Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 20 October 1994 — Page 17

The Muncie Times, Thursday, 20 October 1994, Page 17

Schools can be a great unifier of our country

by Theresa W. Greenwood As the nation seeks answers to the problems facing our schools today, the words of Abraham Lincoln ring as true today as they did more than a century ago. At the beginning of the Civil War, he asked "Can a house divided against itself, stand?' Today, we must ask the same question when looking at educating our children, who live in a society pulled apart by the racial inequities of the past. The problems facing education today are complex and almost unmanageable, but are mainly the result of America’s social and economic neglect. For decades the matters of education were an easy task: whites were the majority and the whole educational system was

own native ingenuity and creativity to make life bearable. Forced exclusion compelled them to develop their own language, music, traditions and styles which influenced the way blacks valued education. They used these forms to protest their neglect and unrest. At one point, there were attempts to set things right and make up, if possible, for the injustices of the past. During this brief period, blacks were given some special attention. But, retribution efforts only angered some whites. Their insistence that these gestures were inappropriate, unfair and illegal gave impetus to many of the educational hurdles blacks struggle against to this day. African Americans have declared a constant vigilance

encouraging blacks to excel in sports over academics. It is disheartening to realize that more prisons are being built than schools. Many believe that some whites would rather lock up more of the growing nonwhite population than provide education. Perhaps such accusations and measures would not have existed, if as late as 40 years ago, all citizens would have been freely educated and mainstreamed as true Americans. How can a nation so divided-culturally and spiritually-redesign and reinvent schools and curricula that have com-mon goals and expectations for the 21st century? Our country needs educated citizens, a technically astute workforce, great teachers and

leaders, regardless of race. Computers and lasers don't care what color of hands operate them. We shouldn't either, as long as the job is accomplished with skill and quality. Since we seem to be a nation of nations existing in one geographic space, with each insisting on its own

agenda, the words of Lincoln certainly seem to be fitting today, as when they were penned 130 years ago. He asked then and I ask today, "Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether this nation or any other nation can long endure. We are met here on a great battlefield of that war...." That war is education and the battlefield has become America's schools and children. What's at stake? America's global survival. (Dr. Theresa Greenwood, a primary education pro-fessor at Ball State University, teaches academi-cally gifted students at Burris Laboratory School, a K-12 school run by the university.) ❖

designed solely to promote and strengthen that element. The rest were educated based on the needs and accomplishments of white society. Blacks and other people of color caused no basic problems as long as they "bought into" the majority educational plan. When African Americans settled in this country, they never became real Americans. They were not allowed to mainstream the American Dream, and were not educated properly, if at all. They had to rely on their

to monitor how their children are educated, based on a history of neglect. Long before this country realized that it needed all people to be properly educated, systems were created and invented to maintain the status quo. Attempts to maintain that status took many forms: "separate but equal" schools; busing; and the superficial attempts at introducing multi-cultural education. All of these programs divide and separate people. This vigilance now includes monitoring the biggest sin of all:

Use caution when purchasing

When considering purchases, be informed of the "bait and switch" tactic. Unbelievable advertisements draw you in and you leave with a much more expensive item. Be aware of high

pressured sales pitches. For more information, call the Ball State Consumer Education council at 2-8-5-S-6-6-8. An educated consumer is the best consumer. ❖ ❖ ❖

James A. (Jim) St. Vive i jUPT" CORONER JHIP ; Jim St. Myer’s qualifications for coroner are MBf 7 f extensive and include both practical and extended field training. His 11 years as deputy coroner provide him with the skills and knowledge to successfully operate the office of coroner. Jim is a 26 year veteran of the Ball State University Police force where he currently serves as Deputy Chief. His training includes numerous educational programs on homocide investigation, auto accident investigation, evidence collection, and other investigative schools. As coroner, Jim St. Myer pledges to fulfill the duties of the office with the same compassion and integrity he has displayed throughout his public service career. Paid for by the Committee to Elect JEtri Sf. Myer, Patty Lackey’ Treasurer