OPINION
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
PUBLISHED DAILY SINCE 1912
4A
CRAG LANG, Editor
SUSANNA LOOP, Managing editor
KIMBERLY CRAFTRET, Editorial editor
TOM EBELN, General manager, news adviser
MARK OZIMKE, Business manager
DENNIS LAUPT, Retail sales manager
JUSTIN KNUPP, Technology coordinator
JA YSTEEN, Sales and marketing adviser
Thursday, January 16. 1997
Jeff MacNelly/ CHICAGO TRIBUNE
Editorials
Wildlife specimen investigation reveals flaws in a noble cause
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service agents are investigating some collections at the KU Natural History Museum. Investigators said that some of the specimens contained in the collection may have been obtained illegally. Although the idea of breaking the law in the name of science is disturbing, this issue also demonstrates that problems may exist within the system designed to protect wildlife.
Education and knowledge should not come at the expense of morals or laws. As a result, the recent claims of impropriety against the museum serve to show that more care should be taken to preserve these ideals. As much care as possible should be given to making sure specimens are obtained in a legal manner, as well as ensuring that any other
Education should not come at the expense of morals or laws.
process within the University is conducted carefully and thoughtfully.
However, not all the fault lies with the museum. William Duellman, former curator in charge of herpetology at the museum, who retired Dec. 31, has remarked how obtuse and difficult U.S. Fish and Wildlife forms are. This illustrates a different problem, not with the museum, but with the system designed to protect wildlife. It should not function in such a way as to prevent scientists and historians from gathering nec
essary information. By making forms so difficult as to hamper the efforts of a reputable organization like the Natural History Museum, it is helping conservation and protection efforts, but at the expense of learning.
The museum should always be vigilant in its collection of specimens. The collections, displays and exhibits within the museum are first rate, and they should not be tarnished by claims of illegalities in their conceptions.
But the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service should change its processes to facilitate protection of the environment while still assisting science and learning. This investigation has served to show the necessity of change in both these institutions.
GERRY DOYLE FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
School of Education standards need revision for higher quality
The restructuring of the School of Education presents the perfect opportunity to raise its standards. If teachers' prestige ever is to equal the importance their positions hold in society, then the teacher education programs must rise to the professional level.
There are many ways to draw quality students to a school. One is raising admission standards. According to the undergraduate catalog, the 2.5 grade point average required to enter the School of Education is among the lowest of the University's professional schools.
By raising admissions requirements and providing more in-depth classes for motivated students, the school would provide a more challenging education. Also, by consolidating classes and therefore reducing the amount of overlap in
Raising admission standards is one way to help the school.
curricula, the stigma of education classes as being too easy might be erased. With a reduction in the number of classes, perhaps the extended length of time it takes to get an education degree may be shortened, too. This probably would take a lot of work on the part of administrators, but it would be worth it.
Proposals have been made to bring several of the education departments together, reducing the number of departments from six to four. John Bushman, professor of curriculum and instruction, said that this would facilitate communication between instructors in the new departments. This is a good step, although this new efficiency may be slow in affecting the quality of education of students in the school.
The School of Education has many intelligent and motivated instructors. By allowing instructors to emphasize their personal experiences, as well as the standard curricula, they might better
transfer their knowledge on the changing nature of the field.
Students in the School of Education will be better served if instruction in their content areas is intensified. By raising its standards, the School of Education would not only be more challenging, but it would produce graduates who are better prepared to teach.
KANSAN STAFF
CARY JONES FOR THE EDITORIAL BOARD
NEWS EDITORS
LATINA SULLYAN ... Associate Editorial
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Column
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Uproar about Ebonics misses real problem
One thing I don't understand is why there has been so much hoopla concerning the Oakland School Board's decision to recognize Black English, or Ebonics, as a separate language to better educate its students.
From journalists and politicians to the head of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and Maya Angelou, people are up in arms. I would include Jesse Jackson, but once again, he can't figure out where he stands or which side is more popular.
People have not been this outraged since O.J. Simpson was acquitted of murder. Where were all of these concerned citizens when I was in elementary school? And why are people — including bureaucrats — who have never stepped inside an inner-city school interested in how its children are educated?
Is it because America has finally realized that there is a problem and actually wants to do something about it? Please, that would almost be doing something right.
Some of these "concerned citizens" only care about their money. I imagine that the little voice inside of their heads is screaming — "They want to use our tax dollars. Say it ain't (sorry, isn't) so. Take away welfare, and they still try to find ways to steal our hard-earned money."
Honestly, how many of these concerned citizens are truly interested in how inner-city children are taught? Remember, many teachers in the Oakland school district had already been teaching these children to speak "correct" English by using Ebonics. The resolution was to make it official.
Think about it. When was the last time that the secretary of education jumped on an issue so fast? After the story hit the wire, he almost broke his neck trying to send a letter to the Oakland School Board that said the department would not give any federal funds to teach "incorrect English." Wasn't this jumping the gun just a little? After all, the school board did not request any federal money. I guess that it was a just-in-case letter, which makes me wonder whether he would have replied so quickly if the Oakland School Board needed more money to pay its teachers. Probably not.
