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Thursday, April 14, 1988 / University Daily Kansan
Opinion
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Education secretary's plan won't help problem students
U. S. Education Secretary William J. Bennett's latest folly is perhaps his most ludicrous yet.
Bennett is proposing that Catholic schools in the United States enroll problem students from public schools and then ask the government for half of what it would cost to educate these students in the public system.
"Seek out the poor, the disadvantaged, the disruptive, the dropout, and take them in, educate them, and then ask society for fair recompense for your efforts," Bennett told the National Catholic Education Association.
Asking the public to pay Catholic schools to educate students who can't or won't succeed in a public school is wrong. The answer to solving problems with trouble students is not to ship them off to Catholic school but rather to improve and strengthen the current public education system.
Catholic schools have not necessarily shown that they are more adept at successfully educating students, but it does appear that more serious students tend to gravitate to the private schools.
most sophomores compared to 14 percent. Bennett's proposal also brings up the problem of maintaining the separation of church and state. Catholic schools have in their curriculum the teaching of Catholic beliefs and doctrine. Using state or federal funds to pay for the education of students who could get an education in the public school system is bending the separation too far.
Statistics show that parochial schools have a high success rate. A study done by University of Chicago sociologist James Coleman showed a dropout rate of only 3 percent for parochial school sophomores compared to 14 percent in public schools.
Instead of making ridiculous proposals like this, Bennett should concentrate his efforts on improving public education in the United States.
Jody Dickson for the editorial board
University deserved a day off
On April 4, The University of Kansas basketball team won its first national title in 36 years. That night, the University made a good decision in canceling classes for the next day.
After the game, Jayhawk Boulevard was covered by a crowd estimated to be near 17,000. It was a screaming, unrestrained and well-deserved celebration that lasted long into the following morning.
I nearly attended waste of time.
In cancelling one day of classes, the University did not stray from its noble mission of higher education. Missing one day of classes did not deprive students of the education they have paid for and worked so diligently to achieve.
In the midst of all that excitement, very few students would have been prepared to sit in classrooms April 5. If classes had gone on as scheduled, its probable that they would have been a sparsely attended waste of time.
paid for and worked so diligently to act.
Nor did calling off a day of classes pave the way for future "unworthy" cancellations. KU has a reputation of holding classes at all costs; that reputation will merge unscathed. The administration has required students to attend class on even the iciest winter days, and final exams have been administered when the weather was too bad for the KU bus service to operate.
National championships are rare. And great universities don't suffer by taking a day off to celebrate.
Alan Player for the editorial board
Editorials in this column are the opinions of the editorial board
APRIL FIFTEENTH BLUES
Ignorance and greed foster racism
Making judgments on the basis of skin color is a waste of human potential
Okay, KU, let's recap the last two columns. Tuesday, I pointed out some of the behaviors you, whether you're black or white, may be doing that may be based on skin color. That skin color may either 1) make you feel uncomfortable or 2) make you avoid or not notice that person. Yesterday, I pointed out some factors that perpetuate the problems between the races. Today, I'll inform you how racism causes a waste of human potential that compares with abortion, child abuse and war.
Other Voices
tinue.
For example, becoming a doctor, lawyer, pilot or professor takes a long time and a lot of hard, boring work. Not many people want to spend approximately 20 years in school before they can earn a living, regardless of their race.
abortion, child abuse, there’s nothing wrong with being a college athlete or an actor or entertainer. I was trying to emphasize was the fact that for most whites in this country and on campus, TV shows and news, movies, football, basketball, music videos and entertainment specials provide almost all they know about black people. Unfortunately, that’s also where most blacks learn about what they want to do with their future. That stuff didn’t start racism or the “second slavery,” but it sure helps them continue.
Research conducted by faculty is a vital part of the university's mission, but it should not be the sole criteria used in the selection of faculty and graduate teaching assistants. Just because someone is a good researcher, it does not follow that he will be able to effectively convey knowledge in a classroom setting.
The Kansan revieweb can be mailed right to the Kansan newsroom, 111 Stauffer-Flint Hall, Qutub columns and columns are the opinion of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of the University Daily Kansan. Editorials are the opinion of the Kansan editorial board.
Research shouldn't be first priority
that will be photographed.
The Kansan reserves the right to reject or edit letters and guest columns. They can be mailed or brought to the Kansan newsroom, 111 Stauffer-Flint Hall.
Letters, guest columns and columns are the opinion of the writer and do not
Therefore, if teaching ability is not to play a more important role in the selection of faculty, it should at least be placed on the same level. There is a crucial need for strong researchers and the ability to stay on top of new developments in all fields. Along with that need, however, is a need to find people capable of imparting that knowledge on students.
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that as long as they also see you. But they don't always learn. Chris Washburn, a talented basketball star at North Carolina State, allegedly scored 470 out of a possible 1600 on his SAT. One could guess a better score than that; it's only 70 points above the lowest possible score.) Despite his score, over 150 colleges attempted to recruit him, including Maryland and Virginia Tech. Kevin Ross, a basketball star at Creighton in Nebraska, upon completing his academic eligibility, enrolled in a seventh grade class to learn how to read and write.
To the average kid, writing a legal brief or reading a medical journal doesn't sound easy or fun. But playing basketball and singing and being funny appear easier. It's a hell of a lot more fun, and even kids do it. And that's where it starts. Kids watch TV and strive to be athletes
Letters should be typed, double-spaced and less than 200 words and must include the writer's signature, name, address and telephone number. If the writer is affiliated with the University of Kansas, please include class and hometown, or faculty or staff position.
if nothing else, the university needs to keep in mind that just as good teachers do not always make good researchers, good researchers do not always make the best teachers.
