cdiMis t ciiro
Bus Strike Makes Only Losers
by Hqyle H. Martin Sr.
In 197ft, a 36-day long bus strike,
the city's first in 18 years, bad a
significant affect on nearly 10,000
daily riders and city government.
Many downtown businesses were
stranded, 132 buses' were idled, the
striking drivers and mechanics had
_ little of no income, the city lost
revenue and many people could not
get to their Jobs or attend school.
Undoubtedly, if was Xfié ffiéaory
of these 2-year old factors that led to
* published reports that Mayor Ken
Harris said the bus strike that began
last Sunday would make us all
loeers.
While staying within President
Carter's wage-price guidelines, the
city offer includes an increase of 99
cents per hour over a two year
period. This would raise the average
1 bus driver's salary from $12,000 to
nearly $14,900 yearly or tip to $13,200
with overtime work. However, since
bu^revenyesonly cover 38 per cent
of the cost of bus services, a $3.4
million deficit occurs.annually. That.
fact alone thus makes the $1.97 per
nour increased wage proposed re- .
quested by the union both unreason
able and unrealistic.
Since Mayor Harris has taken a
justifiably hardline position on the
union's wages demands, the union '
has expressed a greater concern
about some proposed new work
rules. These rules deal with such
issues as: (1) company require
ments that drivers give a 30 minute
notice if they won't be reporting for
work; (2) a rule giving the company
more authority in discipling drivers
for work rule violations; (3) allow
ing the company to hire part-time
drivers during peak hours; and (4) a
company proposal requiring drivers
and mechanics to attend safety
meetings and to participate in re
training programs.
The union is opposing each of
these rules changes we feel without
justifiable cause. The fact is the
union's entire position in this strike
is weak and largely unreasonable.
We hope they'll reconsider their
position, return to the bargaining
table and settle with the city's fair
and just offer.
* · · — * · · «
A*M%> iaA|W/m ouuaiuy (A uw exist
ing cost of bus service, the needs of
the poor who ride the buses, the
possibility of losing more permanent
bus ridersT^nd thè^ àbécnCe of any
media support further point out the
weakness of the union's position in
the strike.
To repeat, we hope the drivers,
mechanics and their union will take
another look at their position on the
issues and realize that in the end
they may be the biggest losers. Let
the buses roll again! We need them.
υοοα luck Lions:
ml /ti ν χ îiL "
XI1« If COI VU04 iUVVC iJiVUO W1UI Cl
12-1 record will meet Richmond
County High, 11-2, for the state 4A
football champioiiship tomorrow
night in Richmond. Such newsprint
lines are fairly common across the
country this time of year. However,
what û often overlooked in the
hoopla proceeding such a big game ■
is how the participating teams
reached the prestigous final gridiron
encounter of the season.
Regardless fo the outcome of the
West Charlotte-Richmond County
game, the Lions have had a story
book season that any school ca&ènd
«tmikMv yma.uln η*.* _ -Γι*·
H*ir«t nn («IB innlnHinff Uaail
Coach Rudy Abrams, expected the
Lira» to reach the 4A football
playoffs, much less be a participant
in the championship game. Coach
Abrams saidin a nearly disbelieving
manner, "TOs~~rëâHy~ wasn't the
year we thought it would happen, but
here we are in the final..."
Coach Abrams' near-disbelief
stems from the West Charlotte
Lions' capture of the Southwestern
4A Conference Championship with a
9-1 regular season record. This was
followed by play-off victories over
Ashbrook, East Burke and R.J.
Reynolds High Schools.
in compiling this overall 12-1
record, the Lions rolled up another
disbelieving statistic—seven straight
shutout wins and eight overall inclu
ding the three play-off victories.
What accounts for this pheno
menal success of the Lions? It is
obvious of course that the Lions are
a talented team, they'd have to be to
win seven straight shutouts. It is
obviou& too that the Lions have been
well directed by Coach Abrams and
his crew. What may not be so
obvious is that the 1978 football Lions
are. a group of mature young men
wh# have refined the art of self
'discipline, demonstrated the ability
to play under pressure and set an
example for other students to follow
with regard to these qualities since
they can be aoolied to anv nart of
one's life.
