The Star Press from Muncie, Indiana • Page 33

Recent Study Debated Schools and Race-What Are the Answers? whites." Up until this generation, Goodall says, blacks were not taught to hate whites. Of course, there 'can certainly be an unconscious transmission of hatred on our parts, he admits. "THIS REPORT," Goodall asserts, "is the same kind of jazz we've been getting all along. What we need is a common sense approach." "We didn't realize we had a problem here until it broke out," says Central Principal Huffman. Huffman, who recently watched as what he terms "the best year in five years here" erupted into racial brawls in the last two weeks of school, says he feels the racial situation at Central was "more wholesome than ever before" prior to the incident.

From the first of the school year I observed a noticeable lack of racial frictions and tension among the student body, Huffman says. Agreeing with Huffman is Bill O'Neal. "As far as Central is concerned, I thought this was a minimal year," O'Neal says. "MY GOAL IS to make the school racial climate as positive as I can," O'Neal savs, indicating he works closely wifh all officials at junior and senior hiah school levels. "What I've done is set uo human relations groups at all the schools," he says.

So what happened at Central to cause a pushing, shoving and fist-wielding brawl to ensue in the school's main hallway and spill over into several downtown streets. "Interracial dating, which prompted some verbal exchanges, was the core of the incident," O'Neal says. In general, Huffman agrees. In viewing the problems of unruly students and lack of discipline among the student body, Huffman tends to see thines in economic terms. introduction of more elec'ives, academic credit for outside activities and less emphasis on the length of a boy's hair." Locally, the Syracuse study has met with a varie'y of responses, not all favorable.

"I don't think the study is so far off base, especially the point on insensitivity," says Bill O'Neal, a black administrative assistant who works for better racial relations in Muncie's school system. "The sight of a black woman cutting a white man's grass will create a certain bitterness in black kids," he notes. O'NEAL SAYS he sees some validity in the theory of black revenge. "Many of these black kids come from broken homes, have only one parent, and shaky family lives because of financial problems at home," he says. Black scholars, O'Neal notes, are not nearly as popular with their peer group as white scholars.

He attributes this mainly to group pressures if black students please their white teachers by excelling in studies, they will be branded as "Uncle Toms." O'Neal goes beyond the study though, stating his belief that all students from poor backgrounds, both black and white, are the victims of an insensitive school system "WE DON'T really know about squalor," concedes Central High principal John Paul' Huffman. "How many Negro homes have we been in?" he asks rhetorically. "How many have been in ours?" One Muncie man who scoffs at many of the findings of the Syracuse study, particularly the references to black revenge, is Hurley Goodall, the first black ever to hold office on the local school board. "I think this idea is a product of white guilt paranoia, an attitude which says, in effect, 'If I were black I know I'd hate would have to be an authority figure who could quell a disturbance, someone with a high degree of tolerance." He notes though that at Southside High School, scene of severe racial strife in years past, police assigned to patrol the school's hallways have developed an "exceptional rapport with the studentSi" WHEN YOU HAVE a school located in the midst of a city, you must be concerned about people entering buildings, Huffman says. I don't know about having police present but you certainly need some kind of officers with authority.

Doubting that the Central incident was a deep-seated problem. Hurley Goodall says, "We seem to be moving merely from one crisis to another. "Why," he asks, "can't we continue to have an interracial dialogue even during periods of calm?" A problem at one school concerns the entire community, Goodall points out. This point mav be borne out this coming school vear, hints Huffman when he says, "I think the real racial problems now will be at Northside as the changing racial balance of its student body is felt. Hurlev Goodall says he feels that voung blacks could greatly profit from the rwsewe of more male teachers in the schools.

"The teacher must provide a model for the student to emulate," he says, "someone whom the kids can lean on and identify with," In the last analysis, Goodall sees the racial problems in the schools as but a part of the total problem facing American society. "How do we work toward creating a situation where both races can work together?" he asks. "Both will have to give some ground. It's hell to have to live any other way." "I think we were so affluent for a few years most people lost concern for anything else," he says. "Kids have had access to too much money.

We're tightening up economically in this country now. Kids may have to be more attentive to their parents' wishes." ON THIS point, O'Neal disagrees. "There are actually more jobs available for kids than their parents," he says. "And anyway, I think parents are more compromising than ever before. They'll give the kid money before spending it on something they might need, if only to keep him out of trouble." According to Huffman, "We've more or less asked the schools to do things we (as parents) haven't been able to do in the home.