For other concerned citizens, it's all about saving face. "Ebonics done made us look ignorant again."
how else can you explain NAACP President Kweisi Mfume and other prominent African-American leaders about to have major coronaries on national television arguing why Ebonics is just unacceptable? It has conveniently slipped their minds that many of them also grew up in an environment where Black English was used.
As these debates move into battles, many have forgotten that children are the true casualties of this controversy. They also have forgotten that all of this commentary isn't solving the problem.
Whether these children say "I be going" or "I am going," the reality is that 71 percent of Oakland students enrolled in special education courses are African American although they only make up 53 percent of the district's enrollment, according to the New York Times.
Although I do believe that these children should be given all of the tools needed to succeed in America, I don't believe that Ebonics solves the problem that faces many inner-city schools.
As a product of a Memphis, Tenn., inner-city education, I must admit that many of us did come to school thinking that "be" and its conjugate "is" were the all-inclusive verbs and that double negatives were the norm. Well, that's what we heard at home, sometimes in church and on Good Times. Of course, there were some teachers who were about to retire and didn't care whether we said "Dy-no-mite" until the bell rang. And then there were those teachers who refused to accept what many people call incorrect English from students who were already at a socio-economic disadvantage. When someone said "I ain't got none," that teacher would repeat the question until the student answered correctly or gave up in frustration. And she would then repeat and have the entire class repeat the correct response. And there was one time when a rebel did blurt out what most of
us wanted to know. "Why we can't say that?" And that was the day many of us learned the sobering politics of race and class. "As poor Black people," she said, "you will be first
Demond Robinson / KANSAN
judged as ignorant until you prove them wrong."
You see, our teachers didn't criticize Black English because they knew that it was and still is deeply embedded in our culture — from the poetry of Langston Hughes to the bebop of jazz and the modern form of hip-hop.
However, they also realized that we were in school to learn how to succeed in the dominant culture. They knew that if we used incorrect English, no matter how cool it sounded, we would never be accepted into professional America. And like the Oakland board, they also realized that the curriculum wasn't achieving its goal. There were far too many students failing and enrolled in special education. So, they supplemented our history and literature books with books and documentaries about African-American history, which was often excluded from our required reading lists. They also challenged us to become exceptions to the rule and achieve heights much higher than those in their generation.
Were they effective?
Do I still speak Black English?
Without today's arguments about Black English, many of my friends, who in the third grade couldn't conjugate "be" correctly if it hit them in the face, have graduated from prestigious universities. Me, well, I'm an English and journalism major, and I tutor freshmen in English.
You damn skipy (just a little old school). 'Cause around my peeps, it's all good, kid. Translation: Yes, around my family and friends. Culturally, it's still a big part of who I am, and it's the dialect of my heritage. Professionally, I have been taught that there is a line that Black English cannot cross if you want to succeed in America.
To those people who are still upset about Ebonics: Take my great aunt's advice, which is quite simple. "Baby, if you ain't part of the solution, then you is part of the problem." Correct it if you want, but no matter how you say it, it will always ring true.
LaTina Sullivan is a Memphis, Tenn., senior in English and journalism.
E-mail: isullivan@kansan.com
Letters
Meat consumption carries a high price
I think that many Kansan readers feel that the "meat is murder" issue has been beaten to death, but some critical points have been neglected in the ongoing vegetarian debate.
Indeed, humans possess some traits adapted for eating meat. Many native cultures included meat in their diet. Although human meat consumption is natural, if you think American meat consumption is natural, you are mistaken.
Have you ever seen a stockyard? If so, then you know that cattle live in their own refuse, which is washed into our water supply. Cattle are injected with antibiotics and hormones, some of which are not Food and Drug Administration approved. Antibiotics decrease the effectiveness of the human
...
immune system and added hormones interfere with bodily hormone functions.
In 1995 Kansas ranked 50th in the United States for water quality.
Have you ever seen a native prairie? If so, then you have noticed its splendor. Most of you have not, because 90 percent of native prairie has been destroyed for crop production. Roughly two-thirds of crop land, and 90 percent of corn, is used to produce animal feed, not human food. In a wasteful cycle, only 10 percent of this energy is passed onto people when we eat meat.
While I respect the efforts of ranchers and farmers, they are embedded in an agricultural system in which government subsidies practically force feed crop production, loss of our water supply and extensive pesticide use.
for those who believe that God gave us animals for our use: As a Christian I applaud your faith. In considering the Genesis account of Judeo-Christian tradition, however, we must remember that with great privilege comes great responsibility. God did not intend us to exploit or poison our planet. He meant for us to cherish and protect it
Most Americans are ignorant about how food gets to their table. I am not a vegetarian, but I choose to eat meat rarely, usually only when I know it has been produced responsibly.
Next time you purchase a neatly packaged tray of meat, please think about how it got there, and the real price of meat.
Alexandra Fraser
Lawrence graduate student