Evening star., 1963-01-15

Jne COInullCJee investigating
the tragic events Of the
Thanksgiving Day cham
pionship football game will
prove most helpful If, in
stead of focusing the spot
light on deficiencies of the
public school system, 1t jolts
city leaders into awareness
that miserable school condi-
tions exist because Of a
grossly inadequate budget.
Unfortunately, the letter
which accompanied this re-
port and some of the news
stories gave the impression
that the entire school system
was beSet with permissive
teachers and principals,
flagrant disrespect, and that
a type Of blackboard jungle
reigned everywhere.
I know that this is not
the case in at least one
school. I happen to serve as
a substitute teacher quite
regularly at Coolidge High
and none of these conditions
prevails. There is excellent
discipline and so far as I
can find out no one has seen
q switchblade outside of the
movies; the vast majority of
students have good behavior
and respect the teachers; the
small minority who do not
soon learn that this behavior
will not be tolerated! I'm
sure there are numerous
other schools with excellent
discipline in the District.
I do not deny that in some
localities there are bad sit
uations. These bad situations
will soon become worse where
children live in crowded
slums, suffer emotional,
spiritual, economic and cul-
tural deprivation and dis
elimination on the Job
market as well unless, we
have kindergartens. m NC h
smaller classes, special teach
ers, more counselors, social
workers, child guidance
clinics. more practical shop
courses. work-study programs
sponsored by local business
men, etc.
When will Congress insist
that the District school sys-
TEN be granted enough
money to show the kind Of
job 1t really can do to help
these children who are un-
derprivileged in so many
ways
Violent fights, vandalism,
stealing, discipline problems,
unwed mothers. etc. also oc-
cur with alarming frequency
in many Of our suburban
areas. These are not racial
problems but the manifesto
tions Of a society where ma
terialism, sex. and getting
something for nothing" seem
to be major values Of both
young people and adults!
Adele Hutchins.
My congratulations TO DR..
Shane MacCarthy on the ex-
cellent report Of the Citizens
Committee.
Undoubtedly the sponsors
OF the game. the coach, the
police and the schools bear
some degree of culpability;
however. none of these
Swarmed across the field,
none struck a member OF DR..
MacCarthy's own party,
none viciously attacked
groups of whites.
The attacks were all made
by blacks and upon whites,
They represented the savage
and undisciplined nature OF
a large segment OF our black
population. This was a mani
festation OF the hate the
black man feels for the
white man. I think II is Just
as simple as that.
What 10 do about IL Il
society's problem and on thi,
Or. MacCarthy and I woulc
probably not agree. II is tru,
that an examination and 9
license are necessary 10 driv,
a car. practice medicine, law
dentistry. architecture, sci
life insurance, ed infinitum
All OF these requirements ar
imposed upon us by law anC
are an infringement upoI
our personal liberties. The!
prohibit us from doing wha
we might like TO do. The!
are necessary. however. as
protection 10 the members o
society.
AS one OF the loca
citisenry. / thank Or. Mac
Carthy for the degree o
conscientiousness OF this re-
port and for is possibility o
permanent benefit.
william M. Werber.
-
The report on the Thanks
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