Alternative education for children to begin next fall
Staff Writer
By LYNN BONNEY KIRKMAN
A new private school, designed to provide alternative education for children 5 through 8, will be built in New York.
Michael Bryant, educational coordinator for the Lawrence Open School, said yesterday, "Open education is an approach to education that is open to change, to new ideas, to honest expressions of feelings and to children's participation in significant decision making in the classroom."
Pupil decision making is the key to an open school. Brvant said.
“It’s not a free school,” he said, “although many people often get the concepts out.”
According to Bryant, a free school would give children absolute freedom to select their activities. The open school, on the other hand, offers students choices within areas, while direction is left to them.
The open school program will stress basic skills in math and language art. Bryant said, a pupil will be expected to work with his classmates.
"A 5-year old may not select reading as an activity," Bryant said, "but we'll offer cassettes and story-telling activities which will develop reading skills.
math and a language arts area, although he will have a choice in the area he selects.
"We're setting up an environment that will give the children choices among activities. They will be able to make decisions about what to do."
The school will offer community resource programs during afternoons, Bryant said. Volunteers from the community will be sought to present music art and other skills to the children.
Bryant said the children would have a voice in selecting community resources.
"If we have children who are interested in a certain activity, he said, 'we ity to find someone with that kind of interest.'"
Bryant said that a number of people had already volunteered to teach six-week mini-courses for children with special needs.
Lawrence Unified School District No. 497 during the 1975-76 school year, Karl Edwards, University of Kansas professor of education, was a member of the committee that developed the original proposal. He is now on the steering committee for the Lawrence Open School.
Open Office and Tuesdays that the proposal had been turned down by the school board for a number of
The Lawrence Open School grew from an alternative school proposal which was turned down by
"If just never received a lot of enthusiastic support from the teachers and administrators," he said. "There were some organization problems at school." The teacher, who was a part of a were a lot of interrelated factors in the decision."
Edwards said that ideas from the open school concept, such as the inquiry approach and humanistic learning, were already incorporated in many school systems.
board called for a school for kindergarten through ninth grades, the Lawrence Open School will have classes only for 8 through 9-year-olds during its first year. After that plans call for accommodating 9-year-olds next year and then expanding the school a year at a time until a full elementary program is offered.
"I've been dealing with innovative learning projects for the past 30 years," he said. "The concept of the open school is not new—it's just known by a lot of different names."
Although the original proposal presented to $ ^{th} $
The school is designed to accommodate 30 children. Fifteen of next year's pupils are already enrolled.
Some pupils are from families that were involved in drafting the original proposal, Bryant said, and others are from families who heard about the school and were interested in it as an alternative to public
*Rans call for the school to be incorporated as a non-profit institution, which will give the school tax-exempt status. Parents will pay $5 base tuition each month for each child who attends the school, and parents will receive a required for each child. A credit may be a payment of $5 or an hour spent working at the school.
through janitorial service, food preparation and office work. Credits also may be earned by organizing fund-raising projects and writing proposals for grants for the school.
Although the steering committee will make most of the decisions about the operation of the school, Bryant said, families of the children enrolled also will have a voice in decisions. General meetings will be each month and, each family must be represented at those meetings.
"The general meeting will have the power to veto recommendations that the steering committee has made," Bryant said. "Parents will obviously have the voice here than they have in the public schools."
"My original idea was to have the school in a building in the country," he said. "We'd like to have an English classroom."
The Lawrence Open School does not, at this time,
have a permanent home, although negotiations are
going on for a building in the community. Bryant
said.
See ALTERNATIVES page six
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY
KANSAN
RAIN
Vol. 87, No.149
Thursday, June 23, 1977
The University of Kansas—Lawrence, Kansas
Royals win 4-3
See story page four
Staff photo by KENT VAN HOESEN
Fresh start
Construction goes set poles for a new barn to replace a hay barn and shed lost by Olin Heffner, Route 2, Baldwin, in the May 4 tornado.
From our wire services
Carter fights boycott of Israel
WASHINGTON—President Jimmy Carter yesterday signed a bill aimed at stopping U.S. firms from bowing to Arab pressures to cotioff Israel and predicted that enforcement of the law "will lessen tensions in the Middle East."
The White House played a major role in piecing together compromise legislation that is midder than the initial proposal passed by the legislature, particularly for U.S. firms that operate
The law stems from attempts by the Arabs to force U.S. firms into pledges that they will not trade with Israel or use their resources with the other Middle East nations.
