To be born is to be given a body, and a unique vantage point to look upon the world. This egocentricity is natural and necessary to human development, and acts as a basis for confidence and contentment. As our individual lives develop we learn that our family, and extended family, are worthy of emulation. This ethnocentric viewpoint is indispensible to our confidence, and results in our feeling an integral part of the environment, and not alienated from its people. Our successful transition, to being a contented and contributing member of our culture, rests with the synthesis of these understandings, into acceptance and tolerance of all peoples, as equal to those we consider family.
Beyond these initial processes of development, our responsibilities are to integrate these personal and extended family inter-relationships into a harmonious world-view of mutual equality. In this urban complexity, known as Los Angeles, peoples from every land have congregated. Degradation of African-Americans through hateful prejudice, polititical segregation, and the vulgar imprisonment known as slavery, continue to adversely influence our community integration. Prejudicial hate, in policy and law, remain entrenched in our community systems. Women have struggled, and wrestled their vote free from a masculine misnomer of equality. Women are still treated unequally in most facets of domestic and business interactions. The continued unequal pay of women for equal services represents the fact that one-half of the adult population is not free of the goal of equality. The internment of the Japanese, American citizens, during the second world war, near the place now occupied by Travel Town, in Griffith Park, is another example of the unequal treatment of people without 'due process,' that is, as scapegoats for the outbreak of war with Japan. The Latino people, particularly in the western sector of the U.S., have been limited by a viewpoint, which is more difficult to prove. Nonetheless, these peoples have been deprived of opportunities in land ownership and economic advancement due to hateful prejudice and political coercion. All peoples are not listed as examples of continued inequality herein. By no means should be interpreted to mean that prejudicial segregation against other minorities does not exist, it does, against Jewish people particularly. The greatest amount and kind of unequal treatment is in depriving people of equal access to employment, and opportunities to advancement. Whenever unequal treatment secretes its ugliness, we the people must recognize its existence, take umbrage against it, and formulate alternative policy to disallow its potential in the future. Generally, by the time information of this nature is made public, it (unequal segregation) has been functioning, and people have been unable to do anything about it.
The study you are reading will attempt to look at the education of the elementary age children in a small sector to examine, if there are inequalities functioning in their education. But this is not to exclude their immediate neighborhoods from similar discrepancies and if there are such problems, consider how to solve them. Of course, the proof of such processes can only be alluded to in reference to a discussion of how this immediate geographical area functions and the changes taking place therein. This study hopes to, as well, realize the complexity evolution presents in a 'melting pot' of multi-faceted talent, and a 'silent majority' uninterested in the system and its tendency to status quo acceptance of reality. The immense efforts people make daily to live in harmony deserves respect and admiration. Through taxpayers' investment, monies establish and create environs conducive to make life bearable for all. The very streets and freeways we drive upon are evidence of a shared investment, offering equal access to all. A few words here about smog. There exists a ratio of over 2-1 cars to people in this city. Many people have autos, but are unable to pay for moderniztion of their motors or braking systems, and as a consequence of need, drive under adverse conditions, compared to those in society who can afford a safe anti-smog emitting vehicle. Bringing an older vehicle up to current anti-pollution standards could be achieved, through granting government insured loans to the owner, for a complete overhaul of their engine and peripheral exhausting equipment; to include brakes completely overhauled and tires. The cost of this process per vehicle would be coordinated with certified mechanics, and would range around $3,000.00 dollars. The present system is not, in reality, solving the problem, but only forcing the owner to partially comply with anti-pollution standards due to its limitation on how much needs to be spent, and really never cleaning the air. This policy is no different than student loans to schools, which subsidize schools in hopes, to the student, of receiving a job; the student however, never receives the money, the school does, and yet, the student must repay the loan whether employment in the newly acquired field is secured or not. Government loans should guarantee at least employment long enough to repay the loan. In the case of vehicles these type of low interest loans could serve the needs of the community, by alleviating not only financial stress to those who do not have enough funds to purchase new autos, but by updating the primary vehicles in a household. These changes would go further to solving smog and safety urban problems than current policies do.
The interaction of driving on the freeway signifies the cooperation of millions of decisions daily. The practical results are indicated by the ratio of 'accidents' to the amount of cars daily using these roadways. This statement should not be construed to overlook any of the accidents or injuries, and the resulting pain and suffering of people, but to indicate an example of the successful interactions which comprise the equal access that public funding creates for the benefit of all.
The freeways and streets have been built and are maintained by the collection, and dispensing of tax contributions, from people, to promote the general welfare. Living under a system of laws that holds equality as its highest ideal, is a fulcrum that practiced without prejudice and deception, creates benefits for all; practiced otherwise, is to nullify its significance, and the meaning of its tenets, to the people who dwell under its platitudes, rather than its principles. A vigilance to irradicating any form of inequality is indispensible to the effectiveness of a shared community. We live in these urban communities together, however, most of us hardly knowing our neighbors. This is understandable when the vast territory Los Angeles comprises is considered, 435 sq. miles, and the fact that some 10 million people are living in the greater land mass. Los Angeles is a microcosm of the peoples of the entire globe. The United States, through immigration, coupled with human economic and political migration, represents together, a multiplicity of peoples, speaking languages which represent ethnic origins as diversified as the entire planet Earth.
