Friday, May 2, 1975
University Daily Kansan
5
Schools discriminate, group says
By RICHARD HIRD Kansan Staff Reporter
While discrimination in the Lawrence public school system might not affect all students, some parents are concerned that their children may be deprived of educational opportunities for some students.
Citizens for Responsive Schools (CRS) is an organization of parents and other interested persons which claims discrimination exists in the Lawrence public school system and is harmful to many students.
CRS claims that there are six kinds of discrimination: racial, sexual, economic, labeling, religious and ability. The organization is particularly concerned with suspension and expulsion policies in the public schools.
'Art in Park will feature work of 144
The 10th annual "Art in the Park" exhibit, sponsored by the Lawrence Art Guild and the Lawrence Parks and Recreation will be Sunday afternoon in South Park.
The exhibit opens at noon, when 144 artists will have mounted their work at tables or along fencing and will be displayed until 5:30 p.m. In past years, exhibits have included pottery, weaving, decoupage, carvings, jewelry and craft items.
Three scholarships of $150 will be presented by the art guide to a student from Lawrence High School, Haskell Indian Junior College and the University of Minnesota made based on basis of recommendations by the fine arts faculties at the schools.
Three bands will play during the afternoon, providing a unique musical for browsers.
temporary and popular music for browsers.
The Union City Band, directed by Bill Kelly, will perform at 1:30 p.m. in the band shell. Stu Langer's Contemporary Ensemble will play at 2:30 p.m. on the west side of Massachusetts, followed at 4 p.m. by a country-western group led by Eugene Fellows.
The Lawrence Arts Center, 9th and Vermont, will have an open house during the exhibition. The first annual Douglas County Painting Exhibition, which has been on display at the center since April 6, will close Sunday.
Voci di Camera, a vocal music group conducted by Ralph Christoffersems, professor of chemistry, will perform during the center's open house.
Jane Frydman, one of four CRS "task force governors," said Tuesday. "Some students aren't in school but the school won't be able to get me in a fight only one is suspended."
"Most kinds of violations are for non-violent abuses. We're paying our taxes to keep them in school and that's where they belong."
Frydman said there were a disproportionate number of minority students suspended, especially at Central Junior high school.
Superintendent of Schools Carl Knox said problems with discipline were treated on an annual basis.
"Suspension and expulsion are alternatives used without regard to race, color or creed," he said. "I think you'll find most students over backwards to be fair to all students."
The Community School Issues Forum (CSIF), another organization working on discrimination in the schools, recommended that expulsion and suspension should stop and that discipline should be consistent.
June Walker, one of the CSIF organizers, said discipline in the schools wasn't consistent. She said discrimination could be caused by issues, including extracurricular activities.
Max Rife, assistant principal at Lawrence High School, said the problems weren't new and that every effort was being eliminated to eliminate correctable discrimination.
"We really get it from both sides." Rifa said. "The minority students think we are down on them and their parents think they are being suspended unnecessarily. On the other hand, we have the other parents and students that don't want to be held accountable for their students and that they or their children wouldn't be allowed to act the same way."
One of the complaints that both organizations are concerned with is that extracurricular activities such as band, art, music, dance, orchestra or economically discriminatory.
"Books cost $1 per year and then you have home economics supplies, shop supplies, band instrument rental and many assorted costs," Fryman said.
"The student is put through the embarrassment of applying for the fee waivers and the waivers are kept almost secret and are hard to get," she said.
Knox said the school district had approved 500 fee waivers this year, amounting to over $5,000 in assumed cost. He said the school would easily accessible and weren't kept secret.
Friday
Mike Beisner Trio
Pitcher Hour----7-8
Saturday Dixieland By The Gaslite Gang
Paul Gray's Jazz Place
Call
843-8575
For Reservations
Music at 8:30
(Enter Behind Jenkins)
926 Mass.
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"LAWRENCE'S ONLY AUTHENTIC EASTERN STYLE PIZZA"
A Cereal Malt Beverage Dispensary
GOOD LIVE BOOGIE BAND
FRIDAY & SATURDAY 6-8 Pitcher Hour Band Starts at 8
1 3/4 miles North of Kaw River Bridge Just North of The Sirloin
Remember ordering your yearbook?
The 1975 Jayhawker has arrived!
Yearbooks will be available May 5-7,1975 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Strong Hall Lobby K.U.I.D.must be presented