Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

tews-Review - September 2, 1971 - THE NEWS-REVIEW PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY 930 Gwinnett Street - Augusta, Georgia Mallory K. Millender Editor and Publisher Mailing Address: Box 953 Augusta, Ga. Phone 722-4555 Application to mail at Second Class postage rates is pending at Augusta, Ga. 30901 SUBSCRIPTION RATES Payable in Advance One Year in Richmond County $2.50 tax incl. One Year elsewhere $3.00 tax incl. ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT Classified Advertising Deadline 12 noon On Tuesday Display Advertising Deadline 12 noon On Tuesday Office Hours -10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon, thru. Fri. ' LETTERS TO Editor News-Review WHO ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CONCERNED WITH THE POOR? We are, again, making it known that we are still on the case. The question is who are the people who are concerned about the poor? Is it enough to just be concerned or should we become involved to the extent that we are goi.ig to do something about it? A program that has as its primary objective to help poor people ought to also be involved with poor people and their problems. I believe that it takes people who have actually been poor to actually know and help with the problems of the poor. As we take a serious and objective look at the local poverty program in Richmond County, let us ask the question; “how many poor people have been removed from the regular old _ routines of poverty?” How many now who were receiving public assistance (welfare) have been able to have their names completely removed? In other words, has the local poverty program been successful in getting poor people off the “welfare” and providing them with a decent job which pays them a substantial salary? When we consider these questions, perhaps we can begin to understand why we raised the original question. Being poor is nothing to play with; however, it appears to be a game with some people-for they talk about the poverty that existed years ago of where they came from. Consequently, I do know that there are hungry people who could be fed if someone were concerned enough to do something about it other than talk about new programs. I am also aware that schools or universities don’t give anybody all of the knowledge about ( anything especially poverty. There are times when we try to generalize and say that all poverty is the same. At this point, I wish to flatly refute | that statement. It can also depend upon the environment ] which people live in. In other . Park i I £ A’Total Electric Central Air ’Carpet n A * Appliances *2 Bedrooms •I’/i Baths Per Month EAST BOUNDARY It's a whole new ball game! You get MORE apartment for LESS money. Rental Dept. Mr. Rigsby, Resident Mgr. 722-5571 724-1616 Page 2 words, poverty can eminate from a multiplicity of factors, some of which have not even been defined by the so-called authorities or poverty experts. My brothers and sisters let’s GET ON THE CASE. Again, ask the question, who are the people who are concerned with poor people; and what can I do to further the cause? Dr. M.E. Stokes Editor News-Review QUALITY EDUCATION?? BLACK STUDENTS ARE BEING SHORT-CHANGED Amidst all of the rhetoric we have heard in the past several weeks about a school desegregation plan for Richmond County, most of the attention has been focused on busing—massive busing— but very little attention has been ’ given to the crux of the problem, a quality education for all students, white and black. Recent court rulings (The Swann Decision) have said that busing is a legal means of achieving desegregation. While what is legal may not always be wise it is a proper desegregation tool where “segregation by law” coupled with segregated housing patterns have created all black concentrations in a community. Such has been the case in Richmond County. White parents in Richmond County now cry out that busing in terms of time and distance would be so great as to “ride either the health and safety of the children or significantly impinge on the educational process.” The busing of white students has been an adjunct of the educational system in Richmond County for many years. Consider the most recent facts about busing in our county during the school years 1969-1970 and 1970-1971: 1. 1969-1970, Enrollment: 35,049 Average number of students bused daily: 10,679 Average number of students bused daily to 37 predominantly white schools: 9,907 Average number of students bused daily' to 18 predominantly black schools: 772 2. 