This investigation of a small section of Los Angeles shall attempt to glimpse at the measures being taken to insure that equality remains at the heart of this democracy. The education of the young, and the policies of the schools which continue and extend parental education, will be examined through interviews with principals of six elementary schools. This education represents the transformation each ensuing generation receives, in order to integrate individual and ethnic viewpoints, into tolerance and acceptance of each diversified person. Each and every person regardless of race, creed, or gender are equal one to another. This principle of equality should be the achievement test leading to commencement. History has shown that this is an ideal of little consequence, that is, when placed on a level of priorities, equality for all, even though a basic principle to our Declaration of Independence, as well as our Preamble to the Constitution, and still requiring reenforcement in the measures of the Bill of Rights and Ammendments to the Constitution, has not been preeminant to either education or the evolvement of society. It must be seen to now. In a small community, it might be said, of what consequence this pretense to ideals, when all the people care about center around selfish needs, and as an answer I say, without a genuine respect for others, coupled with our basic needs, these needs have no foci to measure their relevance to those other people we encounter. With equality as the focal point we offer consideration of others as a measure, in desperation or abundance, to the pressures that decisions of a public nature present.
The geographic focus, herein, shall be the foothills and valleys directly north of the original center of this city, El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora, La Reina de Los Angeles, de Porciuncula, or just Los Angeles. Let's drive west on Sunset Blvd., about one mile to Echo Park Ave. Our departure point, now known as La Placita, is the park and church across the street from Union Station, and diagonally adjoining Olvera St. Sunset Blvd., historically begins in front of Olvera St., a replica of an old cobblestone market place. Traveling west this boulevard is now entitled "Cesar Chavez" in honor of the tireless and often heroic advocate for immigrant farm workers. At Beaudry Ave. Sunset Blvd. resumes its traditional name. Here, in the blocks adjacent to Echo Park Ave. are retail businesses, servicing the needs of an ethnic diversity that has grown enormously in the last 20 years. Although Latino descendants have been and continue as the majority hereabouts, the influx of peoples from more than 20 nations have changed the demographic needs of this marketing neighborhood (U.S. Census, Tract 1974). We will turn right here at Echo Park Ave. for an interview at Logan St. Elementary School, one block north, and one block west is its campus. However, looking west a brief history of Sunset Blvd. and its changes. Twenty-one miles through rolling hills from here this old road ends at the Pacific Ocean. In the 1890's this same street was used by the railroad to travel to the country, five miles west, Hollywood, and still further west to the ocean where thousands of oil wells dotted the ocean view and the rail continued into the ocean on a pier. Another route turned north a few blocks west of Echo Park Ave. at Glendale Blvd. for a trip to the ostrich farms, in the vicinity of what is now the L.A. Zoo, in Griffith Park. By the 1930's the two center lanes of Sunset Blvd. were used by the Pacific Electric Railway, the red cars, in shared competition with autos. The pedestrians boarded these 'red cars' by standing in the street between auto traffic. These public trolleys were powered by electric lines connected from the rail cars above to electric wires strung above the boulevard.
The campus has recently received new buildings and almost a square block of playground facility. Eleven hundred students attend school here, the unfinished building, as well as three already completed buildings are a welcome addition. The demographics of the 1990 census (U.S.Census, Tract 1974) indicate this Echo Park area to have a population of 7,114 nearly two thousand more inhabitants than the next two larger tracts, and more than twice the population of the other two tracts studied. The influx of peoples from many parts of the world, in this area, promted my questions about teacher/student ethnic ratio, (a list of the questions given to these administrators follows this text). Mrs. Arakaki refers to the statistics gathered by each school (Ethnic Survey Report, 1994), as she points out the category, Asian, this designation for example, is used for brevity, listing each dialect continually would prove tedious. There are 14 different languages spoken at home, by the children attending this institution. The teachers are 14% Asian, 30% Latino, 4% African-American, and 52% Caucasian. The children are 20% Asian and 80% Latino. The difference in teacher to child ethnic ratio represent a current challenge in education in Los Angeles. Mrs. Arakaki said the Asian population is part Cambodian, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Phillipino. At the present time teachers do not have to speak a second language. English as a second language is taught 30-45 minutes daily. My questions as to the difficulty of students learning in an environment where few, if any, teachers speak their native language seemed inappropriate. Mrs. Arakaki said, "Children learn English rapidly, when they go home and need re-enforcement, this can be a problem." Throughout this study, preoccupation with equality of access to learning skills translatable from English to each distinct dialect is discussed in terms of the status quo, the remedy of teaching to so many diversified language speaking children is measurable, and perhaps is reflected in the low academic scores of this state. The status quo in language translation has not forgotton the issue but disseminates education with the resources and knowledge base acceptable currently. Therefore, the well meaning efforts of the school teachers and administrators is the concentration herein, but as with all status quo understandings, diligence and vigilance to instruction which meets the needs of all students must be the goal. A strategy to leave no student without skills in English must constantly be adopted and changed consistantly when its discrepancies are known. The language translation aspect of education throughout these interviews proved to be a sensitive understanding. The awareness that children have often developed speaking skills before their instructors realize, and long before they can be tested in written form seems pervasive. Shyness or merely childlike embarrassment could account for this, however, overcoming this lack of teachers able to speak each diverse dialect is a difficult adjustment. Diligence, and a hiring practice of utilizing 'para-professionals' three hours per day accounts for the current solving of this dilemma. These para- professionals are under the direct supervision of the credentialed teacher, and are hired specifically because they do speak another language, a second language besides English.