The Poet is proud to salute the
Liées as^heyjourney to Richmond
County in quest erf the state 4A
Football Championship. While we
wish them well, there is no doubt in
our minds that the West Charlotte
Lions are "Number One" in North
Carolina. Thus, regardless of the
outcome in Richmond County
tomorrow night, the Lions have
beaten the best and thus are the
best. Right-on Lions!
Something On Your Mind?
"Something on your mind" is the
name of a column devoted to you
the young at heart readers of this
newspaper-as long as it relates in
some way to young people, regard
lees of age.
Let us hear from you on any subject
of your choice.
'* THE CHARLOTTE POST
"THE PEOPLES NEWSPAPER"
Established 1918
Published Every Thursday
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For A Safe Community Let's Unite™
Community Affair»
Competency Testing —
by Kenyon C. Burke
Special To The Poet
Why are so many groups of
people upset about competen
cy testing? Who stands to
benefit and who stands to lose
by the emergence of this type
of testing?
These questions are being
debated by educators, par
ents, students, taxpayers, em
ployers, psychologists, legis
lators, and minority groups.
The public push for institut
ing some form of standard
in education and requirements
on a statewide basis for
schools to identify minimum
basic academic or life skills
that students should have be
fore receiving a Ugh school
diploma has,created'much
unrest and ^controversy
throughout the nation.
Τλ Hato 1A atotoc hovo arlnn.
ted some form of competency
testing program through legis
lative action, while other
states are in various phases of
discussions, planning, draft
ing or implementation.
■— and
fearful that many of their
children are being passed
through schools systems with
out receiving basic fundamen
tal skills that are necessary
for surviving and coping in our
increasingly complex techno
logically oriented society as
responsible adults. Tax pay
ers are strongly voicing con
cern over rising educational
coats, declining schools enroll
ment and declining test
scores. Hiey're asking for a
more detailed accounting of
Just what their tax dollars are
buying.
Employers continue to
register disappointment re
garding the less than sauuuc
tory skill level of many high
school graduates. They report
instances of high school grad
uates who can hardy read
their names on their rtiplnmn
in addition to not being able to
All out a simple Job applicat
^Olkform. They further quest
ώη why they should have to
provide skill training for sim
ple and bask tasks as answer
ing telephones, simple compu
tation and spelling.
Psychologists and other soc
ial scientists are questioning
the entire educational process
along with what we should
expect from our school system
and bow best that can be
measured objectively ··*
fairly for all concerned. -
Minority groupe, knowing
full well that the schools for
the moet part are failing to
equip their children with basic
coping skills, are also question
-ing what form of testing will
not adversely affect their
children. Additionally, blacks,
hispanics and other disadvan
taged minorities are pressing
for improvement of the qual
ity of education in their
schools.
Students are concerned with
receiving educational experi
ences that will prepare them
adequately to compete in our
skills demanding society.
They too are concerned about
abuses in the school System
including testing practices
that will limit their life chan
ces.
Legislators are also feeling
the heat from all of these
groups in addition to many
professional educational aaro
ciations and teacher unions
who are opposed to allowing
anything to exist in the
schools that approaches hold
ing teachers accountable for
the quality of education and
the skill achievement level of
their students.
All this points to our having
to closely monitor competency
testing to insure that blacks
and other disadvantaged min
orities are not oooe again
victims of unfair testing and
educational practices sanct
ioned by legislative mandate.
It is also clear that any
intelligent public policy on
competency testing must in
clude teacher and school sys
tem accountability and not
al experience he or she had in
preparation for receiving
a high school diploma. To do
otherwise would be hlaming
the victim:
Wingate College
To Pwwnt
Qnbm Concert
Wingate College will present
a Christmas program featur
ing the concert band, coocert
choir, and the Wingate Com
munity Orcbeatra on Thurs
day evening, December 7 at S
p.m. ta Austin Auditorium.