For instance, who cares whether kids smoke anymore certainly not the parents, the police, the merchants who sold the cigarets. Only school teachers care." Disciplining students is the greatest challenge facing teachers today, Huffman says. "No one on my staff understands the problem completely," he says. "I'm sure it is disheartening to my staff that you almost have to have a legal case before you can act today." SAYS ONE young, white Central teacher, "What the schools need is more orientations on dealing with race problems. The teachers know they're not getting paid to be policemen.

We know that more than likely we would not be supported." "A good motto for us all," the young teacher says, "might be 'Watch what you say and do, or else." How should school administrators deal with disturbances? "I don't think we're so big our problems can't be handled by school personnel or para-professionals," says O'Neal. "It The Muncie Star By ART DWORKEN While most college campuses managed to remain free of major turmoil this past year, disruptions in the nation's junior and senior high schools, frequently caused by racial strife, were a painfully common occurrence. Even Muncie's school system, which has never been known as a sea of racial tranquility, fell victim to several student confrontations. Greatly concerned over this growing trend, the National Association of Secondary School Principals recently issued a report, prepared by a Syracuse University research group, which challenges all who believe in public education to work together to alleviate the problem. "DISRUPTION IN Urban Public Secondary Schools" paints vivid pictures of urban school tensions which it attributes mainly to fear, prejudice, poverty, arrogance, insensitivity and brutality.

The tone of the study, financed by the U.S. Office of Education, is one of pessimism. Conditions, it concludes, are getting worse, not better. According to the study, the most frequent forms of disruption were noted as property damage; presence on school grounds of unruly, unauthorized persons; student strikes or boycotts; student-teacher physical confrontation; picketing or parading; abnormal unruliness; teacher walkouts or strikes, arson and rioting. Racial Issues, the report states, were a factor in more than 50 per cent of the protests In schools with more than 1,000 students and in 30 per cent of the smaller schools.

THE SYRACUSE survey indicates that 85 per cent of the schools it studied experienced some type of disruption in the last three years. There is general agreement among ad Rulings Have By NANCY LOVE "During the year 1968-69, there were between 150 to 200 dependent children in Delaware County who received financial aid. This year, over 1,000 cases have been recorded. The number has grown continuously, and there has been no leveling off," says Mrs. Margaret Hubbard, acting di jjTi, I I w' I -v Wi Welfare Cases to 1,000 ministrators, teachers, parents, community organizers and students, the report says, that "established white society has simply failed to comprehend the depth of ghetto squalor and filth that surrounds many of the young pupils." Searching for causal factors involved in student racial tensions, Prof, Stephen K.

Bailey who conducted the survey, conjures up the phrase "black revenge," which, he implies, "no honest observers of the urban high school scene can by-pass." BAILEY WRITES: "We found that much of the physical fighting in and around school had a clear racial bias." This was particularly apparent where the student mix was predominantly but not wholly black. White students are hesitant to express their fears on this subject, but those fears are very real and run very Not that all troubles within the secondary school are racist in nature. "Often decisions are made in counselor's offices, on athletic fields oy in connection with o'her extra-curricular activities that seem to minority students to be racially based," Bailey notes, adding "but many are not." Among the complex issues to be resolved in reducing school tensions, says the report, are the degree of student involvement in school policy, rules governing who can participate in extracurricular activities, and, perhaps most importantly, curriculum planning. NOTING THAT the traditional ways of dealing with school disruption are directly punitive: suspension, expulsion, police arrest, in-school detention and 'referral to parental discipline, the Syracuse study proposes several alternatives. Among these are "better counseling, using tb i school psychologist, or, in extreme cases, special schools." Other suggestions include: "Reduction of academic rigidities, Skyrocketed rector for the Delaware County Department of Public Welfare (DPW).

Relaxation of state regulations and retroactive payments have rocketed the DPW's 1972 budget request for Assistance to Dependent Children (ADC) to $2,822,400. If the -County Council approves the funding in this category, the amount more than doubles the 1971 total of $1,015,200. Water Conservation Department display and is a 120-inch model of Emmettsville Covered Bridge. Walter Baldauf, residing near Boundary, builder of the exact replica of Randolph County's only remaining covered bridge, says he spent a day and a half taking measurements at the bridge 1 -tJL-' if Feature Page Dl 4 I hl Bit of Nostalgia Walter Baldauf of near Boundary views the Aug. 2 to 6.