As to crime on this campus, Mrs. Arakaki described the closed campus policy adopted by the district, the campus has only one entrance open during the school and playground day. "We try to instill in the children that this is a safe environment for learning; unfortunately, in some communities its difficult to keep the street stuff outside." The schools in this area receive federal Title One funds to offer a free breakfast and lunch to each student who qualifies. At Logan St. 90% of the students utilize these meals and another 4% receive reduced rates. We concluded our meeting with her words, "Poverty level is great, our families need help, it is better to have the children fed than hungry."
This curative and caring understanding that children, people need sustenance to excel when occupied with intellectual or physical endeavors eminated from Mrs. Arakaki during our meeting, and continued to be a standard of care with each of the other administrators. The national debate regarding budget, by demonizing the poor, and their benevolent care by the national welfare forgets how displaced and forlorn were the days of 'great depression.' The symbolizing of the poor, as a heavy chain around the neck of the middle-upper classes, which is slowly choking American society, currently underlies much of the debate from both sides of the aisle. This demonization of the less fortunate is an obfuscation of the underlying manipulation of the national budget extending to all levels of government and their budget dilemmas. Scapegoats who are defenseless, lacking equal representation in the national debate, do not have the highly paid lobbyists, to alter discussions, with filibuster-like irrelevant facts, especially on television, from where the greater populace receives its information. To paraphrase Ralph Nader, when asked how, if president, he would balance the budget, he replied, '...eliminate corporate welfare and bring the long term stationing of troops home from overseas...' (paraphrase from Meet the Press). The misinformation expressed about national health care for all, or welfare to the poor, seldom extends the discussion to include Mr. Nader's viewpoint, which when expressed by Mr. Nader, is so simple and straightforward, that we voters are stunned in our confusion. A caring human electorate needs to penetrate these obscurities to the actual facts and vote in accordance. A drive one block east back to Echo Park Ave. and north to Morton Ave. This diagonal corner still is occupied by one of the last remaining independent gasoline and service station. While purchasing gas the owner said, "For the last six months I have barely cleared five dollars per hour, no profit, I don't know how long I can last." In this urban-rural valley of Echo Park across the street a family still has a grazing cow, with the urban hustle just a few short blocks away, somehow a sense of yesteryear pervades this locale. One block north on Morton Ave. and east one block, we enter Elysian Park. Home to the Los Angeles Police Academy and the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball stadium, the reality of this park and its very verdant beauty is easily forgotton. Elysian Park offers a magnificent view of the terrain that pre-developed Los Angeles must have been like. This beauty is realized and enjoyed each weekend and holiday by people picnicing here, in fact it is filled with people eager to appreciate how beneficial tax dollars are used when invested in open spaces, parks. As Solano Ave. School is on the east side of this park, my enjoyment in driving there is re-experienced. There are trees planted here from every part of the Earth, and with them the birds have been introduced as well. This park is another reminder of the excellent efforts this democracy can achieve towards the goal of equal opportunity for all. Modern urban life does not grant spacious back yards or the extra money for vacations, to the working poor, but these park facilities, open space, baseball diamonds, recreation centers, and the free ability to enjoy these gifts of people from people, are benefits required of an egalitarian democracy. The 21,000 people (approximately, U.S. Census 1990) living in the areas adjacent to this park need free inner city delights like the park on a Sunday afternoon.
Since demographics can only tell a statistical tale, the fact that 43% of the population of Elysian Park, Elysian Valley, Echo Park, and the east Silverlake area earn less than $25,000.00 per year (U.S. Census 1990) could not describe the love and nurturing within their homes. The human species keep their young in an nurturing-educative process longer than other species. Society has adopted the transition from ego-ethnocentric human development to a forum of public education which aims at preparing children to being a contributing member of the community. Circumstances of individuals are, of course, unique. However, deprivation of love and nurturing can impair the ability of the growing child to progress from home to the outer world. To reflect that the U.S. Census is exact would mis-interpret the thousands of people living in garages and under the brush, the homeless. These inner city reflections of a society unable to care for all of its inhabitants, to have jobs and homes, point to policies still in need of growth toward equality for all. Many of the homeless cannot care for themselves due to mental dysfunction, and many other homeless people are not eligible (i.e. lack of food, clothing, or cleaning facility) for opportunities to lift themselves up again. The expansion of aid to help the dysfuntional human being, both medically and psycho- socially, and aid to coordinate owners with people in need of habitable space, to include plans to waive the exorbitant initial costs of renting, yet to insure that the owner would have the building refurbished if need should arise are merely two possibilities of cure. Of course, the budget concerns of society would have to be altered, but a humane use of peoples taxes could not be better spent.