WASHINGTON—The Federal Power Commission (FPC) predicted yesterday that the nation's natural gas shortage may be worse next winter than it was this past year—even if winter temperatures are normal.
"The bill seeks to end the divide effects on American life of foreign boycotters at Jewish members of Rose Garden, said during Rose Garden ceremony.
Severe natural gas lack seen
It took a record cold spell last winter to bring on the natural gas shortage that caused many industries and schools to shut down. It brought thousands of workers out of jobs.
out of a country conducting secondary and tertiary boycotts.
But the FPC said interstate pipelines would probably be unable to deliver about 23 per cent of their wholesale customers" "firm requirements" for natural gas. The shortest last winter was 21 per cent.
The actual impact of the shortages will depend on the weather, the nation's economic condition and installations to switch temporarily or permanently to other fuels
House denies aid to Indochina
WASHINGTON—The House ignored a specific request by President Jimmy Carter yesterday and voted to bar any government agency from international lending agencies.
Speaker had warned, in a letter to Speaker Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill, that such action would be likely to make it impossible for institutions such as the
World Bank to accept U.S. funds and thus jeopardize American participation in their multilateral aid and development programs.
progranms:
The action came as the House considered a $7 billion foreign aid appropriation.
propriation.
The House voted 285 to 115 to add the prohibition on indirect aid.
Towers rezoning request opposed by Commission
By DIANE WOLKOW
Staff Writer
Brian S. Kubota, who submitted the request for Stanley Learned, Towers' owner, said the complex needed reoning because the owner was forced to appear before the commission each time he wanted to add new facilities to the complex.
The Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission denied a request last night to rezone the Jayhawer Towers apartment building, $18.5 million, for planned commercial development.
The proposed rezoning, which would have legalized a small convenience store already located in the complex and would have cleared the way for other small commercial stores, would vote, Clinton Max Lucas abstaining. Two commissioners were not present.
Kubota said the commercial rezoning would affect only the small building located at the 15th Street entrance. The building, approximately 2,000 square feet, now houses the apartment's office and a small convenience center.
Possibilities for commercial establishments had included the installation of a news and magazine stand, a bank and a small retail outlet, Kubota said. The commercial outlets would have been open to all students living in the West Caramus area.
"We hate to be caught doing something illegal, he said. "We'd like to do it and I'm confident we can."
An active discussion preceding the vote centered on the intention of the planned rezoning and the problems that might result.
Bill Barr, professor of engineering who lives near the complex, presented a paper on his research.
request. His objections included the possible traffic problems such development would have incurred, as well as any resultant competition to the future KU
Kubota said commercial enterprises would have been gared toward pedestrian traffic along 15th Street. He said his observations showed that traffic would be reduced because students wouldn't have to go shopping centers for miscellaneous items.
The satellite union, which will be complete in 1978, is to be built in the southwestern part of the campus, near the Javhawker Towers.
The Towers won't have the same management or ownership indefinitely, but they will eventually be purchased.
The commercial activities wouldn't compete with those of the satellite union,
we anticipate to work with the union and not to go into competition with it," he said. Oddley Well, $30 Kasel Road, said that the owners of PCD-1 would apply to the entire apartment complex, reasoning would give the owners free rein to do anything they wanted there. For instance, if five apartments were occupied, the owners could step in and open a door service.
"I'd be lovely," Wiley said. "There's nothing you can't do in there."
Ed Church, Towers' apartment manager,
"There seems to be a lot of miscon-
ceptions about the housing crisis."
He said the owners intended to use the same facilities as were in the building now, but to do it legally. Besides the convenience store, only a bank-teller unit would be installed.
Twister victims rebuilding homes
By CHRISTOPHER COX
Staff Writer
More than 50 days have passed since the May 4 twister撕裂 a path across southern Douglas County leaving in its wake dozens of people. A resident had spent a lifetime building.
But with the help of friends, neighbors and the Red Cross and financial aid provided by other agencies, many of the victims are starting to build again.
More than 15 persons have applied for financial assistance made possible through U.S. Department of Agriculture funds. The department also provides for debris removal and fence repair.
Six families have filed applications with the Small Business Administration (SBA) for money to rebuild, according to Jo Byers, Red Cross administrator.
Byers said the SBA loans were being provided because there was never a federal declaration of disaster in Douglas County. She said the loans carried a six and five-eighths per cent interest rate and could be remaid over a 30-year period.
