Weekly Perspective
1 1 Our view
__
i Adults should
i drive buses
The Perquimans County
School system is considering
luring several adult drivers
for the coming school year,
and we think it's a good idea.
"* Schools superintendent Pat
Harrell told the board of
" education in a recent meeting
? that he supported the hiring of
^ teacher aids as school bus
drivers because of the dif
t"ficulty encountered in trying
^Jto secure enough good,
Tdependable student drivers.
~ We hope the board will
approve the hiring of teacher
aids as bus drivers, and that
this will be the first step in the
eventual phasing out of
student drivers.
As the cost of living con
tinues to increase, more and
more families will be looking
, for ways to supplement their
I incomes. Driving a bus might
* be a good way to earn some
? extra money on a part-time
* basis.
j If, indeed, more adults
? become available who want to
? drive the buses, their ex
- perience alone will put them
? ahead of teenage applicants
? for the driving slots.
A high school-aged driver
should not be responsible for
the lives of a bus load of
students.
Although some students are
mature and responsible at age
16, there are certain ex
periences that naturally do not
fall within their range.
It is also difficult for a
student driver to appear as an
authority figure before his
peers.
While driving a bus may be
a good way for a young person
to learn responsibility, the
safety of our children dictates
that a driver's capabilities be
proven before he slips behind
the wheel for the first time.
This can best be ac
complished through a good,
clean driving record main
tained over several years.
We're not saying that the
present situation puts our
children in grave danger. But
we need to be absolutely sure
that we've got the best drivers
possible for our buses.
Statistics show that we are
more likely to have the best
drivers if we have a adults.
Looking back
By VIRGINIA WHITE
? TRANSEAU
JUNE 1942
I COTTON'S BLOOMING:
I The hot weather of the past
week has caused cotton to
" grow fast, and many fields are
now blooming. The first bloom
of the year, brought to the
; office of The Weekly was from
the farm of Miss Mae Wood
Winslow, and the grower was
' Claude Williams, of route
three.
: GASOLINE SHORTAGE
CAUSING SERVICE
; STATIONS TO CLOSE: The
' shortage and rationing of
gasoline has caused a
? tremendous reduction in
revenue for the servcice
stations of the county and
several have been reported as
having closed their
-businesses, No doubt many
will reopen after the war, but
the one distributor, serving a
large area, stated that three of
the stations served by him had
closed due to loss of business.
In addition to the motorist
^vbeing rationed, the stations
themselves receive less
gasoline than they did for the
same period last year, and
each receives an allotment at
ten-day intervals.
NEW HOPE RESIDENT
BITTEN BY SPIDER: Carson
Spivey. of the New Hope
community, suffered painful
injury on Monday when he
was bitten by a black widow
spider. Mr. Spivey was quite
ill on Monday and Tuesday,
but is now reported as being
much better. He was treated
by Dr. T. P. Brinn.
BOY SCOUT BAND NOW
FORMED IN ALBEMARLE:
What is the only official Boy
Scout Band in this section was
organized in Hertford last
week, and will comprise
Scouts from Edenton,
Elizabeth City and Hertford.
The band is sponsored by the
Boy Scout Troops in the
Albemarle area, to be used for
special occasions in the sec
tion. Those who joined the
band at the first meeting are
the following Edenton boys:
West Byrum, Gordon Huf
fines, Sonny Stilman,
Clarence Leary, Gurnie
Hobbs, Lester Stewart, LLoyd
Griffin, and Johnny Thigpen.
Hertford members are: Bill
Burray, Bobby Jordan, Bill
Elliott, Broughton Dail,
Charles Skinner, Jimmy
Felton, Howard Broughton,
Reggie Tucker, Wilbur
Roberson and Tom Perry.