In order to peer into the homes of this community, the children in attendance at local schools are, for the purposes of this study, symbols of the parents' activities. Most adults work to sustain their homes and feed their families. The few who remain at home, as caretakers, work in this regard. This home caretaker should receive medical care and retirement qualification just as those who work outside the home. Education is the largest daily collective undertaking in this community. Since business is limited to 137 acres out of 5000 acres of land (Silverlake-Echo Park Plan, 1990), the areas only larger daily process is before and after work gridlock on Glendale Blvd. and the Golden State Fwy.
On the front of the building is a large sign "A Distinguished School," I ask Mr. Stoll, the principal, what is a distinguished school. "An honor, I applied for..." he responds proudly. When accepted by the state government, special grants of monies become available to the school. Mr. Stoll begins our discussion with a short historical anecdote to the photos in the hall. "Originally, the main building existed on the eastside of the freeway. The school opened in 1905 and was moved when the first freeway in Los Angeles was excavated about 1939." The homes on this westside of the freeway, about one hundred homes, are the only remaining homes in the park, except for a hillside street, in the center of the park, and on the other side of the stadium. When the city of L.A. and the Dodger organization decided to build the ball park at Chavez Ravine, many other homes and people were forced to move. There remains to this day dissatisfaction about particularly the forced permanent evacuation at Chavez Ravine. Governments use a doctrine called 'eminant domain' to claim property which has been decided to be 'in the public interest.' However, corporations with the power of local government can move about in their best interest, and purchase and force evacuation, which is not the intended use of 'eminant domain'. The one isolated street in the center of the park about one mile from this campus is in the Solano Ave. School district, "The children who live there now, walk here to school, although the largest percentage of children live on the eastside of the freeway, (just north of Chinatown), these children walk here through a tunnel under the freeway." Solano Ave. School is adopted by the Los Angeles Dodgers, and once a year a game is named in honor of the school. The school chorus sings the "Star Spangled Banner," Mr. Stoll, outstanding students, and faculty are introduced, in fact, the distinguished school award was granted by State Assemblyman Antonio de Aragosa, in front of 30,000 people. These two honors, being a distinguished school and adopted by the Dodgers has placed this institution, "... not able to be judged by stereotypical assumptions ..." Mr. Stoll explains, "...No complaints about financial matters...," while discussing the very 'state of the art' equipment which has been part of the technological benefits of being a distinguished school. Each classroom, above the third grade is equipped with a Macintosh computer and a laser printer. Laser disk players, obtained for the study of science, are also part of this schools learning aids. Although this conversation took place in Mr. Stoll's office, barely 6 by 12 feet in size, sharing this space with such a caring and diligent person, the office seemed plenty large. He explained that 65% of the children have Asian backgrounds, with 30% Latino, the remainder, 5%, of African and Caucasian ancestry. Most of the teachers do not speak any of the native languages of the students. As in other schools, para- professionals are hired to translate what they can. "Half of the para-professionals speak Asian languages, and half speak Spanish. However, the dialects spoken are Vietnamese, Cambodian, and several Chinese dialects. As in other schools, there cannot be a translator for each varied dialect. Mr. Stoll recognizes that in larger schools the need for more precise translation programs is required, however, here with only 269 students, "... the children learn efficiently."
Whenever, in the interviews of these administrators, I inquired as to the question of crime, knocking-on-wood followed the explanation, which signals hopefully that no break-ins and graffitti would continue to be the school's luck. "The neighbors take close care of us, and three-fourths of the cars that pass are detectives from the academy," Mr. Stoll explains as we walk into the hall, where he takes the aerial photos from the wall so that I may take a closer look. We walk into the auditorium which doubles as the library, and on rainy days, is also used by the children in the Homework Club, which is funded by a federal grant, another attempt to solve the multi-language educational challenge. The photos are graphic evidence of past geo-political landscaping, and the children laughing as they play, unconcerned about the pouring rain without. Mr. Stoll has shared his heartfilled care of those in his administration, as we walk, I open my umbrella, and discuss the proposed football stadium in the Dodger parking area. Doubt as to the future of these homes and this school is the thought with which we part company.
The last excavation through 'eminant domain' was a dump above this canyon, this reached its maximum and has since been abandoned. The influx to the city tax structure of large audience capacity businesses is the primary reasoning expressed by advocates of a new football stadium in Elysian Park. The jobs that are produced by the baseball stadium, are generally not given to inhabitants of the local community. The six-month long, 81 baseball games currently played at Chavez Ravine brings an inner city traffic snarl which at the time of this stadium building could not be envisioned as to the environmental impact that this motor-cade inflicts upon the community, particularly the flora and fauna. The main question of a proposed stadium now is still to be answered. Although the stadium in its present proposal would be located in the parking lot, the parking spaces lost will need to be replaced. The amount and to what degree the actual park, flora and fauna, will be excavated is the long term equation not solved, yet. This park is a tree-filled area for recreation. The style of modern stadiums, called 'parks' requires ample parking space, which remains empty and devoid of human use most of the year. The denuding of more tree space is too much for this area's delicate structure. This is to say nothing about Solano Cyn. and the human beings who dwell next to the proposed big business development. However, the Environmental Impact Report will have its determinations, as well.