The program will be a high
ly varied one with inlarttoni
ranging from the sacred to a
sing-a-long conclusion, thé
final numbers fee tiring all
three groups plus the awJwee
playing and singing favorite
rhrtafanii hvmm.
• By Vernon Ε. Jordan, Jr. -
TO
* 1Λ·Ι,ι . ·.
Muted
While blacks nave been doing battle with the
forthright opponents of affirmative action, a new
threat has up, unnoticed. And this
threat often comes from our "friends" who say
toey support ariirmadve action programs.
The threat lies in the definition of "minorities"
that will be included in various special pro
gram!. Bade in the lMfs, there was little
confusion about who such programs were for.
The black minority was perceived «s the minor
ity by-discrimination and therefore most in need
of special assistance.
His panics and Native Americans were also
included in such definitions of minorities in need
of special opportunities, because they too were
victimized by discriminatory practices and
because race and color were basic factors gm
their victimization.
Then others clamored for special treatment
Various ethnic groups pointed to thé historic
hardships they had faced ss immigrants to
predominately white, Protestant America.
Then the women's movement picked up steam
and argued for inclusion of women in "minority"
programs on the obvious ground that women had
been persistently discriminated against through
out our history.
iivw, OT1IU α Ult |#U»U 11VU1 UK D«ue DKIBIOD,
it is being asserted that anyone who comes from
a background of economic disadvantage should
be given access to special programs.
So the original intent of special efforts to help
black people overcome the effects of centuries of
legally imposed racist discrimination has been
obscured, m special efforts are demanded by ·
host of other groups. In effect, the definition of
"minority" is being expanded to the point where
it is meaningless,,
In the process, black opportunities are being
diluted. Thus, blacks have been placed in the
position of confrontation with other groups for
the shrinking opportunities our society offers. If
this trend continues, blacks will lose out and may
be forced back to our society's lowest rungs.
It stands to reason that if a company or a
university aims to have, let ULsay, fifteen '#
percent minority representation as a goal, then
defhUng%oMé»aûdtnostéthnicgftjujtiss J
"minorities" leaves fewer openings for blacks.
Affirmative action programs have to be
returned to the realistic social context of our
society. That contest is plaip-black Americans
have received treatment that has been different
in kind from any other ethnic group. As a result
of that heritage of oppression, many blacks have
been denied access to the mainstream of our
society.
fM ■ » _ m · · ϊϊ
lue ueait loti uiueniniag OiaCK Claim* for
special efforts to overcome that heritage is that
black disadvantage was legally imposed. Slav
ery, peonage, social and economic discrimina
tion, housing and school bias, all were embedded
in the structure of American law.
Ethnic groups that point to the difficult times
facedby their immigrant ancestors are right, up
to a point! America has been harsh to many
groups whose language, religion , or customs
were perceived as different. But the hard times
they faèedwere shared everthy members of φβ
American majority. Appalachian whites wore
treated as badly as European immigrants in the
mines. The ms$*y of America in the nineteenth
centurv is a dismal atarv et MmWtfne «11 l»hi*
Our New Day Begun
ΊΓ
Decency Truimphs In Philadelphia
by Benjamin L. Hooks
I Special To The Post
While advising Philadel
phians to "vote white" on
election day, Mayor Frank
Rlsxo at the same time arro
gantly predicted that 40 per
cent of black voters would east
their ballots for a charter
reform which would have per
mitted him to run for a third
term nsart year. As it turned
out, though, blacks went to the
polls in record numbers on
election day; a minisculo four
percent cast their votes for the
charter change, thus assuring .
the measure's defeat by a two
to one margin.
Due to Rlsso's devisive tac
uca, ine κηπβοβιρηιβ cnarter
reform iaeue draw national
attention. Hi* tireieea cam
palgn-in whit· wank only-to
aaaure himaeli a third ahot at
the mayoraKy pitted Urn not
only «caimt local black real·
loua Mfcdari and a boat of
other· who had beç«pe tired
ofhla vitriolic verbiage.
