North Carolina Newspapers

No white stuff There's no chance of any kind of precipitation through the weekend. The highs today and Saturday will be in the upper 30s and the lows in the low 20s. Demons down Devils Wake Forest destroyed Duke Thursday night, 79-60. Rod Griffin paced Wake with 21 points. Gene Banks had 18 for Duke. Serving the students and the University community since 1893 Volume 85. Issue No. 82 Friday, February 3, 1978, Chapel Hill, North Carolina Please call us: 933-0245 Desegregation plan nixed; HEW begins funds action m5 If mm -m-'-yy- yym:mmimyi w-yyy f . . . vast -vjmmmMmw-mml wJi-( . .... : ; 'f fisajsssaifesifii -. i j : -v vWM:$myymmmM0 ::. v::' v. y;::y y f i -1. . I . lililllliS; 1 yyyyyyyy'ki'M These two young gentlemen lucked into a day off from school snowman, but they because of an abundance of the white stuff. The snow wasn't page 5. Staff photo deep enough to keep leaves and other debris off their Major gripe new eight-hour shift Firefighters displeased with By MICHAEL WADE Staff Writer Although town officials have praised the public safety officer program for increasing the efficiency of Chapel Hill's police and fire protection, some town employees are unhappy with the program. Chapel Hill's firefighters are particularly critical of the program because they had to change from their traditional in which they were at the station 24 hours at a time 24-hour shift, to an eight-hour shift in order to work with the public safety officers. Under the eight-hour shift, firefighters must come to work eight hours each day. They rotate daily shifts each week. Fire Department Captain Matthew Maynor said in a recent interview that morale within the department is very low because of the shifts firefighters arc working, He said 37 of 40 firefighters have indicated they would rather return to the 24-hour shift. Maynor said firefighters also object to what he called a reduction in personnel on the shifts. Dormitory dwellers to vote on social By RAMONA JONES Staff Writer Dorm residents will decide whether to increase residence hall social fees by 50 cents per semester when they vote in campus elections Feb. IS. If the proposed increase is passed, it would raise social fees from $2.50 to $3 per semester. The S2.50 fee is returned to each residence hall to be used for social activities. The additional 50 cents would be given to the Residence Hall Association, according to Bain Jones, RHA president. "The referendum would provide an extra $8,400 per year," Jones said. "This money would not be used to fund the operation of the association (RHA). It would be used to provide more direct activities for the residence halls." Jones said $3,000 of the increase would be used Montessori school fosters independence By MICHELE MECKE Staff Writer Three-year-old Dubois, with out-thrust tongue, diligently places the flash cards in their box. One by one they slide in, until finally, he is finished. Success. Four-year-old Sammy dabs blobs of orange and red paint on an easel with the care of a Van Gogh, then steps back to admire his work. Another triumph. Dubois and Sammy are students at the Chapel Hill Montessori School, which places a great deal of value on independent success for its students even if they are three or four years old. The first thing that catches one's eye at the school, a modern wood building on Weaver Dairy Road, is that everything is midget -sized, made for the 3- to 6-year-olds the school enrolls. Door knobs are thigh-high on an adult, and tables, chairs, shelves, windows and cubby-holes are similarly scaled-down. The next thing one notices is the quiet amazing for a room of 25 to 30 nursery-school-aged youngsters. There is noise, but it's a buzzing, ' busy noise of children at work. Yes, work. The children at Montessori schools do not play their days away, because unlike adults, -"children love work," says Cathy Beemer, a Montessori teacher, called a directoress. And although children in conventional preschool programs also work through their play, the work activities of Montessori children are more highly structured. Work is one of the basic tenets of the Montessori philosophy developed by Italian educator and physician Maria Montessori, who died in 1952. Montessori first developed her educational system to help retarded slum children in Italy and later adapted it for normal children. The Montessori theory says the natural aim of a young child is for self-development and that he can learn at his own pace. The theory maintains that too much help from adults can hinder rather than aid the child's development. "Adults shouldn't smother children," says Beemer, whose two children have attended the school. The aim of the Montessori method is to "learn how to learn yourself," she says. Children at the Chapel Hill school are not without direction, however. Instead of the Under the old system, there were three firefighters in each of the town's three stations at all times. Now, there are'only two firefighters in the stations, because the patrolling PSO has replaced the third person in the station. Maynor said not having the third person in the station reduces the teamwork involved in fighting fires, especially because firefighters are unable to prepare for a fire together on the way from the station. "We're having a little problem, 1 guess, in that with them (PSOs) it's pretty hard to blend in as a team." Maynor said he thinks PSOs would be more valuable as a supplement to. three full-time firefighters rather than as a replacement for one of them; "As a replacement, it just doesn't fill the bill." Maynor said many firefighters think the PSO program has been "an umbrella for the town to hire more policemen." He said that because PSOs spend almost all