Or maybe not.
business manager
Kelly Scherer...Business manager
Clark Messasman...Retail sales manager
Braden Lehnert...Campus sales manager
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Or maybe not.
And it's OK to do it because there's money to be made. You can't be I'm not knocking athletics and outnumbered per se. It's only slavery when the participant (black or white) can't read or write or cope with life. This "second slavery" only perpetuates the problem that began over 200 years ago.
In the $2.5 million lawsuit mentioned in yesterday's column, the president of the University of Georgia argued that refusing to admit academically deficient players would be a "unilateral disarmament" that would prevent the university from competing. The university's attorney said, "We may not make a university student out of him, but if we can teach him to read and write, maybe he can work at the post office rather than as a garbage man when he finishes his college career."
One cause of racism is ignorance about how other people feel, regardless of their race. Most students on this campus don't seem to care about each other or what goes on in this world. They are tuned into themselves. Unfortunately, the world affects all of us, and the ignorant will suffer — no matter how much money they have or think they'll have. They won't know what they want to do in life because they don't know what there is to do or what they can do. "The one only is knowledge, the one only evil is ignorance."
The Daily Beacon University of Tennessee - Knoxville
and entertainers. And there's nothing wrong with that as long as they also strive to read and write.
Business staff
The other cause is greed. People care less for others when they are out to get something for themselves. It doesn't matter whether it's at a bar where some guy is trying to pick up a woman, or some woman trying to be picked up. It could be someone going or straight “A’s” — with or without cheating. It could be new clothes or a car outfit.
- "See what I got!
And the effects are devastating. There are a lot of unfriendly people on this campus - creating a lot of lonely people on this campus. And that causes a lot of people to leave due to academic dismissal, alienation, loneliness and suicide.
Black or white.
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Black or White Richard Fellon is a second-year law student
Richard Felton Guest Columnist
On April 4, 1988, the University of Kansas conquered more than the Oklahoma Sooners in winning the NCAA basketball title. With this one single victory, all social constraints were removed. Prejudice and racism couldn't be seen. Blacks celebrated with whites; orientals celebrated with hispanics; Catholics celebrated with Jews; and Muslims celebrated with atheists.
That night, race, creed and religion didn't matter. Students looked upon one another as equals, as brothers and sisters. Students came together to celebrate, not to judge or degrade. We were one group of people congregated for one single cause — celebration.
with atheists.
As I woke through campus on that awkward evening, I witnessed something more beautiful than KU becoming No.1 in the country, I witnessed everyone (blacks, whites, Hispanics, Asians, all foreigners) coming together in one single moment of glory.
never seem to get effectively addressed. Perhaps one day this feeling of comaderie will be commonplace in more important societal areas rather than being a one-time occasion. But until that day, let us strive for that glorious feeling of brotherhood and sisterhood.
This feeling of unity is rare and short-lived.
This is why I agree that we are No. 1! We are
No. 1 in togetherness as one united student
body, proud of out team.
It is too bad that a basketball game can create such hysteria when so many larger problems such as hunger, murder and pollution
Ann Guerrero Pre-law student
Prejudice is costly
In response to Richard Felton's column regarding racial discrimination that appeared in Tuesday's Kansan:
I you maze some very good points. As a white whose circle of friends includes blacks, Asians and Hispanics, I have witnessed some prejudices that my friends must face. As a white female who has dated a black guy, I have been on the receiving end of discrimination. My experiences have made me realize how deeply embedded racism is in our society. It is easy, so easy, to interpret every stare, whisper and giggle as being directed toward you, a minority. I used to cringe every time I was with my black friend and a group of white guys would walk by laughing. I could just imagine the jokes they were making about the "mixed couple." But recently, the situation turned around: a black male approached me and tried to strike up a conversation. When it was obvious I didn't want to talk, he automatically assumed it was because he was black. He didn't take into consideration that I had a different reason for not wanting to talk to him (mainly because he was rude, and I was busy). People who don't associate with minorities
because of prejudiced opinions miss out on a lot. Minorities that allow paranoia to interfere with their relationships with whites can miss out on a lot, too.
Toni Thennes
Toni Thennes Dodge City sophomore
Day off was necessary
In response to Professor Sherr's letter in the April 8 Kansan;
Let's unstuff our shirts and be realistic here,
Professor.
First of all, I don't think you need to worry about a "domino effect" being created by cancelling classes for one day. The University administration probably considered the situation realistically; after KU won the NCAA Championship, students would be out celebrating all night and well into the next morning. To go ahead and have classes as usual the next day would not have made people come to class. Being counted absent just one day never slowed down students before.
Second, by canceling classes for one day, it allowed students to get the excitement and what-have-you out of their systems. They returned to class Wednesday, and I noticed in my classes that day that attendance was high. The administration did a good job of remembering what it was like to be 20 years old, celebrating with 26,000 new best friends.
Finally, as for reputation, KU has a famous one for never canceling classes, even during the worst wintry, snowy days. Everyone realized that this was a special occasion, and the old reputation has held up.
Lisa Rasor
Lisa Rasor senior
Lisa Rasor
Topeka senior
BLOOM COUNTY
by Berke Breathed