RA
THE SUMMER
SESSION KANSAN editorials
Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of the Kansan editorial staff. Signed columns represent the views of only the writers.
JULY 2, 1979
True issue is fading
Those who strive to change the world can sometimes lose sight of their original purpose when they confront obstacles. Means chosen to accomplish a worthy goal can often obscure the real issue.
The KU Committee on South Africa is currently involved in a battle with the administration. But the battle is not over the University's investments in South Africa. Instead, the committee has taken up the banner for free speech.
Since Ron Kuby, a KU graduate and member of the committee, was arrested at Commencement, time has been spent arguing about where and when the committee can distribute its literature while the main issue is ignored. The committee's original aim to educate students and faculty about the effects of KU's investments in companies operating in South Africa has been obscured.
Committee members have admitted that the South Africa issue has become a secondary concern to them. The important thing, they say, is that the University obey its rules and regulations on literature distribution and political advertising to the letter. This is certainly a worthy goal, but it has little to do with getting KU out of South Africa.
What the Committee on South Africa has discovered in this free-speech issue is a sure-fire way to get publicity. The Kansan has covered Kuby's arrest, his appearances before municipal court and the University
judiciary, and the committee's recent dispute over the right to distribute literature in the Kansas Union during orientation.
Although such coverage is helpful, the committee's main arguments about why KU should not be supporting institutions in South Africa have been set aside.
Kuby and the Committee on South Africa have the determination to state their opinions about the University's investments. It is a good, worthy issue that should be concentrated on. As the situation stands, the committee has lost sight of the South Africa issue and gallantly taken to another. But many KU students might wonder what ever happened to KU's Committee on South Africa.
Most Americans, even KU administrators, support freedom of speech. But arguments for more liberal applications are weakened when confused with another issue merely to provide a soapbox. Such a tactic can often generate more conservative opinions on freedom of speech.
Why Jose can't read
Stories printed on the committee for the last few weeks contain no reference to the investment issue. Arguments based on outdated Supreme Court decisions to defend Kuby's right to say what he wants, where he wants, are now heard. Calls are made for more and stricter definitions of terms and police powers which could lead to even greater suppression than Kuby now alleges.
By JAMES M. O'KANE
NEW YORK--For the past generation a host of social scientists have recited their bleak litany of research findings describing the problems of educating lower-income students telling why Johnny could not read. In the 1970s the focus had shifted to Jose and theories abounded as to why he couldn't read, why he dropped out, why he was violent, truant, and undisciplined. Yet Jose and countless lower-income children still fail. Why?
By the mid-1960s a new breed of educational reformers tackled the problem. They offered a radically different diagnosis: The source of the failure lay in the very structure of the system, instead of placing the blame on the teacher, the repressive, alienating and racist school system, for it had created the very circumstances wherein Jose could not possibly achieve. Since the system produced the problem, it would have to be completely restructured so that it could be placed under the lower-income pupils. The problem was the school and the remedies were to be found in community control programs, decentralization efforts, cultural enrichment programs and the development of new learning and skills. Once again these new solutions also failed to save the problem.
IF THE SOURCES of the problem were neither in Jose nor in the school system, then where should we look? Surprisingly, there is an obvious answer at a point of view. Let us turn to Joe and see the situation from his perspective.
Prior to the mid-1960s, we were told that Jose failed because of his background: He was characterized as culturally deprived, socially maladjusted and reared in a multi-problem family. The problem was Jose and the solutions for his affliction were to be found in remedial educational programs in psychological therapeutic services and compensate for the prior academic failure. Needless to say, these remedies did not work.
Jose knows that his world is one where high rates of young adult unemployment are epidemic. He also knows that many people do not help him appreciably in finding a
job, for jobs are in scarce supply for lower-income youths whether or not they possess diplomas. Realistically, what difference does it make if he reads well, or if he completes high school? The sad truth is that it means little, for the youngest students, to absorb a growing number of lower-income youths into stable jobs. Simply put, educational attainment is irrelevant to Jose. Only a small minority of lower-income youths will make it vito the educational route, and those who do will be placed in a group of upwardly mobile strivers. Furthermore, he doesn't want genuine upward mobility of the types now available, for this would entail abandonment of everything dear to him—his family, his friends, his neighborhood. He's behind him is too high a price for the hawy rewards of middle-class status.
CONSEQUENTLY, JOSE fails. Yet he does not consider himself a failure, for all those close to him have unrequited feelings toward his brothers, his parents, his friends—and he does not view them as failures, not do they expect him to do well in school. His older brother pumps gas at the local pool and he is a class idea of success. Yet this brother has a family, earns a modest wage and is well regarded by his relatives and friends. In lower-class terms he is successful and both he and Jose know
Why then shouldn't Jose identify with his older brother and seek to emulate his way of life? In reality he does and gets by in life without the benefits of formal education. What we regard as failure is viewed by Jose as the normal outcome, but José is pursuing his version of the American Dream just as we pursue ours.