their time doing police work, most are police oriented. Maynor emphasized that he thinks the PSOs by the residence halls for physical improvements such as buying furniture or ice machines. This money also could be used for educational programs. Another $3,000 would be used for programming, Jones said. For example, it could be used to finance speakers, film series, exhibits in residence halls or any other program that would affect residence halls as a whole. The remaining $2,400 would be used (o purchase additional audio-visual and amplification equipment to be loaned to residence halls for special programs, Jones said. "The $2.50 fee would still be returned to the individual halls," Jones said. Jones said RHA now receives $4,750 from the Campus Governing Council. He said he does not think there will be a drastic decrease in requests for structured group programs and the domineering teacher most persons remember from their early j years, Montessori children work individually or in small groups, and guidance from the directoress usually comes in whispers. Quiet is part of the ground rules at the school, Beemer explains. So is politeness. The children are taught to respect each other's rights. Montessori students go about their work for the most part independently, choosing what work they will do at what time. The directoress observes the child's progress and guides him in the learning process. Montessori activities and materials are highly structured and graduated to allow the child to move step by step from the concrete to the abstract. The Montessori materials, such as blocks and pegs that fit together in only one way, allow the child to find his own errors and let him know when he has done the activity correctly without the help of an adult. The highly structured materials are, however, often cited in criticism of Montessori education, according to Barbara Day, an associate professor in the UNC School of Education specializing in early childhood education. Because the child may be allowed to use the equipment only for its educational purposes and not as an imaginative toy, critics often say creativity is discouraged. Similarly, because Montessori children may not have as much unstructured play as children in conventional preschools, critics contend that their social and communicative development is hampered. In some cases, there is a "lack of spontaneity and communication and a lack of delight in discovering and creating," Day says. "But this depends entirely on the teacher and the way in which she works with the children in using those materials." According to Day, Montessori's basic assumptions are good ones for education in general. Particularly good, she says, are the concepts of a prepared environment wit h concrete sensory materials with which the child can learn by doing, and the placement of children of different ages in the sameclassroom, enabling them to learn from each other. Montessori activities fall basically into four categories: practical life such as learning to use a broom, pour water or button a coat; sensorial didn't seem to care. See more snow on by Allen Jernigan. PSO program are doing a good job: "The problem is not with the people, it's with the system." Maynor added that the program would be beneficial if the firefighters could return to their 24-hour shift and if PSOs were utilized as supplements instead of replacements for full-time firefighters. Town Manager Kurt Jenne concluded after a study in I977thattheeight-hourshiftswork better for the town. Then firefighters appeared before the Board of Aldermen to protest the shifts, the mayor appointed a study commission to investigate the problem. The committee has yet to issue its report, and Maynor said the firefighters are making no other protests against the shift until the report is released. One public safety officer said he does not think the program is working. "We (PSOs) get only eight hours of fire training a month," PSO David Woody said. "How can you be a fireman with only eight hours training a month?" See PSO on page 4. funds from CGC by RHA next year even if the proposal is passed. "The money from CGC is used to operate the office," he said. "We're not trying to disassociate ourselves from Student Government, but 'the money is badly needed and an increase in social fees is the only way we can see to get it." CGC speaker Chip Cox said, "It's not easy to get money from CGC when you're competing with 35 other campus organizations. If this referendum does pass, I don't think they'll ask for anything like what they asked for this year, but I think they'll still ask for something. "A year ago. the Carolina Union was the only organization with guaranteed funding. The Daily Tar Heel now gets 16 percent of student fees. RHA is now the next organization to request guaranteed fees. recognizing colors, shapes, textures and patterns: math, language. The children at the Chapel Hill school also study art, geography and science and get lessons on subjects chosen by directoress on anything from leafy vegetables to astronomy, along with physical activities to build muscle coordination. The school day at the Chapel Hill school is from 8:30 a.m. through lunchtime. An extended session for the older children lasts until 2 p.m. The school also offers a less struct ured day-care program until 5:30 p.m. for children of working parents. Tuition for each child is $620 per year. The Chapel Hill school has grown in six years from a cla,ss of five students in the home of a graduate student to a group of 35 meeting at a local church, to its present enrollment of 77 at the Weaver Dairy Road Building. Nationwide, Montessori principles are being absorbed into some public kindergarten and elementary systems. "But