As Stadium Way travels north the prodigious expanse of spatial beauty with its view of Glendale, Eagle Rock, and the San Gabriel Mountains is breath taking. The valley directly below is Elysian Valley. Dorris Pl. School serves the eastern section of this valley, a right turn where Stadium Way meets Riverside Dr. and five or six blocks, on the corner of Dorris Pl. the campus can be found.
The foyer is designed using large ceiling beams set in a colorful fresco. The main hall utilizes a wainscot of brick below which offers substantiation to the edifice. Mrs. McClaskey administers a school where eighteen languages are native speech to the children. She is very busy as I enter early, she asks me to wait in the outer office. While waiting I peruse a bulletin which relates a loss of $10,000.00 in the last quarter of 1995. Unexcused absence is the cause of this loss. Later, in our conversation I ask her where did this money go, she replies, "Cyber-Space!" We laugh as she explains that probably the state revenue predetermines unexcused absence. However, her previous answer has poignant implications. The money is predetermined not to be paid. The present dichotomy is that schools receive an average daily payment for children with excused absences, and of course, those in attendance. Although the district sets a goal of 95% attendance, since the state budget is not set for full attendance, full attendance would expose a budget deficit. The students with unexcused absences are made deviant by neglecting the causes of unexcused absence as merely a budget loss. The schools must reorient these students. Insight beyond cost about how and why these students are absent should be gained. The withholding of funds based on criteria not acceptable to state budget 'gurus' lacks social and psychological understanding. The child absent with excuse, illness, medical, or bereavement, is no different from the child otherwise absent. To penalize the school financially tends to overlook students having various difficulties with public education. The transformation of home life to community life has multi-faceted challenges which must be open to new interpretations of child and thus parental behavior.
Elysian Valley is situated between geo-political boundaries, a river and a freeway. The Los Angeles river meanders in a south-easterly direction here. This river, the northern boundary, was cast into concrete by the U.S. Corps of Engineers after World War II. In seasons of heavy rains, described by older residents, the river would rise agressively and overflow its entrenchment. The distance across these wild waters would widen from Glendale to the hills of Elysian Park. These foothills (Elysian Park hills) are actually the eastern edge of the Santa Monica Mountains. The steep cliffs of Elysian Park are historically the southern boundary to this community. However, in the 1960's the Golden State Fwy. was built as an alternate route to alleviate the clogged Hollywood Fwy., which daily overflowed with commuters from the San Fernando Valley. Now both freeways move snail-paced especially at rush hour. This freeway displaced some of the residents of 'Frogtown', and became the southern boundary. 'Frogtown' is the name given to this area by its teenage residents. This barrio is offset by Fletcher Dr. to the west, and Figueroa St. to the east, both bridges across the river. After living in this village its nickname becomes evident. The frogs hop up from their riverbed homes, across the backyards, on their seasonal migration to their more secluded homes in the foothills.
Mrs. McClaskey recognizes the advantages of this school's location. The children don't have to cross any main streets. For the past seven years, a program entitled Capacity Adjustment Program (CAP), brings students from the overcrowded Wilshire/ Hollywood corridor. "The bus delivers them daily, directly onto the playground, without crossing any streets. The CAP has its origins in the 'Great Society' goals of the Johnson administration...," she declares. "It's hard to differentiate native to bused students. In fact, when the overcrowding, at their home schools ceased, many of their parents chose to have their children continue attendance here." To achieve an integrated sense, a continuity, these requests are accepted until graduation.
There are various forms of financial aid available to elememtary schools, not all schools are eligible for each source of funds. The School Readiness Language Development Program (SRLDP) is a federal fund to help the pre-school age children prepare for formal education. The School Improvement Program is a source of monies to aid toward a better educational circumstance. The Bi-Lingual fund is to support the transition from first to second language acquisition. It is a combination of monies from local, state, and federal taxes. This program is connected to a master plan of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), directed toward the needs of the student, whose primary language is not English. Dorris Pl. School is part of the Marshall High School Complex, the LAUSD coordinates high school students, through a program known as the Homework Club, to tutor elementary students after school. As at other local elementary schools, the greatest difficulty in English as a Second Language (ESL) skill development is support outside the school, such as homework, when the child needs help with homework, due to lack of English skills parental checking is sometimes impossible, if no one at home reads and writes English, as yet. The Homework Club is meant to help. These students mentioned under the CAP busing, happen to be predominantly Armenian which Mrs. McClaskey accepts as an opportunity rather than a burden. "Children learn to speak English rapidly. A partial list of native languages spoken at home includes Spanish which predominates, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Khmer, Bangaladesh, Burmese, Tagalog, to name a few." As to my question regarding whether or not the difficulty in second language acquisition is the lack of re-enforcement at home, Mrs. McClaskey warmly responded, " I think it is very important that children speak their home language, that they speak their primary language, that's their culture, I would find it disconcerting if the children didn't maintain their home language, and weren't able to talk with their grandparents, their aunts and uncles and have a really good feeling about their home language. The most important thing the children need from home is to feel learning is valued, and of course, love, great warmth, caring, and real values."