HENCE, EITHER blaming Jose's family or blaming the school is somewhat myopic, for the root of the dilemma lies outside the realm of education. As many teachers do so many promising approaches to educating lower-income children produce poor results. Yet the tinkering with both the schools and their children continues, while the more fruitive analysis of the larger social situation remains largely untouched. A study of sociology at Drew University, Madison, N.J., and research director of Social Science Research Associates.
KANSAN
THE SUMMER SESSION
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A man has been insured for $1 million by a famous London insurance company. Terms of the agreement stipulate that the man must die if there is to be any payment. A Texas firm, for whom the man works, paid a one-time premium of about $250. The company should some section of NASA's falling Skylab could him on land. Strange but true.
Opinions are mixed with ignorance
By BRUCE A, WELLS
Editorial Writer
Americans like to worry about things. Young lovers like to discuss heavy philosophical problems as much as truck drivers like to curse the Organization of Oil Producing Countries. Everyone enjoys good discussions of what's wrong with the world.
It is a shame that very few people know what they are talking about these days. Our society has made even the most simple problem complex. Some coffee table tables realize that they might be more to an issue than what they heard on the 5:30 CBS news.
Such ignorance is bad because it fools most Americans into thinking they can make rational decisions. Talking about the world's problems, without understanding them, provides a sense of importance to an individual and makes his daily existence a little more bearable. Instead of really trying to keep an open mind and discovering truth, one must take ignorance, through thoughtful cynicism and bury their minds and life in a rut.
Nothing is worse than a person who tries to convince someone of a point that he does not understand it. People in these groups are especially vulnerable to this because they tend to ignore all circumstances other than their own. America has been told to state an opinion but slow to understand.
An interesting nation-wide poll taken earlier this year illustrates typical American thinking. When asked whether they were in favor of a second SALT agreement, more than half said they would be. However, when asked if they could name the two countries involved in the negotiations, fewer than a quarter of those interviewers could say for sure. Most should agree that the United States. Thank God no stands for.
These days, the gas shortage is a popular topic for discussing for first dates and supplying the dirt in Darab keeps on raining. The prices are being forced to be forgotten. Disneyland are being forced to be forgotten. Inflation is going skyward. Lincoln are being bombed by Fords. Bicycles are becoming more hip.
Maybe, the careful nonthinker might say, maybe we ought to do something about OPEC its too late. Aside from the threat Islam is to Christianity, America is in danger of losing the standard of life. The goal of a microwave in every home is firing. Disaster anorexie
What should the United States do? Invade the Mideast, of course. Kill the pig, cut its throat, spill its blood. Find a reason and invade.
Maybe we can work something out with the Reds to split up the oil-producing countries. Sort of like Hitler did with Poland in 1899. If the Russkies don't go for it, forget them. Everyone know they don't quite have the skills to run a nuclear way. Remember the Cuban missile crisis?
With the threat of a nuclear war existing as a deterrent, America can reactivate the draft and teach the Arabs a lesson they won't forget. Arabs have ignored our efforts to increase the importance of color TV and self-cleaning clothes, it's time we used the big stick on them.
There are substantial reasons why MidEast oil is worth fighting for. First, think of the effect on the world's economy if US oil exports were cut. The American ownership would put us in a great
position to help our buddies and crush our enemies.
Secondly, an invasion would terminate Arab aggression against our Jewish friends in the state of Israel. Why struggle with peace and security anyway? With the complete elimination of the Moslem - Islamic governments, no more such aggression could ever be taken against Israel again.
There are more reasons for an attack on the Mideast, but the two just mentioned should be enough. At least some Americans who even claim they are open-minded might have been shaken by strife and darkened by ignorance. Talk about that the next time you’re on a date.
It's heavy stuff to be talking about when a piece of Skylab hits you.
Creator clarifies purpose of toys
To the editor:
We never use the term "retardate," although it may be technically correct, nor do we talk about our products in relation to the "mentally handicapped." Currently accepted terminology can be found on pages two to four of the same issue of the Kanan,
Most retarded children do not have difficulty holding toys. Some physically handicapped children do, especially if they have cerebral palsy or must use their hands for mobility (wheelchairs, walkers, or crutches.)
We sincerely appreciate your intent in publishing the story about Exceptional Play, Inc., in the June 14th Kansan. ("Couple makes toys for special children." Unfortunately, much of the terminology and explanatory text was, at best, misleading.