The federal declaration, she said, would have provided grants for elderly victims or those lacking adequate financing to repay loans.
One reason many people haven't applied for SBA assistance was that the applications are lengthy and complicated, Bvers said.
Another reason, as was the case with Max Kepple, Route 2, Baldwin, was that the loan was approved.
"I was going to apply," Kepple said, "but there was too much red tape and we were in
Keppe's home was demolished by the storm. He used insurance money to buy a double-wide mobile home to set on what was left of his house's foundation. However, the recent rains have caused delays in moving the trailer onto the site.
Kepple said his family was lucky because none of their major appliances or clothing been damaged. He取了 a pickup and a four-wheel-drive vehicle were wrecked by fallen trees. The truck was repaired and the vehicle was replaced with a new car, he said.
Kopep's family has lived with a daughter in Baldwin during the past few weeks while their 30-year-old home site was being cleared of debris.
The cleanup process continues for Mr. and Mrs. Joe Helfhrich, Route 2, Baldwin. Their farmstead of more than 45 years was burned when the cyclone showed through their land.
Their two-story house, the barn, garage,
chicken house and tractor shed were
built on a slope. The yard is grassy.
Mrs. Helfrich said a new mobile home was purchased a week ago paid in part with insurance money. Until the new trailer arrived, she said, they lived with neighbors.
Despite help from neighbors and the Red Cross, Mrs. Helirlah said she didn't "know quite what to do" about rebuilding their house, because it would get financial help to clean up and rebuild.
"It's been just terrible," she said.
Another family who lost almost everything they owned was the Olin Heffernans, Route 2, Baldwin. They have made progress in rebuilding their house on its original foundation, but have lived in a house that was built years before the construction was completed.
"I would have just as soon kept the
"i house," Hefner chuckled. "I wouldn't
be there."
In addition to his 15-year-old house, Heffner lost seven built-up buildings, including a large apartment.
The stone walls of one of Heffner's two barns are still intact and he's new replacing the original door.
Hefner said the U.S. Department of Agriculture was providing assistance to replace fencing lost in the storm. Insurance will pay part of the cost of his new house. Lumber salvaged from his demolished building provided much of the building material.
Hefner said he had received considerable help from neighbors in clearing the rubble.
Pratt said the damage to trees on his property was a sad loss because they "are irreplaceable." Two were more than 100 years old.
Broken trees were also a problem at the home of Harry Newell, Route 2, Baldwin. Neighbors armed with chain saws helped clear the area because they couldn't walk away.
One of those helpening Heffner was his son-in-law, Bill Pratil, Route 2, Baldwin, whose house also was hit by the twister. Pratt lost a barn and the roofing on his home.
Although their home wasn't destroyed, the winds crushed a mobile home and three implement sheds the Newells had on their property.
Lawrence residents should brace themselves for more several days of rain, according to the National Weather Service in Topeka.
Weather
Seathered thunderstorms are forecast through the weekend, on substation M3.
A 60 per cent chance of rain this afternoon should diminish to about 30 per cent by this time.
Daytime temperatures are expected to settle in the mid-80s today through the weekend and drop to a nighttime average in the 60s.
KU decides to pay $1,000 fine for not having EPA oil spill plan
The University of Kansas will pay the $1,000 fine imposed on it for not having an oil spill prevention plan on file with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Mike Davis, University general counsel, said yesterday.
The fine was levied against KU following a 5000-gallon oil leak into the Wakarua River from the University's underground fuel oil storage tank May 6. The money will come from the University's general operating budget.
Davis said it was still possible that the U.S. Coast Guard would fine the University for the actual oil spill. The Coast Guard is waiting for a report of action from the EPA.
before taking action.
Dennis Schenck, spokesman for the second district office of the Coast Guard in St. Louis, said whenever the Coast Guard
received a report of an oil spill, it was required to assess a penalty.
The maximum civil penalty for the spill would be $5,000, he said. In determining the amount of the possible penalty, the Coast Guard would consider the size of the University, the effect the penalty would have on University and the gravity of the violation.
Schenck said the Coast Guard also would consider the amount of oil lost in the spill and would consider whether the University had been negligent.
The EPA has recommended that the U.S. Attorney's Office file criminal charges against the University because of a two-day delay in reporting the spill.
Ed Johnson, U.S. attorney in Topeka, said he would wait to take any action until he could see what the Coast Guard would do in the matter.