Since public education began in this country, Mrs. McClaskey suggested, the evolution of one generation learning the 'new world' language and the older generation earning their way in spite of language deficiency is part of the American heritage. My parting question as in previous interviews went to the question of crime, "Gracias a Dios! Knock on wood!" she reiterated with a knocking on wood, from desk to desk. This warmly intelligent administrator appreciates the fortune her school receives in not being a target of criminal activity. The overly zealous reportage of teen 'gang' behavior offers the populace a frightening spectre of its youth, however, the lack of this criminal reprisal toward the local schools is happily shared as fortunate, and tells a tale of youth not only as gangsters.
The fact that no elementary school's populace, in this vicinity receives no less than 90% free lunches is indicative that poverty is pervasive, for most of the families in this six school locale. This financial poverty by no means indicates the riches that living together in a diverse multi-cultural environ offers. The multitude of experiences that are simultaneously lived are unknown, except those perceived from our own unique vantage point. While the children as students interact, mutual understanding of divergent personalities and peoples is the underlying process at work. The adults learn at a different pace. There can be no straight line to equality. As life is politically experienced we have seasons of conservative assurgence followed by liberal popularity. We as a nation of divergent peoples cannot realize everything simultaneously. The tolerance equality implies, that living with peoples with differing dreams, languages, and colors than your own, in mutual respect, is a transition, an evolution in continuum. If good will maintains significance, periods of hatred can be built upon, learned from, and new measures of equality can be established. Los Angeles River from Gateway Park
The next stop is a visit with Mr. Andrews, principal of Allesandro Street School, but prior to that, a drive along Blake Ave. which parallels the river, for about 2 miles, about a half a block from the river. Each street running perpendicular to the river is zoned for commercial and light manufacturing. There are approximately 100 businesses, mostly light manufacturing and services. Employment opportunities do exist for the local inhabitants at such companies as Four S Bakeries, Dolly Madison bakeries, or Vent Vue Industries, making doors and windows. Mr. Andrews offers the praise of one woman, Gloria Moya, who grew up here, after migrating from Mexico, as a child, and only speaking Spanish. While we are here by the river, honorable respect should be offered to this community oriented woman. She has coordinated the building and establishment of a park next to the river. On the way there, the Elysian Valley Recreation Center is noteworthy. It includes a seventy-five yard football field with an indoor basketball court, which had fallen into minimal use due to drive-by shootings. Here again Ms. Moya has come to bring her coordinating excellence to the aid of this village. She has helped arrange a new police sub-station here at the rec center, and through her efforts, the rec center is used again to capacity. Ms. Moya is also responsible for establishing instruction classes in English. She co-ordinated with the Allesandro St. adult ESL program, ESL for the local residents, offered at the rec center and at night. This allows people an opportunity close to home to study Breaking the definition of equality into incremental steps of change breathes quality into the lives of those of us less fortunate. A few blocks, and Blake dead-ends, but a left and a right will take us to Knox Ave. and right to the river, and Gateway Park park. In co-ordination with the Santa Monica Conservancy and Ms. Moya this lot has been transformed into a setting of public tranquility on the river's edge.
The challenge of teaching in English to students of varying first language histories is a changing dilemma, but still remains a problem of not having adequate teachers. According to Mr. Andrews, "It all goes to the question of having good people. Some teachers persist in wanting to alter the students level of development, this simply won't work...," as he changes the subject, "It is not only teachers, but money alotted now for attendance, that has restricted the flexibility of purchasing, due to the alottment remaining fixed, as the prices of goods and services rise." To differentiate from the average daily allowance explained earlier this funding tied to attendance is for purchasing other items other than everyday school supplies. Even though the criteria of funding implies increased flexibility, if the criteria is a masked budget limitation, the result grants pretence at purchasing freedom, while actually limiting each school's purchasing power. The search for grants which are unique to the individual school are an alternative. "It really becomes a question of very little power to change costs...," he shares, "...retraining of each staff associate was a method of obtaining one computer per staff member, however, one computer at a time proved too slow. Besides, anything that looks like more work to a teacher, they shy away from." A federal program tied to socio-economic need proved to be a technological breakthrough, which granted $225,000.00. "I'm not the kind of principal, I told my staff, at a recent meeting, that gives a few extra thousand per year for classroom expenses. Computer technology will be here longer, so now we have 55 computers for our 725 children...," he said with a smile. "... This amount of kids doesn't qualify for a vice-principal, but a grant like this gets an extra day a month for a counselor, an extra day a month for a nurse," Mr. Andrews explained. All of these administrators do the best they can with the resources available to them. Recently, Valentine's Day 1996, Allesandro St. School held a dance. Mr. Andrews, with the gratitude of a father reminices, "I think my most glorifying moment came when grandparents, little kids, and parents handling everything; to see the steps we've gotten to, at least, bringing all the pieces together." "Was it the universality of ages," I ask. "The social level...," he delineates on his fingers, "...otherwise, the parents come for progress meetings, Holloween, Christmas, May Day, the parents watch the children, here at this dance even I danced with kids. We had a Dee Jay..." As we leave this visit, the fulfillment of this first dance is best revealed by Mr. Andrews, "You have to be able to reach the people, and they have to be able to reach you." The neighbors seeing the school, as an extension of their own back yards, is only possible with the kind of understanding man Mr. Andrews has proven to be, and of course, the possibility a long term tenure provides.