My husband Ron and I are striving to build the reputation of our company on the ability of our staff to deal with sensitivity to the needs and abilities of disabled children. Perhaps because my work requires such careful attention to detail, I am often asked "what sit-at a minimum—the following errors.
Some special children need special toys, usually when ordinary toys are too difficult to manipulate or comprehend. Many young children can and do play with ordinary toys.
Becky Williams Vice-President and Co-Owner Exceptional Play, Inc.
Exceptional Play, Inc., makes toys (play materials) that are designed, first of all, for the severely, profoundly multi-handicapped. Our design philosophy is based on serving very low-functioning children first and then making them be made appropriate for other children as well, that's great! Most of our toys are used as teaching materials for introducing such activities as shape and color recognition, social and perceptual development, problem-solving tasks. But our products are play materials first, and learning materials second.
in articles about the Attorney General's ruling on special education and the remodeling of Watson library. These and other generally acceptable terms used in the broad range of special education include: exceptional, disabled, mentally retarded, learning disabled, hearing or vision impaired, physically handicapped, emotionally disturbed, or particularly related to the student's perceptual-motor dysfunction, autism and many many others. I realize that public education related to minority groups is a long slow process, but it is not enhanced by the use of improper terminology.
Our business was the logical extension of research done by members of the Living Environments Group, under the direction of Todd R. Risley, professor of Human Development and Family Life. I, personally, was not responsible for conducting the research but synthesized the results of studies done by other graduate students, and concluded that the topic to toys for the handicapped merited further investigation.
As KU graduates, Ron and I both hope you will accept this letter in that same spirit.
Our play materials are not exactly "hand crafted," each of our toys is produced in batches of 15-50 units. This enables us to produce a wide variety of products from throughout the U.S. and Canada.
We make it a habit to seek feedback from our customers regarding their understanding and use of our products. The same is true of convention audiences at our professional presentations. We find that we need to establish an objective, constructive criticism.
THE SUMMER SESSION
KANSAN letters
To the editor:
Religion discriminates
Non-white people! Where is the anger and the courage which previously nourished your battle against a cunning plot which has given you the power to have even for yourself? Have you allowed yourselves to be tricked, by whoever benefits from your debasement, into the belief that "we don't have discrimination in our workplace," and condeen and participate in a plot that makes non-natives feel inferior, and be treated as inferiors, before their white counterparts? How long will you worship Jesus as white, or change your own minds white above non-white?
Women! Why do we delude ourselves into believing that volumes upon volumes of legislation, all reiterating the same basic rights, will equalize us politically and economically with men? How long will it take for women to become more political pacifist to our war against sexual discrimination. How long will they condone and participate in a plot that from childhood makes the girl, and later the woman, feel inferior to her male counterpart; how long will we worship Jesus, a man and their devotee in our own minds above men?
Brothers and sisters, this plot begins when an Gentiles we were given Jesus, a white man who is born to us.
plot is as politically expedient now as it was, then, since many religious and governmental leaders still seek to maintain their power through the subordination of the masses. If you doubt this, then ask yourself how cunning it is for religious leaders to force their followers to take Scripture without question? How cunning is it for them to brand as heresy and blasphemy any idea which differs from their teachings, even though it is your nature to question, and even though Truth, if it be such, should stand boldly before any other people. How can an expedient it is for a woman against man, and non-white against white, so we will be blind to the injustices they wage against all humanity?
This plot endangers all of us whether we accept as true that which has allegedly nourished our souls, but has in fact desecured them under the guise of Christian desperation. We reonounce all religion. In other words, that deceitful monster which seeks to alienate all mankind from one another through the worship of a white man, to use him as an enveloping into every nook of our society to snatch machine up in the irrational hate machine.
The solution is to question what you have been taught without fear of reprisal, since the only judgment we need fear is the ultimate judgment from God. After all, He will grant us a higher power than any graven images unto Him in our worship. But what then is the white man on the cross which every Sunday millions congregate to worship? Do you think God gave you a mind so that it would decay through disuse, fleshlight, or failure? Ezekiel 4:20 not anyone with religious authority tells you? Do you think God gave you the ability to reason, and then told you to believe in fair tales that go against every law of nature you were taught at school? No, he proclaimed "No!" God gave you Scripture in symbolic language, so interpret it symbolically!
Question the alleged "virgin birth" and discover the symbolic meaning that was intended. Question the logic of a Trinity, when god taught clearly in the Old Testament to worship none but him. Question anyone who dares equate God with Satan. He reproduced Himself. Question the alleged acceptance willing, will you eventually accept Jesus as a prophet, like those who came before him, bearing the message of God.
Brothers and sisters, the solution to racial and sexual discrimination is for us to demand the removal of all racial and sexual images from our worship of the divine!
Shaafie Abdul-Wali Lawrence senior