A movement is now in progress in Ran-model of the Emmettsville Covered Bridge, which will dolph County to restore and beautify the bridge. (Star be on display at the Randolph County Fair from Photo) Builder Duplicates Emmettsville Span By LUCILLE THOMAS The bridge will be a part of a Soil andbefore beginning work on the model. The "WE'RE IN A position where we can hardly deny help to anyone," says Mrs. Hubbard. "Because of court rulings, elegi-bility requirements have been loosened for ADC.

Several court precedents have put us in the red financially by about $76,000. It has finally caught up with us." On June 23, 1970, a Gary woman started it all. Her group filed suit against the scale is one-twelfth of an inch, making one inch of the model equal to 12 inches. BALDAUF FIRST had the idea of building the bridge model after 'reading an article by Muncie Star Columnist Dick Greene on Randolph County's three covered bridges. The other two bridges are now only a memory, Steubenville South of Redkey was replaced with an iron structure and the Wright bridge near Farmland was destroyed by arsonists.

Baldauf's model has over 300 bolts in it. He began sawing out the lumber last fall, but didn't spend much time on construction until this spring. To facilitate getting the correct dimensions for all timbers, the Jay County builder obtained original specifications on the bridge from Joe Hamilton, one of Randolph County's historians. All arches are labeled with these dimensions. Poplar siding was used on the original bridge and Baldauf's model has poplar siding, three-eights inch wide.

To reproduce the old shingle roof, plywood was used after the top layer was ground off. The under layer gives the roof the proper shingle texture. However, to make grooves in the siding and roof, Baldauf made a special tool. THE BRIDGE IS not Baldauf's only model, he has a replica of a pin-framed barn. The barn has mortise and tenon joints and dowel rods were cut for the pins.

In his younger days, Baldauf helped to build this type barn with his grandfather, father and brother. Building time for the barn was about" one month. In addition to barn building, the Boundary man throughout his life has done other carpenter work and for more than 40 years has worked at laying, sanding and finishing floors. He comments that he has had three different sanding outfits and taught arid worked with his son and two grandsons. Baldauf has displayed his barn model at the Threshers Show at Greenville and the Tri-State Show at the Jay County Fairgrounds.

The bridge will be on display at the Tri-State Show this year, Aug. 27-29. Lake County Welfare Director and county auditor charging that "all mothers of needy dependent children in a similar situation" should be entitled to retroactive welfare payments. The court ruled that a recipient must receive his first assistance check within 30 days from the date of application or if ineligible, will receive his written notice of denial. Since Aug.

'8, 1969, for those cases in which the application was not acted upon within 30 days after the date of application, retroactive payments had to be made. "INDIANA LAGGED behind in processing applications," Mrs. Hubbard said. "We had the same problem here. Last year, our' department paid out a staggering amount of retroactive payments.

Although we could originally put everything off, we are forced to get the money now to the people." Mrs. Hubbard stressed that many families are potential candidates for aid to dependent children. But, she said, there must be financial need. "Maybe a wife is left with minor children after her husband has been sent to prison. the" couple is separated, divorced or one parent has died.

Often, the family resides in the home of a grandparent, aunt or uncle. Relatives can apply for assistance too," Mrs. Hubbard explained. Another court ac'ion which hit the taxpayer's pocket was the decision that stepfathers were not bound to support their epchildren. This opened up a new avenue for aid to dependent children.

THE REVISED policy came in May, 1970, with the decision that the deprivation of parental support or care requirements is applicable only to natural or adoptive parents. Indiana law claims that the relationship of a step-parent and stepchild itself does not create or impose any legal obligation of support. "In the case of minors, the DPW can provide funds until a drop-out reaches the age of 16 or a child attending school turns 18. We cannot pay for a child who is in college," Mrs. Hubbard said.

Applicants for funds must fill out an 11-page report. A caseworker then verifies the information given and also specifies the type of housing, income, special needs, physical or mental incapacity that the persons may have. "CASES ARE reinvestigated every six months but after the initial work, the Department of Public Welfare is more apt to take the word of the recipient. Welfare work is drifting more towards a declaration and the philosophy that people are honest," the director stated. One sample case is a mother with three children ages 10, 8, and 4.