Where and how to measure equality has not easily been defined. But, here, in this neighborhood, we are offered a little picture of the operations and functions of democracy at work, benefits of society (education), from the people (taxes), that without the intermixing of monies, from every level of government, these developments towards an equality of opportunity would stagnate. Driving west on Riverside Dr. two signal lights and left on Fletcher Dr., and one block later a 45 degree left turn, we are on Glendale Blvd. heading downtown. Like many lines of demarcation, this street is no wall but a transition in land values. In this largest of all cities geographically, within Los Angeles this boulevard is one of many that act as a socio- economic or racial dividing line. Our national culture has made strides in overcoming the bitter and depriving segregation of past decades. Not that the barrio ends and the better life begins to the westside of the boulevard. Here, in the Savon- Hughes shopping mall, the diversity of peoples and social status, sometimes wait in line together. Traditionally, the market place is the meeting place for have's and have-nots. That there is a reality in socio-economic and ethnic separation, east and west of this boulevard is not easily justified. To determine within the earnings of lower and middle incomes ($25,000.-50,000.00) the ratios are not clear. However, the ratio of people living west of this boulevard earning upwards of $150,000.00 is more than three times, (4.2-1.2%), those living east, thereof. This comparison is relative to approximately two or three miles each side of Glendale. Blvd. It is visible that the change in ethnic peoples includes a greater diversity, but no one can easily look into your pocketbook. What is interesting, is that this growth toward diversity has not brought an openly expressed paranoia, that these changes is toward equality is obvious, whether or not it is for the betterment, can only be determined by the process. The more we live and share urban space, the greater the possibility, that we will realize that we share many more similarities than previous generations were led to believe.
Although this study has not concentrated on the deviant behavior in the area, I do realize it exists. Being exactly that deviant, the evening news accounts for enough fearful facts due (alledgedly) to teen gangs, by ratio these activities are by far the smallest percent of teen activities, here or anywhere else, I have not chosen to overemphasize the role of crime. Re-enforced by the circumstances of each of these principals I believe crime exists and so does much good. Echo Park and Frogtown are seen (appendix) to wage war and make peace, of course, these are only teenagers, but in a confused way they strive for similar fortune as the society they are products of. When this striving descends to criminal activity it is unfortunate for the community and themselves especially. Deviant behavior can never be condoned, but our attempt to offer alternative economic and creative outlets for these individuals must not loose its momentum, as it does with the vicissitudes of conservative and liberal bickering, itself similar to gang banging. Learning to live within circles of influence not conducive to our health, unfortunately, is a structural component of urban life, learning to steer clear of involvement in these activities is not easy, but plausible. The efforts of re-opening the playground is a benefit needed, and should be funded federally, as an opportunity to organize and give the youth, of any area, alternative choices to street crime. I interviewed a 16 year old boy, Jess Prichard, concerning the playground he said, "I like playground activities...," and in regard to the often heard argument that these playgrounds become hangouts for gangs he says, "You're always wary, you get to trust the situation...," he continues, "...in fact I know a lot of those dudes, I don't get those feelings about confrontation, cause I'm not a gangster or affiliated with one." Jess echoes the memory of all who have faced insecurity, if you get into trouble find a way out.
Another sign, very large, on the fence outside declares this school a "Learn School." Judy Moe explains that this is a new approach to education, which allows a freedom from more traditional methods. It is a reform movement to improve education, which utilizes a team effort, the business community, the teaching staff, parents, and the students. Its purpose is to better establish a coordination of studies to practical needs of the daily business life of the future. She explained this to mean eclectic use of traditional skill and academic subjects with an emphasis to a students outcome in listening, reading , writing, and speaking effectively.
"Some of the rules and regulations are relaxed," she explains, while directing attention to students academic achievement, the instructional team, called Stake-Holders attempt to put educational theory into a vision for the students and the school. "The Stake-Holders go through a learning process themselves...," she continues, "...All children can be successful, the goal is that the children listen and speak on all subjects. The goal is to be able to seek knowledge in order to solve problems in all subjects. The process is more important, not more important, but just as important as the basic facts that were the orientations of previous school theories." In discussing the variables of student needs to comply with 21st century developments in the workplace, and to include an awareness that educational policies must include each student is an apropos compliment to the intent of this study. The recognition that much good is being done to offer an equal start to young people, and that policies in action currently represent an evolution of sensibilities towards neighborhood interaction of equal interplay amoungst people is not enough in the face of continued deprivation to many. "In the old days from 10-10:30 was reading time, writing from 10:30-11, it doesn't work that way, the brain listens, speaks, reads, and writes all together...," she describes, "...we all know where we want to go, what to do to get there..." These dilemmas are very real and it is courageous to see programs of this nature attempted, because the first step towards solving real problems is to recognize the existence of the problem. My concluding remarks to Judy Moe reflect that this undertaking the Stakeholders have entered upon has my respect and admiration. It must be very exciting I suggest, and with a very pleasing smile she replies, "It's exciting but its's scary." This honesty is welcomed. These administrators have offered an insight into the practical everyday actions of public school, and I am uplifted and awed at the kind and loving intensity they and their staffs bring to the children of the community daily. The troubles of modern life are exascerbated by a crisis orientation in ourselves, and emphasized ad absurdum, daily by television news. The refreshing realization that equality is a changing process in education and that despite setbacks the community can change and does slowly.