Letter
Businesses thanked
for help
Editors, THE PERQUIMANS
-WEEKLY;
* The local businesses that
sponsor teams in our Babe
Jluth Baseball League deserve
la big "thank you" for their
..support over the years. They
'are: Brinn Insurance,
'.Jackson Wholesale, Peoples
;Bank, Swindell Funeral
Home, Hertford Hardware,
f rWinslow Oil, Woodard's
;; Pharmacy, Towe Motors and
j^-Don Juan, Inc.*
? Also the coaches that are
? giving of their time to work
T with the children deserve alot
of thanks. They are: Gil
Underwood, Johnnie Winslow,
THE PERQUIMANS
WEEKLY
COURTHOUSE SQUARE.
HERTFORD. N.C
77*44
JOSS u
CMUmON MJUMCCI
CTTT, RX.
Thurman Whedbee, Ben
Thach, Gene Appleton, Ronald
Boyce, Larry Corprew, Bill
Newbern, and Bill Mansfield.
Please tell the above
businesses and people that you
appreciate their support.
Billy Wooten, Director
Perquimans County Parks
and Recreation Depart
ment.
Tax exempt
GREENSBORO ? Singl*
persons earning -*lesi than
13,300 may be exempt from
Federal income tax
withholding, the IRS says.
Many students with only
summer or part-time em
ployment fall into this
category.
There are two requirements
for the exemption from in
come tax withholding. First,
there must be no tax liability
for lt7l. Second, no tax
liability must be expected for
1M0.
Students who have over
*1.000 in anearaed income,
sort as interest, dividends, or
trust fund income, and who
Year 'round registration set
RALEIGH - North
Carolina Transportation
Secretary Tom Bradshaw
says his department is geared
up to implement a new year
round motor vehicle
registration system beginning
July 1.
The new system for ob
taining license plates and
validation stickers, called
"staggered" registration, will
spread vehicle registration
renewal over 12 months.
Most North Carolinians will
once again obtain their license
tags and validation stickers in
January and through mid
February of 1981.
At that time, five categories
of vehicles will be in
corporated into the new
staggered registration
system: currently registered
cars, motorcycles, trailers,
4000-pound private trucks and
u-drive-it vehicles.
However, some vehicles will
be registered in the new
system beginning in July of
this year. They include
vehicles owned by:
? motorists who have just
moved to North Carolina ;
? motorists whose vehicle
registrations have been re
issued following insurance
lapses and revocations; and
? motorists who have acquired
new vehicles.
The expiration date for
those vehicles registered from
July 1, to December 30, 1980,
will be June 30, 1981. June will
then become the permanent
renewal month for these
vehicles each year thereafter.
Owners who register their
vehicles from July 1 to
December 30, 1980, will
receive registation renewal
cards in May, 1981.
All registrations, other than
those issued for the five
staggered categories, will
continue to expire on
December 31, each year.
"This new system will help
eliminate the long lines at the
license plate offices and allow
us to provide better service to
the state's motor vehicle
owners," Bradshaw said.
"Approximately 5 million
motor vehicles were
registered in 1979, and the
latest figures indicate that an
even greater number of
vehicle registrations can be
expected this year.
"The number of motor
vehicles in our state has
grown to the point that the
former system is no longer
practical. In addition, the new
system will mean greater
productivity in the depart
ment's vehicle services
operation."
Under the year-round
vehicle registration system,
owners of cars, motorcycles,
trailers, small pick-up trucks
and u-drive-it vehicles will be
issued a "month" and a
"year" sticker.
For these categories, the
"month" sticker will
designate the permanent
month in which the owner will
re-register his vehicle each
year. The "year" sticker will
change each time the vehicle
owner renews registration.
Registration fees will vary
according to the number of
months for which the vehicle
is registered.
Motor Vehicles Com
missioner Elbert L. Peters Jr.
said the new system will
benefit both the general public
and the motor vehicles
division.
"Under the present annual
renewal system, about 80
percent of all vehicle
registrations are processed
during the period of Jan. 1, to
Feb. 15, each year," said
Peters.
Child abuse -
( Continued from page one)
Mrs. Mitchell, "because child
abuse is usually a symptom of
something else."
