' (a u> a> ?y4> ' - >c.v *y- o o o rlqMi / > ? ? iHaM ....'. . -,. .. ^-yy am A* . WO b9^H9| 1PUBUSHED EACH THURSDAY &THE CAROLINA INDIAN VOI E ? "Building Communicative Bridges I PgMBHOK&Ng -J ir^jywciqiSettm^ ? ROBESON "Wh., | ? VOLUME 14 NUMBER 30 - 25c PER COPY Will Five Go Into One ? Merger Possibilities In Robeson County EDITOR'S NO TE This it the eighth m a series of articles about school merger possibilities in Robeson County. Will five go into one ? History shouts "No!" We hope history will be proven wrong. The series of articles uias written by Bruce Barton, editor of this newspaper. The position of those who favor merger was stated quite fully in this writer's column. At I See It, which appeared in The Carolina Indian Voice on September 23, 1982: "Tve read a lot of media wringing of the hands lately about the travails of the residents of Clyboume Pines-Country Club - areas who have been returned to the Robeson County School System from which they were unlawfully taken approximately twelve years ago. There have been administrative pro blems. inconveniences caused by all parties concerned, ft has sometimes been unpleasant but always necessary. As I see it, the return of Clybourn Pines and Country Club areas to the county system from which they were unlawfully taken is simply just a case of parual pajnient ot a longstanding debt ft is sort of like if a man owed you a dollar and decided to pay you 45 cents on that debt Would you not take the 45 cents and still hold the debtor responsible for the 55 cents still left unpaid? Now there is talk of merger in the county. Maybe. But a lot would depend on how the minorities were treated in the transitional period. Who would be the superintendent of a system encompassing the whole county? That would be an important question that would need to be answered beforehand. History shows that Indians have always been short changed educationally in the past. ukafty, total merger ia the answer to the education woes of the county. No doubt about it But who would run such a system? How could Indians and Blacks and Whites be assured of equal representation? Who could make that land of decision? Could our provincial and racial notions be put aside long enough to do what is right for all the children of the county? History shouts "NO!" and "Be wary, Indians!" The fact is that no one that I know of has excused barker Ten Miles ana lake wood Estates from being returned to the county system. The educational chickens are coming home to roost in 01' Robeson. Their turn is coming, make no mistake about it But let's remember what happened and why. No one can reasonably know where He is going if he does not know where He has been. The fact is that the Lumberton City Schools was found guilty as charged for unlawfully annexing three areas-Barker Ten Miles, Lake wood Estates, and Clyboume Pines and Country Club-into the city system more than a decade ago. The illegal annexations were affected in order the escape the implementa tion of the 1970 desegregation plan imposed by HEW, and to buttress up misconceived notions of racial superiority. Lumberton, when called on the carpet recently by the justice department, and found guilty of breaking the 1965 Voting Rights Act, decided to return Clyboume Pines and Country Club area to the county. Their hope is that they will be allowed to keep Barker Ten Mile and Lake wood Estates for having done so. As I see it, they will not be allowed to do so. The county board of education's position was to accept the partial payment of a longstanding debt. They said, is essence, "Yes, we will take Clyboume Pines and Country Club area back into the system from which they were unlawfully taken but you (the Lumberton City Schools) still owe us Barker Ten Mile and Lake wood Estates." There the matter stands. That is why some folks now are lamenting and wringing their hands about merger. The legal handwriting is on the wall. So, of course, total merger of the duplicitous five school systems in Robeson is the answer but not by the educational rape of the Robeson County School System, the aggrieved party in this matter. The Robesonian and I almost agree on the need for merger- almosL The Robesonian seems to want to forget (or pretend it never happened) the past The Carolina Indian Voice wants the illegal annexations remem bered so that it never happens again." CONTINUED NEXT WEEK Governor Holshouser Chairs N.C. Indian Cultural Center Board Reprinted From "Indian Time" The North Carolina Indian Cultural Center Inc. has moved steadily forward since its incorporation in December 1985. The 13 member board appointed by the Commission of Indian Affairs has adopted bylaws and elected former Governor James Holshouser, chairman; Ruth Revels, vice chairman; John Brooks, treasurer, and Jim Hunt, secretary. Others serving as board members are Tom Carter, Clinton Thomas, Ernest Jacobs, James Jacobs, Charles Lynch, Hector Mc Lean, Grace Rohrer, Joffne Coe an