School board endorsement: Vote HRP 'THE OUTCOME of Monday's school board elections, with three seats at stake, will deter- mine the tenor of the city's school board in the coming year. The issues involved here- community control, busing and e qu a1 educational offerings, racism and sexism, student rights and power-as well as the role the board should take in setting policies and educational programs make this election im- portant to the entire community. Regrettably, many students are unaware of the general function of the board and the issues of this campaign. We urge students to vote in this election, however, to express their inter- est and concern in the local school system. The Daily has examined the candidates' positions and goals, We believe the three Human Rights Party candidates-Curtis Holt, Gretchen Groth Wilson and Sonia Yaco-would fill the vacant seats well and guide the city schools on a reasoned and innovative path. Our school b o a r d needs change. The present board lacks mem- bers who are committed to a fresh and innovative approach to the many problems of the lo- cal school system. We encour- age the election of qualified candidates possessing a deep knowledge of the schools, a sen- sitivity to the issues, and a sin- cere commitment to change. We therefore endorse the three Human Rights Party can- didates. Their varied back- grounds and interests represent a broad spectrum of community concern. The platform to which they are committeed, further, outlines specific proposals to ef- fect sorely needed changes - including the elimination of racism, sexism and tracking. For example, the concept of a tripartite board marks out a move towards effective com- munity control. The boards, composed equally of students. parents and staff, would gov- ern individual schools, while the city-wide board would set general policy. women for administrative posi- tions, hiring more male elemen- tary school teachers and elim- inating textbooks which stereo- type sex roles. The input would prod the board to maze a firm commitment in this area. She supports the tripartite board to provide an avenue for real community decision-making input. She emphasizes, too, that the city-wide board must initi- ate programs and set guidelines for the administration and schools. Though he would undoubtedly support innovative programs he does not offer a sufficiently dis- tinct and fresh approach of his own to school problems. S* * Y* NANCY BRUSSOLO is a qualified candidate with an excellent knowledge of the city school system. She is a firm supporter of in- creased community involvement and programs to eliminate ra- cism and sexism. However, she is not firm enough in supporting meaning- ful change. Although she con- demns the student advisory board as "ineffective," she re- fuses to support Yaco's can- didacy. She advocates broadening of the decision base, but stops short of totally endorsing the tripartite board concept. "If we get schools so decen- tralized, I wonder what it does to them," she says. HENRY JOHNSON, vice pres- ident for student services, says he is running for a second term to render "the educational ex- perience meaningful, innovative and h u m a n e." Humaneness, Johnson believes is "respecting each other as humans with our own needs, minds and aspira- tions." Johnson, says the school board has not had "such a great record" in recruiting teachers and administrators from minor- ity groups. He terms the system of tracking "invidious". He does not believe the tri- partite school board would be a workable structure. "The problem with taking decision making to the lowest level is that you can't spread it that thin." Johnson supports busing if necessary to give children "ac- cess to educational resources and a multi-ethnic experience." We find four candidates unac- ceptable to serve on the school board. CLARENCE DUKES is a con- servative who supports rigid dis- cipline policies. "When a rule is broken there must be consis- tent and prompt action," he says. This position denies due pro- cess to students, who, we be- lieve, deserve fair hearings by their peers. He believes in. the unrealistic concept of "neighborhood schools," which he defines as "close enough so that the young- est children are within walking distance." If the city were to follow Dukes' policy, there would have to be a school on almost every block. M. TERRY MARTIN appears to lack an understanding of the realities of education for stu- dents. Martin supports the rigid sys- tem of tracking as an educa- tionally valid practice. Her be- lief that children need and want a structured learning environ- ment would block desperately needed innovation. She also believes that students have no place on the board. Blocking off students from the decision making process cuts off an invaluable input on the prob- lems of city schools. Martin feels "there is no dis- crimination against girls in the schools. Some teachers like girls; some like boys. That's just the way it is." This stand is not only reactionary, but unrealistic and totally unsatisfactory in view of current social needs. CECIL WARNER seems more concerned with the political maneuverings of getting re- elected than what he will do it he returns to office. He says he is running "on his record" and his experience as a professional businessman. Warner opposes busing. "The only one who benefits from bus- ing is GM," he contends. He supports a "multi-ethnic" edu- cation in which students study "lifestyles and contributions of various cultures." Advocating the study of other cultures, however, is no substitute for real interaction within a multi- ethnic educational experience. Warner opposes the idea of the tripartite school boards say- ing "If someone wants to be in- volved they can run for the board." LETTY WICKLIFFE, a retir- ed teacher, opposes busing to achieve racial balance. She says this system implies that blacks must be with white children to learn. We cannot accept this position. We consider it impor- tant for children to have the ad- vantage of a multi-ethnic, multi-racial education. These endorsements were written by Jan Benedetti and Linda Dreeben. Letters to The Daily should be mailed to the Editorial Di- rector or delivered to M a r y Rafferty in the Student Pub- lications business office in the Michigan Daily building, Let- ters should be typed, double- spaced and normally should not exceed 250 words. The Editorial Directors reserve the right to edit all letters sub- mitted, Gretchen Wilson Wilson believes the board must give more support to black studies programs and provide funds to insure