Most reports of child abuse
or neglect are made by
professionals, according to
Mrs. MitcheU. "I'd say <0 to 75
percent of our reports come
from doctors, health depart
ments, and teachers ? we
don't get many calls from
concerned citizens. "
Citizens are often reluctant
to report cases of child abuse
or neglect because they don't
want their identify disclosed,
or they feel they can't prove
an instance of possible child
abuse or neglect
But such reasoning is un
founded, according to Mrs.
Mitchell. "People don't have
to be able to prove what they
suspect to report, nor do we
have to name a reporter
unless they an a professional
or a spouse."
In fact, Mrs. Mitchell said
sne prpiprreo noi 10 aivuigfr
the source. "If w* identify the
reporter, it takes the family's
WMltodwtUoo wtwm?d?U*
, sno^H parent
. H 8 ..I
refuse social services and the
case necessitates court action,
a reporter's identity may need
to be disclosed as evidence, or
he may be asked to serve as a
witness.
Many citisens do not report
possible cases of child abuse
or neglect because they don't
know what to look for. Mrs.
Mitchell mentioned several
possible signs of an abused or'
neglected child, among those:
?a role reversal ? which may
involve the child taking on the
traditional role of a caretaker,
becoming responsible (or the
parent;
?the withdrawal of a normally
outgoing, active child;
?overly-aggressive play;
?cruelty to animals;
?scars or injuries in unusual
places, such as the back o f the
legs;
A possible sign of emotional
abuse, which Mrs. Mitchell
described as "the hardest to
track down and sub
stantiate^ is child with a
negative self-concept
Recalling a case of
emotional abuse she had dealt
with, Mrs. Mitchell described
a boy of about six or seven
years old who could not tie his
shoes.
"The boy had no confidence
because his father always told
him he was stupid, that be
couldn't do anything right"
Although child abuse often
occur* in lower income
families, all parents are
potential child abusers.
"It is not just restricted to
lower income families," said
Mrs. Mitchell, "in (act,
nationwide, the average
abuser is a middle class white
woman."
It is also not unusual in large
families for one of the several
children to be neglected, said
Mrs. Mitchell. "Often that
child reflects something to the
parent that makes the parent
feel bad about themselves,"
she added.
And abused children an
potential child abusers, "It's
like they say on TV - it
becomes a family tradition,"
said Mrs. MitcheQ.
Boat ramps
lft5< ''?I'S ftMJt ? ^ 1 ?b ? -il-jTh-iftl *'i . 4:
Under the contractors'
would be divided into four
contracts aad advertised as
separate bids including: site
grading and preparation
under dm contract; waft
ways, picnic shelters and
restrains under another;
lighting under one; and pier*.
"They (the contractor!) feel
tt'i too wide a variety of job*
tor one contractor to over*
see," said Cox. who added that
- U _ ill ,,| -lnil _niaL Mil iiM'
sucn ? a i vision 01 wonc wouio
decrease administrative
coats.
"I Mier e this U the way
we'll have to go," he aaid.
The lyoameodatiou wffl
have to to accepted by tto
town council and the
ABwmarte Soil aad Water
CoMtnration District, the
'.Ifer
My turn
mike Mclaughlin
Despite our wholehearted
support for free speech, a free
press and such and the like,
we don't tolerate differences
of opinion very well.
That's not just my opinion,
either. It's a fact, and if you
disagree with me I'm going to
get awfully mad at you.
How many times have I
listened to the other fellow's
opinion, interrupting his every
other word with "Yes, but..."
My mind is already set on
the matter, and I'm just
looking for a way to prove him
wrong. But, of course, his
mind is already made up too,
so we're really just exercising
our vocal cords.
And I get so frustrated that
he can't see it my way that my
face turns red. I'm about to
lose my cool.
This intolerance of other
opinions, I think, is a trait
common to most folks.
The conservative never had
the opportunity to expand his
horizons, says the smug
liberal. Meanwhile, the
conservative is thinking that
the liberal is living in an ivory
tower world. What he needs is
a good dose of reality and a
diploma from the school of
hard knocks to crush his
childish ideals.
Some people take dif
ferences of opinion too far.