Conaequently, it waa no aur
priae to the NAACP and many
othara who had worked to
defeat the charter reform
measure that the final reaults
ran do·· to the two to one
margin at defeat that had been
predicted earlier
Benjamin L. 1
NAACP executive director
Next came the frosting on
the campaign. On election
day, an eetimated 10,000 ·
people, moetiy black·, «an
delayed or prevented from
casting their ballots because
between 100 and 400 voting
msrhiass broke down. After
the polls bed dosed, Dtst
tered a single vote during
the dav.
Another complaint alleged
that a city official had movad
voting machine· front ooa
polling plaça to othar location
without informing votar· the
Monday evening before elect
ion·.
When the polls dosed that
night at 8 o'clock, tboueanda of
black* were still In long lines
outside polling stations. Many
others were in police station
seeking authority to vote.
The aubeequent arrest of
one dty official and investiga
tions by law enforcement
agencies, including the Fede
ral Bureau of Investigation,
was the clearest measure of
the national dtograce that the
Philadephla elections had ba
cons.
navmg anngoNniwa ww·
coined unity, Macks are now
looking toward next year'*
mayoral race. They had turn
ed out In especially larfe
number*, and choaen Ismm
and candidate· carefully, aa
their tkkeï-TH***««g
indicated. Amoag organisat
ion· hewing to achieve these
reéulta were the NAACP snd
the Unttad Black Pnmt, which
lad voter registration aad get
culsrly encouraging deratop
ment was ths unity that ths
black and Puerto Rlcan com
munities displayed as they
torgsd s coalition to datent ths
charter isimm question.
Ths dUsmma that Macks
now (sea, though, is whether
they can remain united long
enough to stoM ths threat of
destruction in next year'·
mayoryl election, dearly, the
danger now la not from with- ·
out but from within their own !
ranka.
The excitement at victory
and the Joy of discovering
their own strength was well
earned. They were presented
with a dear issue that would
not only have been harmful
but alio hiimlHattm Nao
flauntarad the charter reform
taaue bafera black· aa wall aa
whitea, Puerto Ricana and
"ihi'dly reaponded in kind
and damonatrated that Ita n
putattoo (or "brotherly love"
doca not lqckido Umm who
would fan tho flam« n racial
djYWoe. It * bow op to tb·
black axnmuftity to trsmlate
•iSwiSSSeaid tOm
ovardbo political muoek.
tfusmem m ι ne moat t
Tax Cut: Benefit Or Balloon?
by Charte Ε. Ml·
Μ»
not git too mttad about the
recant tax cot. No daubt It'·
baoauM it vtn ooly aitxwt to
approximately $80 lor a Mack
family of (our which wnrwHy
ha· a median iacoaoe at iem
thaa 110,000 par yaar. Any
colored family averaging
«30.Μ0 par yaar will only bava
it· tax Mil cut by $M7 er |U a
, Wig thw >11 tha M* „ ..
•beat a tax cut for tha «Mm
daaa to Go^M aad
the Cartar WhUa Houaa, yau
may right hilly aak? Baeauaa
white folk· are flndlag tMr
lue «ad social aacurity ooota
rialng faatar than tMr wa^M
It ahou!?b!!^lear that natth
cut for white
fttehelplM·
Humpfcray-Hawklns Pull
SBftECS"!: —■ I
•IP aeonr· ara gome
banafit for Black
Anartoa to that wMta Amari
00 win dtowpr that doatroy
pyngyami |^y
oAvififl ntfwlM laaa in tiiii
ftftw—lw
'·
of the
nyi Ki tern rofcaf to
on to ûm ·>ο,ooo to mm pet
poopta in not exactly your
s> TVy are tho
white mMdlo claA wWch thto
tax rottof waa roOfcnt Ι» ι
or far otocttoa yoér «
Tha 1100 tax