1. All plates are S2.S0. The sale will
he held in the fellowship hall of the
church from II a.m. until 7 p.m.
Proceeds will go 'n,u ,',t* church
huilding lund program.
LOCAL TO PERFORM IN COLLEGE
PRODUCTION
David Oxendinc, son of .Mr. and
Mrs Grady Oxcndine of Pembroke. NC
will perform in the Catawba College
production of "Godspell." The play
will run Sept. 24-28 and Oct. .1 and
4 on the college campus.
David is a junior drama major at
Catawba. He has performed in a
number ol previous productions at
C atawba, including " I he Beggar's
Opera. Ihc Crucible," "The Tem
pest," and "Tartuffe."
( at aw ha College is a small liberal
arts college in Salisbury, NC. The
School is widely recognized for Its
strong program in the theatre.
Cherokee
Methodist
Church
Homecoming
Sunday
The Cherokee Methodist Church in
the Wakulla community, will hold their
Homecoming Sunday. October 5, 1980.
All former members are invited to
attend. Lunch will b<; served in the
Fellowship Hall. There will be a singing
in the afternoon. Singing groups are
invited to come. Kcv. Julian Ransom is
Pastor.
SENIOR
CITIZENS
OUTING
All senior citizens are invited to an
outing on Saturday evening. October 4.
1980, fifty-five years of age and up. The
event is sponsored by the Mt. Airy
Jayoces and will be held at Tyner's
Pond. If you are planning to attend,
please come to Ml. Airy Baptist Church
at 1:00 p.m.
?
FORMER LIBRARY EMPLOYEES
DISPUTE "BUDGET CUTS" AS
REASONS FOR FIRING
Two former employees of the j
Robeson County Library appeared I
before the board of trustees Wednesday I
? afternoon to protest their dismissals for I
'so-called "budget cuts."
Both Yvonne Hutchison, formerly an
administrative secretary, and Jean I
Becker, until her dismissal coordinator VH
of library volunteers, disputed claims of X
library administrators that they were /
"let go" because of a shortage of fund^F -
Ms. Becker explained to the tmj^ees
that her position would havof only
required an oui!?w of SI .000 bi^huse of
a federal grant which funded the
posiiion on a yearly basis of to three
years. .
Ms Hutchison, in rirsponse to a
query from a board member, said that . j
?he believed she was "fired'' because
of "a difference of opinion" with the
librarian, Ms. Diana Tope.
The two women were "let go" along
with five other employees in June and
July because of a supposed lack of
funds.
The dismissal of the employee* have
caused a furor in Robeaon County
political circlet because the library
recently approached the city and county
asking SH0.000 to match a state grant.
The monies would be used to refurbish
the old Tire station which was given to
the library by the city of Lumberton.
Although the city agreed in principal
to put up $40,000 the county commis
sioners tied their approval to a rehiring
of the dismissed employees. Herman
Dial, chairman of the board of commis
sioners, has been a critic of the abrupt
firings, saying "I will always put
people Tirst when it comes to them or a
building."
Ms. Hutchison especially blamed
"personal reasons" for her dismissal
saying, "It's been labeled budget
cuts..'..I know and you all know that
there have been no budget cuts." Ms.
Hutchison said that she believed she
was Tired because of her involvment in
the firing and later rehiring of a library
employee. Mrs. Mattie Locklcar, who
was initially dismissed for refusing to
work on Sundays due to her religious
convictions. Ms. Hutchison recommen
ded against Tiring Mrs. Locklear.
County-wide Meeting
Scheduled Oct. 3rd
at Jaycee Fairgrounds
Accord i iik lo local new* re pom there
will be a county-wide meeting held
Friday night at the Lumberton Jaycee
Fairground* on Highway 41. Tha
Carolina Indian Vafca hat been
notifled of the meeting and ia aiao
reporting according lo local aewa
re pun*'
Carl Wnl. ?pufce*man for a group
billing tiaed "The Tit-Racial Committee
for Tea Relocm" ha* called for the
meeting in a peraoaal column he write*
fw the ieheaealaa, the county dally
? ? Mb
The meeting will begin, awarding lo
Wett. at Tijo p.m. Weal haa. In the
pa*t. called far electing the county
maaager by papular vote end etoetiag
I
county commiittooon by a county whit
volt.
Robeton County praamUy ciocta its
county commtaoiomn and betid mom* I
ber? re present inf the Roberta County
Board of Education by district. Moody
board mtmbora art tlteltd by district It
?Mure dial all Ihtet ratta art rapca
tented Until dlttrict wotloB no Indlaa at
Black ever aarvsd an a county wtda
Bobtatn County ton la wMaat ? dm
VMhkfl R India Attn tf IBM bcoaoat of
Htttlovv SJSlHSl Indillll ft fid
** i