implementation of these programs. Because she has taught a course on white racism at the University, she would be a valuable resource person to help institute such courses in the school system. YACO is an extremely mature and insightful ninth grade stu- dent whose input would be in- valuable to the board. She has been active in the student movement at Tappan Jr. High and throughout the city, and serves on the powerless Student Advisory School Board as well. State law prevents Yaco's name from appearing on the ballot, although as a student she represents a constituency which has perhaps more interest in the workings of the school board than any other single group. We believe a symbolic vote for Yaco serves a good purpose in reminding those in power that personsshould benable to determine and control the course of their own lives. Curtis Holt HOLT would be a fine addi- tion to the school board. He would spur the board to make a firm commitment to eliminate racism from the schools. Holt has worked in several levels of the educational system as a teacher as well as within the local administration. The meaning oft"radical" is to deal with the root. In the best sense of that word, Holt is a radical who would deal with issues openly and honestly. Holt also endorses the tri- partite board as a "step in the right direction" toward mean- ingful community control. Like the other HRP candi- dates, Holt is bound to a specific platform which would create basic and needed changes in the schools. WILSON, a doctoral candidate in organizational psychology, is an exceptionally qualified can- didate. She speaks articulately about eliminating sexism in the school system, condemning the board for not recognizing sexism as an issue. She advocates hiring more Letters to The Daily ,,other viets perhaps CARES would want to teacher who sought the CARES listen to these candidates and endorsement finished last and far To The Daily: then decide on endorsements. behind in CARES balloting. THE END of a political cam- But CARES would have noth- How sincere is CARES in its paign always seems to bring out ing to do with this. Instead, they call for unity of progressive vot- the worst in the Ann Arbor Demo- endorsed their slate in advance of ers? Are its politics progressive? cratic Party - this time in the any HRP decision. Hardly an in- Are its methods? The open meet- guise of the "liberal" CARES vitation to cooperation. ings of HRP were forced to con- slate for School Board, elude that the answers to these In last minute letters and leaf- IT WAS no surprise to HRP questions made an HRP cam- lets they have spread a campaign members who attendedCARES paign necessary and desirable. of distortion against the efforts meetings. For there was little Frank Shoichet of Human Rights Party candi- talk thecc of ot alliance with ra- '75 Law dates Holt, Wilson, and Yaco. dicals-only of a "liberal to mod- Na'ilE: 'Tlis is as indiida sIt - Certainly the most insulting crate coalition". And if further NET and does sant necessarly rpe- charge is that HRP's efforts will proof was needed, the radical sent the position of HRP. keep progressives off the School Board. We thought we'd see the end of this rather pitiful excuse for a platform with the recent City Council elections. Not only do the HRP victories discredit this argument, but so also does the political stance of Edited and managed by students at the the CARES candidates them- selves. Are they "progressive" Universify of Mithigan when they can't or won't agree on a binding, specific platform? Are Editorials printed in The Michigan Daily express the individual they "progressive" when they re- opinions of the author. This must be noted in all reprints. fuse to commit themselves to the concept of community control of_ the schools, but instead murmur SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 1972 News Phone: 764-0552 -vaguely about more "input"? Are they "progressive" when their candidate, Henry Johnson, refuses NIGHT EDITOR: ROBERT BARKIN to hack the rights of studemtts to EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR: ROSE SUE BERSTEIN trial bykptherghtsodistriuetoASSISTANT NIGHT EDITOR: DIANE LEVICK trial by peers or to distribute po- PHOTO TECHNICIAN: DAVID MARGOLICK litical literature in the schools? CARES isn't bound to anything Summer Staff progressive and has only its can- BOB ANDREWS ..... .......................Asociate Sports Editor didates' alleged reputations as OBERT BARKIN . . . N ht Edi JAN us...a..'_sNigns Ediois "highly sensitive people" to re- ROSE SUE 'EcTI t. O-Editos commend itself. DANIEL BORUS . Sports Night Editor THE MOST insidious charge is ROBERT CONROW .. Boos dor that HRP sent "the" HRP candi- LINDA Y GAN.......PE......................... NighsEditor aENNY GANasEc .................. P oto. septy Editoc date to CARES for an endorse- ANDY GOLDING Bsineso Manager ment, but in the "flush of vic- MERYL GORDON Assistant Night Editor tory" after the City Council elec- ARRYC us son TsEaCtes t.l er flnHPargnl eie o StaERRY KASTLE..............o.... iclaonManager tion, RP arrogantly decided to KAREN LAAKKO Classified Manager run three candidates. No mention ELLIOT LEGOW ........ . Sports Editor is ever made by CARES of the ARTHUR LERNER .... Co-Editor follwgfacts.A'DIANE LEVICK Assistant Night Editor following asDAVID MARGOLICK.. . . . .. Photographer One person who sought the SHEILA MARTIN .. . General Business Assistant CARES endorsement was also JIM O'BRIEN .. . . Science Editor seeking the HRP label. HRP CHRIS PARKS... Night Editor members told CARES that an NAL YR SNBAUM.. .....S:sssant Night Editor open party convention would have ROLFE TESSEM.. . . . . . . Photographer to decide its relation to CARES PAUL TRAVIS........... Night Editor and would have to make a deci- GARY VtLLANI. .Photogsophe sin n ha cnddaestoru.JIM WALLACE .... ............. ..... ,...... Potographer sion on what candidates to run. DEBORAH WITING..........................irculation Assistant After these decisions by HRP, CAROL WIECK........................General Business Assistant Sonia Yaco Ronald Bishop, Nancy Brus- solo and Henry Johnson demon- strate knowledge of education and the school system. However, their proposals seem less spe- cific and we wonder whether they would initiate far-reach- ing changes as readily as the HRP candidates. RONALD BISHOP, an incum- bent, is sensitive to the prob- lems of the schools. He is a sincere opponent of the track- ing system and would work on the board to eliminate sexism and racism in the schools. We consider Bishop, however, a lackluster candidate.