Visual control
Clinic corrects disabilities
In addition to developing the physical skills of its students in a perceptual motor clinic in 211 Robinson Street, NYC, it also provides training for
convergence or visual control test, where he is to follow the pencil with his eyes, not moving his head. Giving the test is Betsy Bishop, Lawrence graduate student and worker at the clinic.
By JANICE EARLY
For years, educators and parents have been baffled by the inability of apparently normal youngsters to master simple physical and educational skills.
Until recently, most parents and teachers had almost nowhere to go to solve these problems.
But gradually, research and experimentation has been proved that these learning disabilities can be treated by a program of physical education and director of the University of Kansas' Perceptual Motor Clinic, said last month.
THE PERCEPTUAL MOTOR Clinic, administered through the department of health, physical education and recreation in the School of Medicine, has about 10 such university clinics in the country.
KU's clinic analyzes and treats an area of learning disabilities defined as perceptual and motor distinctions. Pyfer said the dysfunctions are mainly due to impairment of the central nervous system to outside stimuli.
Pyrfer described typical symptoms as clumsiness, a very short attention span, continual reversal of words and letters, the inability to catch a ball, hyperactivity and difficult telling time.
Pyfer gave three possible reasons for perceptua and motor problems.
"THE CHILD DOESN'T receive the information properly," Pairet said, "or he receives it but can assimilate it, or he receives it and assimilates it properly, but can't reproduce it.
"We treat all three, but our most important emphasis is on how a child receives information."
There are only about six other clinics that work with this stage, known as the inmata area, she said.
Working on the theory that if a child can't receive certain kinds of information properly, he can't possibly assimilate it or reproduce it, Pyler and her staff have developed a series of treatment programs that attempt to stimulate the specific impairment for group that appears to be operating improperly.
MORE OFTEN than not, Pyfer said, several types of perceptual and motor dysfunction occur today.
Pyfer said that by carefully putting a child through a series of physical activities designed to stimulate his central nervous system, the separate problems could be corrected.
Dottie Miller, clinic supervisor, said the clinic accepts between 30 and 35 children for treatment
Most of the children the clinic treats each semester are referred to them through the Lawrence school system or by local physicians and optometrists.
In the past five years, Pyfer said, the clinic has tested about 400 youngsters in the state of Kansas.
"MOST OF THE children come from within a 100-mile radius," Pyfer said. "But some have come from as far away as Garden City and Dodge City."
Most of the children are from the Lawrence area, Pyfer said, because they are usually in therapy four days a week for half an hour each day.
Pyfer said the typical route of a child to the clinic began when his teacher noticed slowness or inability to learn certain necessary educational skills.
She said the child's parents were notified and asked to give permission for the child to have a battery of standardized tests designed to detect specific dysfunctions.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
After evaluation of the tests, the school's special services teams, which include learning disabilities teachers, psychologists and social workers, devise a program to correct the child's problem.
PYFER SAID that if the tests indicated that the child might have perceptual-motor problems, the parents were asked to take him to the clinic, which administers more tests.
The cost of testing and evaluating the children is paid by the parents. Pyter said that, excluding a visual examination done by an opticianologist or optometrist, the tests cost $30.
KANSAN
The University of Kansas—Lawrence, Kansas
See MOTOR CLINIC page 2
Tuesdav. Mav 4.1976
Vol.86 No.136
Group savs citv harassed Smith
By SANETSUCH Staff Writer
By JANET SCHMIDT
Members of Citizens for Fair and Efficient City Management and Teamsters Union Local No. 696 in Topeka will address the Lawrence City Commission tonight concerning the dismissal of sanitation worker Dennis Smith.
"WE CAN'T EXPECT the employees to
Dillingham said the group believed Smith's dismissal was a violation of his civil rights and an example of the city's "harassment of employees." Other employees have been threatened with dismissal because they disagreed with city policy, he
Clarence Dillingham, assistant director of the Office of Affirmative Action and a member of the citizen group, said yesterday that the dismissal showed that the city intended to continue to interpret policies positively and at its own discretion.
The four city employee associations affiliated with the Teamsters Union that will be represented at the commission meeting are parks and recreation, water, street and sanitation. The associations will present statements supporting Smith.
According to one member, one of the major issues surrounding the dismissal is a violation of Smith's right to free speech. He is charged with inciting an in city management and personnel policy
Smith was dismissed April 23 from his job as a truck driver for the sanitation department. City officials said then that Smith was dismissed because back trouble had been bad off work since Jan. 22 because of an on-the-bock injury.
endure such treatment and continue to provide us with good service," Dillingham said. "We won't, as citizens, put up with it any longer."
"They've only held one strike in the past four years."
"But, as far as we can tell, the Teamsters local in Topeka has a clean bill of health," he said. "No crooked deals like the national organization.
right to criticize government," the leaflet states.