An example is the person or
group who wants to "educate"
the person or group that
doesn't agree with him. He is
right, the other is wrong and
must be instructed so that he
will realize his error.
Equally excessive is the
fellow who says that those who
don't agree with him are allied
with the devil.
But just as dangerous are
those who maintain a calm
outer appearance and appear
to be listening patiently to
your view while the wheels are
turning in a different direc
tion on the inside. "I always
thought this guy was nuts.
Now I'm sure of it."
I think when it comes right
down to it, fear is what makes
us intolerant of the other
fellow's viewpoint.
Sure, he's not going to
change our minds, but what
about our children, and those
in the crowd who are more
wishy-washy than the rest of
us?
This "other" view might ?
just take bold, and replace the
more familiar idea we wear
around like a comfortable pair
of bedroom slippers. And
wouldn't that be tragic?
We get crochety, and set in
our notions. I can feel myself
becoming more so every day.
Maybe I should fight it. In
fact, I'm sure I should.
If it weren't for the other f
idea, which gradually found
its way into acceptance, the
world would still be flat.
Part of the purpose of a
community newspaper is to
provide an outlet for ideas and
opinions, both from its staff
and its readers.
A newspaper should be a
place where any citizen, not
just the mayor or the local ?
celebrity, can express his
views and get an audience that
won't interrupt him.
In the interest of en
couraging such free ex
pression, we are initiating a
full editorial page, beginning
with next week's edition of the
PERQUIMANS WEEKLY.
We are adding several
features, and are committing ^
ourselves to being more vocal
about our opinions as a
newspaper.
But to really make it work,
we need you, the reader.
If you've got an opinion on
anything from the county
budget to grain prices or the
weather, let us hear about it.
Deep down inside, most 0
people value their own C
opinions more than anyone
elses. You can tell by the way
they draw themselves up on
the street and proclaim,
"Well... that's because of so
and so," neatly dissecting
some social problem that has
preplexed scientists for ages
with a few pearls of common
wisdom.
We're asking you to share ^
that opinion with tfiis
newspaper. All of us can gain
from knowing what others
think.
Construction set
i x >
for new shop
Construction will soon be
getting underway on a metal
building to house the
Perquimans High School auto
mechanics program.
The board of education
approved a contract with
Revel Builders to construct
the building at a cost of $28,000
in a meeting last Thursday
night.
The building is part of ef
forts to expand vocational
facilities at the high school
and make way for a brand
knew construction program to
be initiated this fall.
. Revel builders will put down
a concrete slab floor, and the
building shell. The school
system expects to do much
much of the remaining work
with its own employees, in
cluding electrical, plumbing
and beating, Harrell said.
Local contractors are also
expected to be utilised to some
degree.
Harrell said he expects the
building to be constructed for
less than $30,000.
In other action, it was an
nounced that training had
been scheduled for adult bus
drivers, and that upon com
pletion of training, the adult
applicants would be given
equal consideration with
student applicants.
The board also approved the
hiring of two new employees. ^
Brenda Singletary of Hertford V
was employed as Title I
reading instructor at
Perquimans High School in
the coming year, and Frans
Van Baars was employed as
artist in the schools.
Currently residing in New
Bern, Van Baars is a native of
the Netherlands, and has _
previously worked as an artist W
in residence in the public
schools.
Finally, the board in
structed that a letter be
written to the board architect
expressing concern over
delays in completion of the
high school addition.
The letter was to state that
continual delays are making it
difficult to get the building #
ready for use in the fall, said
Harrell.
Vepco sees rate drop
Virginia Electric and Power
Company has projected
another redaction in North
Carolina customers' hills
became of lower than ex
pected hel expenses in April
and May.
But because the North
Carolina utilities Commisafao
requires that the f?*l
months of Hay through
August, be AM in September,
reduction wffl not actus u> be
ftlj until the December
through March billing months.
A Vepco spokesman said
that only the actual fuel ex
penses for May are known, so '
the amount at the reduction
cannot be determined until
far the moths at
July, and August we
. The town at Hertford was
om of Teyco'i U North
?*