1970-1971, Enrollment: 36,672 Average number of students bused daily: 12,055 Average number of students bused daily to 39 predominantly white schools: 11,146 Average number of students bused daily to 17 predominantly black schools: 909 The above figures would seem to belie the assertion of some parents that their children presently attend neighborhood schools. While our Board of Education contends that it has a unitary system in Richmond County it continues to go about the business of short-changing its black students. They continue to turn out too many black young people who have not acquired competence in elementary and secondary studies. Even under court ordered desegregation and under the tests set out in the Singieton Decision the Board continues to circumvent the rules or to engage in practices calculated not to guarantee black students a quality education. Consider these facts which were extracted from the Boards’s report of October 15, 1970 to H.E.W.: a. The average teacher (includes all professional staff) pupil ratio in 39 predominantly white schools was 20.08 students per professional, while the average for the 17 predominantly black schools was 21.84 per professional. b. In late September 1970 students attended 39 predominantly white schools with teacher vacancies totalling 7, while teacher vacancies in 17 predominantly black schools totalled 39. c. Os 166 teachers with less than one year of teaching experience employed by the Board of Education for 1970-1971 an average of 2.64 were assigned to 39 predominantly white schools, while an average of 3.70 were assigned to 17 predominantly black schools. d. Court ordered transfer to teachers to achieve reacial balance (61% white 39% black in each school) for 1970-1971, though never achieved, resulted in white teachers with the least number of years of teaching experience being assigned to predominantly black schools while black teachers with considerable years of teaching experience were assigned to predominantly white schools. A random sample to four predominantly black schools reveals that 82 black teachers with a total of 980 years of teaching experience were assigned to predominantly white schools, while 108 white teachers with a total of 269 years of teaching experience were assigned to these four predominantly black schools. e. In 6 of 17 predominantly black schools teachers are used as part-time teachers and part-time lunchroom managers while all predominantly white schools employ lunchroom managers. (These figures were not contained in the H.E.W. report). The Board of Education has for nearly eight years sought every means at its disposal to avoid putting into effect a desegregation plan that would fully eliminate a dual system based on race. It has been derelict in its responsibility to fully inform the citizens of Richmond County who now show anguish and voice concern about busing without realizing that black students have been and still are the victims of an illegal segregated school system. School desegregation is a desirable goal-busing in part is a means of achieving it. But beyond that black students must have the opportunity to receive a decent amount of teacher attention and they must be afforded the facilities that make schoolwork pleasant and interesting. The key to black progress is education. All of the civil rights legislation in the world cannot lift the black man into a more competitive position if he is chained in ignorance. The Board of Education in Richmond County must stop short-changing the black students in Richmond County. Parents who are really interested in the welfare of their children- white and black -should first take a good look at their educational system before they assume that “black communities now are provided with new schools, educational materials and teachers that maintain the same standards as schools in the white communities.” Why don’t the parents who are now mobilizing to voice their objections to “forced busing” focus some of their attention on the entire educational system in Richmond County? James M. Hinton, Jr. |H Register H An( * H ■ Vote B SAND BAR PLAZA 200 BLOCK OF SAND BAR FERRY ROAD THRIF-TEE SUPER MARKET GROCERIES - MEATS - BEVERAGES JOHNSON'S LAUNDERMAT NEWLY OPENED - ALL MODERN EQUIPMENT BLACKMON'S BARBER SHOP HAIRCUTS - HAIRSTYLES - BLOW-OUTS AUGUSTA, GEORGIA $$ WANTED $$ LADIES TO BE TRAINED IN IBM KEYPUNCH. NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY, WE TRAIN. ONLY SINCERE NEED APPLY. Call 724-0249 CTI . > ' II A |r Grady's y» IkUPHOLSTERY SHOP J: mAVTO JS PHONE 724-6717 SPECIALIZING IN HOME & AUTO REPAIRS: FURNITURE, AUTO SEATS, BOAT TOPS - AUTO TOPS OF ALL KINDS*- DOOR, GLASS, HEATERS & SPEAKERS - ALSO AUTO CLEANING: POLISHING. GRADY EVANS, Mgr. FRANK EVANS, Asst. Mgr. Walking WITH DIGNITY BY Al IRBY (GOV. GEORGE WALLACE SOFTING ON RACE IS DEVELOPING HIM INTO A POWERFUL POPULAR FIGURE THAT BEARS WATCHING.) Governor Wallace of Alabama grows stronger and bolder as he tangled with the smart boys on Meet-The-Press, a few Sundays ago. The handsome Alabaman’s rhetoric has mellowed on the race issue and he could be a greater challenge in ’72. Many Blacks who are tired of the hypocrisy of