Established guidelines say that a family of four needs a minimum of $229.20 per month for food, clothing, utilities, house-' hold supplies and personal needs. When each child reaches nine years of age, the amounts increase $17. School needs for two children in school are $2 per month and life insurance needs are $4. If a telephone is needed in the home, $5 is allotted. Shelter is listed at $60 per month with a total "need" of $302.20 per month.

MAYBE THE mother has $300 per month gross earnings. For computing eligibility she is allowed $5 for her personal use, $16 for employment allowance, $60 for payroll deductions, $12.90 for transportation and $64.50 for child care. The net income of $141.60 leaves the mother eligi-lbe for assistance. A caseworker must then compute how much money the mother should receive. The overall Department of Public Welfare budget request of $4,365,985 for 1972 contains the estimate that 4,100 children will receive aid next year.

"Believe it or not, a lot of five and six-child families are unusual. Our cases build up with only one child in each family. In years past, we couldn't always find the mothers after the grants had been awarded. Now with only a 30-day waiting period, people stick around. "Probably the biggest factor that has mushroomed use of this funding is the publicity given to court cases.

People know they have a right to apply," Mrs. Hubbard said. They Need Host Families Charles Battle, a member of a committee seeking host families for international students, looks over the folders of about 45 students who will enroll at Ball State University this fall. With him are Sakina Sutterwalla, graduate assistant from India, and Patricia Eckhardt, secretary to Thelma Hiatt, director of International Student Programs. Ball State Now Seeking Hosts for 45 International Students SUNDAY, JULY 18, 1971 i France, Canada, Malaysia, Thailand Lebanon and Greece.

Helping Miss Hiatt find host families for the international students are Charles Battle, lecturer in marketing; Mrs. Mal-com Hults and Mrs. Dayton Swickard. MRS. HULTS said the host families "give the students a feeling of security and a chance to learn more about our country.

Many of them have younger brothers and sisters at home and would enjoy being a family which includes young children." Battle said past appeals to the community have gotten "instantaneous and heartwarming results." He pointed out that many friendships developed during the host week have continued throughout the student's career at Ball State and some host families have visited their students after they returned to their countries. Mrs. Swickard, who is working on the host family project for the second year, said efforts are made to meet specific requests of a prospective host family. "A HOST family," she continued, "has an opportunity to learn about the cultures of other countries in a really personal way. There are many regulars among our host families.

They have enjoyed the experiences so much that they sign up year after year." Many of the incoming students are already in the United States and are attending intensive language schools before coming to Ball State. Most of them are graduate students who have been selected by various organizations for advanced study in this country, but some are self sponsored. Prospective host families should call Ball State's International House. The Star'i Randolph County Bureau The 4-H club grounds, south of Winchester, is on high and dry grounds but fairgoers this year, Aug. 2-6, are going tp see a bridge at the site.

To render the sight even more unusual, the structure will be a covered bridge. People who love to travel to foreign lands but cannot do so because of family responsibilities or costs have a second choice. In this case, the "next thing best to being there" is acting as the host fami-, ly for one of Ball State University's international students. About 45 students from 16 points on the globe will arrive for orientation week Sept. 1-8 and will need a place to stay until dorms open on Sept.

9. MISS THELMA Hiatt, director of international student programs, said it is a "very definite advantage for the foreign student to know someone in the community and feel there is someone he can turn to if need be." "We often fail to realize," she continued, "that some of these students face a cultural shock when they find themselves alone in a strange land with different customs, unusual foods and faced with the necessity of speaking a difficult language." Host families, Miss Hiatt believes, can help the international student make this transition by allowing him to share their day-to-day family life and learn about American customs before he must settle down to the competitive world of study. "THE HOST families," she points out, "also share in the experience by having an opportunity to learn about the customs, foods and dress of the international student's country." Last year 52 countries were represented on the campus. The incoming "crop" of students will come from Taiwan (Republic of China), Iran, Hong Kong, Argentina, Ecuador, Chile, Japan Libya, Jordan, Germany, Coming Through This toy truck of 1 920 vintage helps to complete the authenticity Walter Baldauf's replica of Emmettsvi lie's covered bridge. The truck of is the property of Baldauf's son.

(Star Photo).