This study must come to conclusion and in this valley where I have spent most of my life, I will gather these thoughts together with a visit to a dear member of the community, Ann Ehrenthal. I asked, "Why do you choose to live in this area?" "It is very beautiful, and the cohesion or shared living, being able to speak with your neighbors. This is changing, many people have moved away. The buying and selling of property has altered the situation somewhat, but the feeling of knowing your neighbors over generations still offers good feeling." Being old friends, she suggested that I interview myself for this study, and to the extent that I have offered my feelings and opinions, I hope I have shared myself. I have lived in this area all of my 51 years. Continuing with the discussion of Echo Park she offers, "You don't know your neighbors as well...," the discussion changes to the mechanism of Proposition 13. "...Owners of property get away with 'property tax murder', the measure was sold as help for the small homeowner, however, the true benefits of Prop. 13 are reaped by large corporate and real estate land owners, millions of square feet of holdings. It was really a boom for them." She offers praise to our city councilwoman Jackie Goldberg, "She represents a progressive voice, an actor," as she speaks I look out towards the street where the councilwoman lives. The discussion meanders from Sunset Blvd., where street crime has grown with the population expansion, and which has changed her marketing for groceries, to the current need for a paid patrol company to aid the crime detection in the neighborhood. Ms. Ehrenthal works in Urban Planning, and shares a touching reality of Mr. Minehan and the plight of people like him. He currently has a job, but lives in a garage with his wife and children. There is a federal rent subsidy program, but unfortunately, this man even though employed falls through the cracks in qualification. "Priorities for the country still holds to the philosophy of providing as little as possible, and that continues to shrink." These accurate and benevolent understandings she embraces would be helpful to a managerial approach to all government spending. The simplicity by which words describe real life processes will tend to be only indications to the accurate portrayal of the dynamics of urban life.
Facing a new century is only a numerical transition, but so often as the year changes, talk of change and resolution accompanies the transition. The discussion herein is respectful of the progress Women, African-American, and Latino peoples have made, however, we cannot grow complacent to the reality that much needed growth must take place to even come close to an accurate 'equality' of opportunity and action. In placing equality as a criteria for this community study I have placed the potential of criticism that I have not proven or uncovered enough facts. The general 'Principle of Uncertainty' developed by W. Heisenberg about the nature of observation is realized to be functioning, not independently, but simultaneouly to all process, and especially in a study of this nature. This principle essentially realizes that I, or anyone, looking out upon the world interprets the scenery and the actions from a biased point of view. Of course, to the degree that safeguards are taken to curb the bias is to the extent and consequent development of ever more accurate observation, for example the sciences. I have endeavored to utilize discussions with six administrators of local elementary schools to gain insight into the learning structure of the children in a small section of urban Los Angeles. Focusing on discrepancies, in the community and the educational institutions, of equal access to opportunity, this study concentrated on how current education is offered. The effort to realize how community change takes place is included, however, the emphasis on education should not be construed to be a separate entity, but the inclusive major process daily taking place in this community. To envision where and how equal access takes place is near impossible. Historically, the great strides African-Americans have made has come after much struggle, all with the background of equality shining from the content of our founding documents, but not being emphasized as the priority in the light of everyday interaction. The struggle for Women and Latino people is similar to that of African-Americans. A careful look at recent events still tells the tale of the discrepancy between the principle of equality and the acceptance of this lofty ideal in daily practice everywhere. This focus on the three groups mentioned primarily is for example of the most blatant outcry of limited access or segregation. The great diversity of peoples that this community comprises presents the possibility of unequal access, for example more than 20 different language groups live in this small sector alone. While the diversity of peoples living together is our American heritage, the melting pot speaks to the beneficial aspects of life here, the evolution towards a caring co-mingling has evolved based on too much pain of isolation.
Equality as a word implying love and acceptance of the stranger, strange because she/he is different, is a metamorphoses of the nature of psycho-social process. To the extent that we as educators or neighbors can extend understanding, especially that of language acquisition, through public education to the young or young at heart, so that translation is accurate and comfortable to the actual life situations of these folks, insures the potential to growing a new generation of people who appreciate each others diversity. As for the deviant behavior of people the personal choice of each individual must alter their own behavior in favor of the values of the community. Jurisprudence which includes Police Science must see a realistic adaptation, and offer potential to transformation which would be a growth process within a system plagued with a history of bigotry. Just because criminal behavior is comprised mostly of peoples from ethnic backgounds cannot be a judgement about people because of color or shape of their eyes. The development toward a balance of interdisciplines in decisions affecting the community on all levels is the primary path of a fulfillment toward the principle of equality. Because the goal of 'equality' seems so prodigious it has gained firm establishment slowly. It is a compliment to the vision of the founding fathers of this nation to include such a noble principle. The evolvement of this country, although having infringed on the freedom of Native Americans, must be recognized as part and an extension of evolution generally on our planet. To give to future generations that which our nation has deprived of previous generations is a solvable and reachable formula for the success of a nation which comprises the ideals of 'unalienavble rights' and 'equality.'
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