Montessori is not for everybody," Beemer says. "For a person that wants a lot of control over his child, this is not the best system. For parents who can't allow their child freedom, it (Montessori) would be very frustrating." If Montessori ideas are initiated in public schools "there'd have to be another alternative, something more structured for other parents," Beemer says. "The good features of a Montessori program are good for all children," Day says. "The limitations should be studied to see if t hey exist in a certain classroom and to see if the parent feels they are indeed limitations. One drawback to Montessori schools is that at present the Montessori name is not protected and can be adopted by any school, whether or not it follows Montessori principles. A school must meet certain standards, however, if it wishes to be certified by the American Montessori Society. To be certified, the Montessori teacher must attend an intensive 350-hour course of instruction and spend nine months as an intern in a Montessori classroom. Soon, a four-year college degree will become part of the requirements. The Department of Health, Education and Welfare is in the process of approving and recognizing Montessori teacher-training programs, which could lead to funding for scholarships. By AMY McRARY Staff Writer The federal government Thursday rejected North Carolina's desegregation plan for its 16 campuses, and it will start administrative proceedings against the University system that could lead to a cutoff of federal funds. In a morning press conference, Joseph Califano. secretary of the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, said that while the plans for Arkansas, Florida, and Oklahoma universities and North Carolina's community college system are acceptable, those for university systems in Virginia, Georgia and North Carolina are not. "1 regret the decision not to accept the University's plan," University system President William C. Friday said Thursday. "I remain convinced that our plan does meet our obligations under Title VI (of the 1964 Civil Rights Act) and that it charts a course of action that will improve the quality of public higher education for all of our citizens." Califano said administrative proceedings against the three noncomplying states will begin shortly. Under the administrative proceedings, HEW and UNC have 45 more days to formulate a plan the federal agency will accept. During the proceedings, legal representatives from HEW and UNC can hold discussions before a judge or judge choen by HEW, Clean 4 h "" I. purnc I In 1975 public safety officers assumed many duties formerly performed by police officers. Staff photo by Andy James. fee increase "If this referendum fails, 1 don't think anyone will try it for a while." Cox said he did riot think the proposal will pass. "There's been too much publicity about surplus funds in CGC, and I don't think the student body will be willing to pass two tax bills in the same year." he said. The student body approved a student fee increase of $2.50 per semester in a Nov. 16 advisory referendum. Jones said he thinks the proposal will pass. "There's quite a bit of ent husiasm now," he said. "It's an opportunity for residence halls to help themselves. It would provide the degree of autonomy needed for RHA to become a semi independent organization." This child is one of about 35 youngsters Montessori School. Through a variety independence in learning. Staff photo by Thompson, assistant to the president for special services, said Wednesday. But Friday said he did not know at this point if lawyers would be included in the proceedings. "1 would assume that once lawyers get involved, they take the negotiations over," Friday said. "We do not as yet have a law firm. I believe this will be one of the things discussed at the Feb. 10 meeting of the Board of Governors." Friday said that while he could not be sure why the state plan was refused, it was because he believed UNC refused to eliminate programs duplicated at traditionally black and traditionally white universities. Friday said that in a Wednesday telephone conversation with Califano, "1 gave him all our arguments against this (program elimination). But they seem to think this is a requirement." University officials have said that compliance with the program-elimination requirement would give HEW the authority to control the campus system and destroy the University system. Califano did not specify in the press conference why the three southern states' plans were rejected. He did say, however, that the plans were not strong enough in improving the traditionally black colleges to attract students of all races; reducing duplicated programs; desegregating faculties; and placing more black students in traditionally white universities. The secretary said he hoped HEW could work with the three states so that all states would have, or be on their way to having, a complete integrated college system. If no agreement is reached during the proceedings, or if the judge rules in favor of H E W, the agency could then start enforcement proceedings against the University system. Under such proceedings. UNC could lose federal funds. Thompson, however, said the fund cutoff could take years, as every program on each of the 16 campuses would have to be studied by HEW's Office of Civil Rights to see if the programs are discriminatory. The NAACP Legal Defense Fund filed a motion Thursday in U.S. District Court in Washington to cut off federal funds to University Pampered Punxsutawney pet frightened by own shadow Groundhog Fail: no letup of winter PUNXSUTAWNEY. Pa. (UP1) - Sorry, folks, there will be no letup to winter. Phil the Groundhog, whose ancestors allegedly have