Leaflets protest dismissal
Three student groups will distribute leaflets today charging that sanitation worker Dennis Smith was dismissed because he spoke out against city officials. He was threatened with dismissal if they complained to city commissioners.
According to the leaflet, Smith was told by city officials Jan. 13, 1978, that if he made any more statements to the media in city government, he would be dismissed.
The leaflet will be distributed by members of KU-Y, the Native American Alliance and the Women's Coalition at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the Kansas Union lobby. Smith and group members will be available to answer questions about the dismissal.
The next day, the leaflet states, city employees received a memo threatening dismissal if they "contacted a city commissioner on job-related issues." The leaflet also states that the memo denied the right to speak at commission meetings.
The city's action prompted employees to affiliate with the Teamsters, the leaflet states. That affiliation was announced by Smith April 16. Smith was fired April 23.
Saturday April 16, Samir was free April 24.
"We can only conclude that Dennis was fired in an attempt to silence all city employees who believe in free speech and the
Wigton said the groups hoped to solicit assistant support for Smith and city employees.
wuy tight. KU-Y board member, said Riley Wugton, a professor of speech had been deleted by his diagnosis.
Smith said yesterday that he wouldn't comment on the leaflet and that he had been advised by his lawyers not to make a request to the press concerning his dismissal.
Winton he thought the Lawrence City
daemmons, afraid of having the
Dammans involved.
"Dennis Smith was really fired because he spoke out against the city commission and because of the affiliation with the Teamsters," Wigton said. "But, the city commission has also recognized the local associations or really recognizing to solve the employee's grievances."
Mayor Fred Pence said last night he wasn't aware that Smith had been threatened with dismissal or that a memo had been sent to other employees.
ABOUT SMITH'S DISMISSAL, Mayor
about rights, talk about human rights
"Are we operating under a double standard? How about Purdy's rights? Does a man have to be drug through the mud time after time?"
Pence was referring to Donald Purdy, former sanitation department superintendent. City officials have paid Purdy was harassed by employees.
"I'm being harassed, too, and I have some rights." Pence said.
City workers are being unfair by making their allegations to the press. Pence said, "I would like them to see what they did."
About the scheduled appearance at the meeting of some members of the employee associations, Pence said. "Cup employees are often in line with our submission every time they have a problem.
"THEYRE EYPASSING the channels of communication. They should go to their superintendent or use the grievance procedure.
"It seems that unless we say 'ye' to everything, they won't be satisfied.
Commissioner Barkley Clark said, "There has been no breach of civil rights."
"The dismissal was very definitely for health reasons. It was done completely in good faith and without a violation of civil rights."
Claark said that allegations by some groups that Smith was fired because of his union activities were false. He and four employee associations to affiliate with the Teamsters.
"The city is obviously completely aware of the illegality of discharging anyone for alcohol, and it does not know that when all the facts are out about the Dennis Smith case, it will be shown that they do."
COMMISSIONER DONALD Binnis said he
wrote that the rights were not
violated by his dismissal.
"From the facts I have, Dennis (Smith) hasn't been to work since January," Binns said. "We can't keep on being short-handed."
City Manager Buford Watson said he had commented on the issues surrounding Smith's lawsuit.
"That will come out at the meeting," he said.
In other business, the commission is expected to approve the condemnation and
KU's wunderkind on piano drawn to faculty and artists-in-residence
Wehr graduated from high school as a National Merit Scholar at age 15 and enrolled in the prestigious Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studied with Edward Zolas. While in Cleveland, he learned about KU's artist-in-residence program and met the reputations of the teachers here and decided to transfer.
The visiting artist program in the School of Fine Arts has attracted to the University of Kansas a young painist who may remind those who bear him of Van Clilburn.
By BECCI BREINING
He is 18-year-old David Wehr, Richmond,
Ks junior, and he may be on his way to the
eastern states.
Staff Writer
SINCE SEPTEMBER, we Hear has studied with paints-in-reeve Malcolm Frager and Mista Dichter. Now he is working with visiting professor Sequeira Costa, internationally acclaimed pianist from Portugal.
Besides the visiting artists, KU has an excellent regular faculty, which compares favorably with top institutions across the nation. Weib said
"If you're studying to be a performer, it's important who you study with more than where you study," Weir said Saturday. "A lot of people ask me why I transferred to KU or why am I not at Jillian (Conservatory of Music) or some famous place like that."
"I feel that in the end run, when you're trying to make a concert career, the audience doesn't look at your degrees or you have them. They listen to how you play."
WEHR WILL GRAUDAUTE in December; then continue under the direction of Costa
The owner of the property, 85-year-old Lawrence Allison, asked the commission last week not to condemn his land so that he could be allowed to move. Allison said he was too old to move.
and work toward a master's degree. Then he's planning to move to Europe, where he hopes to play for festivals and enter competition.
ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER Mike Wildgen said that because of eminent domain, the city has a legal right to condemn the property for public purposes. The city has offered a fair price for the land, Wildgen said.