both the Republican and Democratic Parties would vote for Mr. Wallace, because of his frankness, if nothing else. Massive busing, taken in the perspective of right and wrong, the South should force the issue to make this edict applicable to the North as well. The North hides behind the so called “Defacto” premise, which is nothing but a subterfuge to get around desegregation of Blacks. Nixon’s administration must move more to the right or face the pugnacious Alabama governor. That’s the case, with foreign aid, Red China, and telephone rates; these are all explosive issues with the angry citizens, North and South, and they are ail on Mr. Wallace’s agenda. He is taunting Washington by nibbling at the local school boards. He is also sarcastically stating that he is only helping the president out. From a casual observation it seems like Mr. Wallace is deliberately risking federal-court confrontation by ordering some school boards to abandon desegregation plans involving long distance busing of children and the closing of black schools. But he is more interested in a political stand with the White House that will make Mr. Nixon squirm. In response to the Alabama’s public telegram, the White House flunkies were running around in circles. It was this instance, that forced Press Secretary Ron Ziegler to issue a stern warning to HEW not to promote any more busing orders at the risk of getting fired. As seen from Dixie Mr. Wallace has scored an action-reaction coup. He certainly had made an obvious impact on the busing “hot potato” issue. (WALLACE HAS OTHER AXES TO GRIND, OTHER THAN THE SCHOOL BUSING WITH THE WASHINGTON CROWD) Mr. Wallace’s grievances extend across a much broader area than school-desegregation problems. He plans to lamblast the administration on the decision to allow shipment of U.S. machinery to Soviet’s truck factory. Western inability to cope with “the Oriental mind”. That could make President Nixon’s visit to China a failure. Wallace opposes the visit and will make an issue of the planned trip. Last month, the little, cocky governor went to Washington to ask the Supreme Court to crack down on tax-exempt foundations. He is pitching for the little people, when South Central Bell Telephone Co. requested a rate increase, he began pushing for the return of the nickel phone in Alabama. Ever s i nce he received 10 million votes for the presidency in 1968, he has been warning Mr. Nixon to straighten up or face him again in 1972. “My options are still open” he says, “I haven’t made up my mind.” If the prime Wallace objective is to bluff the administration into policy changes, he is doing all right for himself. Mr. Wallace has things going his way since Mr. Nixon couldn’t refrain from putting his foot in his mouth, after the High Court sanctioned busing, if it was necessary. If opening of Southern Schools produce turmoil and horror stories of children in perpetual transit, the current escalation of criticism will be ■ww—i $8 YEAR | | CELEBRATIONS I | JACK LEVINE'S | <^/1 **A \ 8 fto*\ * ■< *° y \°f ibepui m X>e t-X** /Hl 3 «29 &w* . * \%e y" 9 S J1 N-— J I 'bLYE SHIRTS reg. 29.95 to 39.95 Now 13.88 j> SILK & WOOL PANTS re & 24 95 N™ 14 95 ® || These are just a few of our BACK TO SCHOOL SPECIALS USE OUR LAY-A-WAY OR YOUR < C&S - MASTERCHARGE - BANKAMERICA CARD gx WATCH FOR OUR FASHION SHOW TO BE ANNOUNACED. THE LATEST IN MENS CLOTHING | Shop at |i I JACK LEVINE’S | g 973 BROAD ST. (WITH THE BLACK & GOLD AWNING) SHOP WHERE THE CELEBRITIES SHOP justified. The Republicans, not the Democrats, control the say-so of government policy, and they are more vulnerable to the kind of Southern electoral vote raid that Wallace attempted in busing. The Johnson people, even HEW of that day was satisfied with the “Freedom of Choice” plan; but Attorney General Mitchell went to the High Court and pushed Southern busing. Mr. Wallace will not admit that after 17 years the entire nation had ample time to adjust to desegregation, if it so desired. The national polls show the Alabaman slipping, but he still remains the devil’s advocate to a nation that does not live by the noble precepts that is embodied in its Constitution. K SUBSCRIBE I TODAY ■n the Ep NEWS-REVIEW SUBCRIBER B | ADDRESS I J CITY Our war (in count)) $2.50 One war (out of count)) .. . .$3.00 5 \ ears (in Count) ) 12.50 9ET 5 ) cars (out of count) ). . . $ 15.00 “THE COMPANY THAT CARES” H WE TRY A LITTLE HARDER— ■ ■ —BECAUSE WE ARE BLACK !!! ■ SERVING YOU WITH THE BEST IN— ’EDUCATIONAL ENDOWMENT BE iK ’RETIREMENT INCOME ISI I® ’FAMILY INCOME £ . ’MORTAGE REDEMPTION Of’ ’CONVERTIBLE TERM 'f? ’ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS B| ’HOSPITAL AND SURGICAL BENEFIT Os ’BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL ■■ ■B ’HOME PROTECTION H| H THE PILGRIM HEALTH H| and |||| LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY YOUR COMPANY SINCE 1898 SB