predicted the severity of winter for 91 years, skittered out of his burrow at dawn Thursday, saw his shadow and slunk back inside. That, legend goes, means we can expect another six weeks of miserable winter weather. Legend has it that Punxsutawney Phil has emerged from his home on Gobbler's Nob every Feb. 2 since 1887 to look for his shadow. Supposedly, if he sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. If he does not, spring is around the corner. Phil, so his supporters in this coal-mining town of western Pennsylvania would have you believe, has seen his shadow just twice in 91 years. After struggling through frigid temperatures last year and mountains of snow this year, persons living in the nation's "cold belt" might just wonder whether there is, after all, something to Punxsutawney Phil. Groundhog Day is akin to a religious holiday in 'Punxsutawney, as it was in Europe centuries ago where Feb. 2 was celebrated as Candlemas Day. j: : ft aged 3 to 6 enrolled at the of activities, the school Billy Newman. Chapel Hill encourages systems in North Carolina, Virginia and Georgia. "We agree with Califano's decision to reject these plans," LDF attorney John Silard said. "But we feel that all money should be cut off rather than be given to these schools while proceedings go on." Any new federal funds to the North Carolina system could be cut off until settlement was reached, Califano said, if the new funds contributed to segregation. Student financial aid would not be affected. Meanwhile, Friday said North Carolina would "carry out this plan to the best of our ability and thus increase the enrollment of black students in our institutions, to accelerate the integration of all of our campuses and to strengthen further our traditionally black institutions." Gov. Jim Hunt said he told Califano the state would "stick with our position." Hunt's press secretary, Gary Pearce, said Hunt told Califano, "I favor building up the traditionally black universities, but those decisions we North Carolinians have to make on the grounds of educational policy and fairness." U.S. Rep. Ike Andrews, D-N.C, said he was disappointed in HEW's decision. Sen. Robert Morgan. D-N.C, said the federal agency's insistence on the program-elimination requirement would cause degree programs to be shuffled to an extent that would break down the college system. HEW's action requiring the southern states to set new desegregation plans resulted from a federal court order involving a 1970 suit by the NAACP. The suit charged that the states had failed to uphold Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. That law prohibits federal aid to schools that discriminate on the basis of race. Califano praised the plans of Arkansas, Florida and Oklahoma, saying they demonstrated that good faith negotiations can solve civil rights problems. The HEW secretary also said the federal agency will soon check the desegregation plans in eight other states which previously operated legally segregated college systems. Those states are Alabama, Delaware, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas and West Virginia. But for residents of the town of 10,000 persons, Groundhog Day is a day of fun. Charles Erhard, president of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, says "Groundhogism" isn't a religion in this "God-fearing community," but it does amount to a tongue-in-cheek cult. And the civic complex that houses the mayor and the rest of the town's government also is home for the town's mascots, groundhogs Phil and Phyllis, who weigh about 40 pounds each. The fact that Phil and Phyllis don't really live underground but in a warm, lighted cage, should serve as a warning that Phil really does not know it's cold outside. But one day each year he is brought from his warm surroundings, carried up a hill, and put on display for the townspeople and the media, with the oratory being left to Erhard. Most times Phil is just a scared little groundhog. Other towns, such as Quarryville, Pa., and Sun Prairie, Wis., claim they have "the" weather prognosticating groundhog, but Erhard says they "aren't even good imitations." With a touch of disdain in his voice, Erhard notes that Quarryville's groundhog is "black with white stripes and stinks." Balthrop relieves drop stress, tests in first few weeks The pressure of a four-week drop period has been eased for tome students in the speech department. Bill Balthrop, assistant professor in the speech department, scheduled purposely a test in his Speech 45 and Speech 34 classes this semester before the end of the four-week drop period. The test is designed to help students decide whether to drop the course or declare it pass fail. "It's only fair if they're going to keep the four-week drop period that the students have a basis on which to decide whether or not they can grasp the course material," Balthrop says. Although he says he is opposed to making tests before the end of the drop period mandatory for all UNC classes, Balthrop says he feels it is the responsibility of the instructor to prepare a test based on the first four weeks which adequately reflects the remainder of the course. This is the first time Balthrop has scheduled a test for his classes before the midterm. "1 think some of my students who dropped or declared pass-fail last year wouldn't have if they had had a chance to evaluate the course," he says. Balthrop gave his Speech 54 class its first test Tuesday. He says he has not had a chance to evaluate student feedback yet, but he says the grades were good, and he hopes it will encourage more students to stay in the course. Students who wish to drop a course or declare pass-fail must have the form approved by their adviser bv Feb. 8. - EDDIE MARKS