Before coming to KU last fall, he won the Kosciuszko Foundation-sponsored Chopin Competition in New York City in June 1962. He played for 1802 when Clifton won at the age of 18.
Piano competition isn't new to Wehr. His latest accomplishment came in February when he won second in the national collegiate competition for pianists in Dallas. Wehr earned a berth in the competition, and the same year he won Teachers' competition in November and regional competition in February, when he played against pianists from eight states.
However, some residents and members of the North Lawrence Planning Council will appear before the commission to protest the condemnation of the land.
appropriation of land at 632 N. Seventh for use as a city park.
"It would be a lot easier if piano competition was like running a mile," he said. "There could be someone sitting there at the door every time I went over there would be no questions asked."
Murie) Paul, head of the planning council, said, "On the part of the council, there is strong support of Mr. Allison staying on the property."
Judging piano competition is a very difficult task. Wehr said, and the judges said, "I can't do it."
"BUT IT JUST can't be that way, so you
Price of parking to stay the same
PARKING SERVICES is the division of University of Kansas Police and Parking that is responsible for maintaining and patrolling camus narking areas.
In mid-April the University Council voted down the higher fees after several council members objected to a parking services fund balance of $498,000. The council recommended that this year's fees remain in
the contract later agreed with that
recommendation.
The board requested fee increases for all campus parking permits to meet a higher parking services budget and to improve parking lot maintenance.
See PIANIST page 5
By JERRY SEIB
Staff Writer
Dykes followed the recommendations of the University Council and Del Stainkel, executive vice chancellor, in rejecting the proposed by the parking and traffic board.
Dykes decided to assess a $5 charge for campus passes, which are now issued free. Campus passes provide access to inner campus streets during the school day.
Dykes chose to eliminate the $30 charge for permits for the handicapped, but decided to keep the remainder of this year's parking fees in effect for the 1976-77 academic year, according to an announcement released yesterday.
Chancellor Archie R. Dykes will not raise parking fees for next year, denying a month-old parking and traffic board request for higher rates.
Piano prodigy
David Wehr, Richmond, KY, *junior*, sit under the watchful eye of Ludwig van Beethoven in one of the piano practice rooms in Musicum in Stuttgart, a high school music room where he taught. He studied in another year.
Staff Photo by JAY KOELZER
The announcement stated that Dykes had reviewed information received from the parking and traffic board and Shankel's information before deciding against higher fees.
Dykes said in the announcement that the need for additional parking lot maintenance and repairs would probably make a fee increase for the 1977-78 academic year a
Dykes was out of town yesterday and unavailable for comment.
HUGH COTTON, chairman of the parking and traffic board, said he was "a little disappointed" that fees wouldn't be increased, and he echoed Dykes' belief that fees would have to be raised for the 1977-78 year.
He said he anticipated that next year's parking and traffic board would probably propose an increase similar to the one received in the previous year, raised the fees by an average of 15 per cent.
it might be easier for next year's board to develop a fee schedule, Cotton said, because it will probably have more access to information on the park than in the years known of the balance of the parking services fund until March, after the fee increases had been proposed.
BUT HE SAID next year's parking and traffic board should anticipate the same difficulties this year's group had in getting higher fees approved.
"No traffic board will ever have an easy job," he said. "It's a lot of hell and no prize."
Although his group proposed a higher fee schedule, Cotton said, the schedule would have made the faculty and staff pay a percentage of the fee increase than students.
He said he thought next year's board would recommend a similar fee schedule.
THE DECISION to charge for campus good one, Cotton said. He also favored Dykes and mits to the handcapped, and he said he suggested such a change to Dykes last
Teddie Tasheff, student body president, said she was very glad Dykes had decided against biking fees, but she wouldn't contract for them because of higher fees for the 1977-78 school year.
"I don't know that there's any way to tell at this time until we see the way the money is going," she said.
Fall enrollment to start at 7 a.m. to beat the heat
Enrollment for this fall's classes will be on and earlier in the day in an alternate location.
Full class enrollment will be from 7 a.m.
to 2 p.m. Aug. 18-20, according to Gill Drye.
**Directions:**
In the past, enrollment has been from noon to 4 p.m. the first day of enrollment and until midnight.
Dyck said the time change would be made to get students through enrollment ahead of the late afternoon in Allen Field House, which isn't air-conditioned.
UNDER THE OLD schedule, only seniors enrolled on the first day of the enrollment period. William Kelly, assistant dean of admissions and records, said yesterday that seniors will still enroll first, but that they would also begin enrollment on the first day.
Kelly said that only seniors and graduate students would enroll during the first four hours Aug. 18, and that underclassmen would begin afterwards.
kelly said the order in which students would enroll hadn't been decided yet.
DYVK SAD HE WASn't sure whether the new enrollment schedule would also be used for spring semester enrollment. Enrollment problems were common in January, when there are no heat problems. One problem there might be if the new schedule is used in January, Dyck said, is that