Public school problems not in private schools
Mm
BYJOANMOHRISON
Conflicts between public and private
schools increased when officials of the Ne
braska Catholic Conference said that Gov,
Robert Kerrey's task force on excellence in
education should not be permitted to evalu
ate their schools.
"Private school education far surpasses
the quality of public education," said the
Hev. James Dawson, superintendent of
schools for the Diocese of Lincoln, Wednes
day, "and we don't want public educators,
who are having serious problems, dictate to
private schools how to educate."
Dawson said parochial schools were not
represented on Kerrey's 30-member task
force, but that the governor had requested
that representatives meet with him on
Thursday. "We're pleased that Governor
, Kerrey did not include us on the task force,"
he said, "because it is set up to examine pub
lic schools. We do not want any laws passed
as a result of this, or any regulations from
the state department of education to impact
private schools in Nebraska."
State officials said that the task force is
just an advisory group, but any legislation
which might result from its recommenda
tions would be binding on all accredited
schools in the state.
Dawson said that the Catholic Confer
ence sent a letter to Kerrey requesting the
governor's assurance, in writing, that new
regulations for parochial schools would not
come out of the study.
"We don't believe in being forced into a
corner where we're not represented," he
said,"and we do not feel that the State De
partment of Hducation stands for good
education at times."
"They're actually a hindrance to educa
tion," he said, citing examples of "fluff
courses, like fly-tackle tying" and a lack of
discipline, which, he said, contributes to
problems in the public schools.
"The State Department of Kducation
vacillates. I'very time there's a new idea,
they follow it. We've been in the classroom
for centuries," he said, "We don't oscillate
with every wind that blows."
Public schools reflect the needs of soci
ety, said Commissioner of Education Joe
Lutjeharms.
"It is the responsibility of the public
schools to meet the demands and desires of
the whole society," ho said,"and if these
needs change, so do the schools."
Discipline is something the parochical
schools don't really have to deal with, he
said.
"Of course they don't have discipline
problems." he said, "where do all the stu
dents go who leave parochial schools? The
discipline problems go to the public
schools."
Kuljeharms disputed Dawson's state
ment that privat e schools are better.
"There is excellence in certain schools,
regardless," lie said, "and there are prob
lems in each type, too."
He said he did not think that federal in
come tax credit should be given to parents
of private school children.
"In my humble opinion, if I can disagree
with both the Supreme Court and the Presi
dent of the United States, I do," he said.
"There is a place in our society for both
types of schools. That's why our education
system is so great. People can elect a choice
of schooling through their own resources,
while supjorting the public school concept
of taxation at, the same time," he said.
Father Dawson said that private schools
might offer alternatives to excellence in
education, and as such, should be considered
for tax credits.
"Many people are threatened by us," he
said. "Why? Our elementary education sys
tem costs us one-third of what it costs public
schools and yet we're producing more.
That's what gets them upset."
University of Nebraska
School of Journalism
Number 4
July 7,1983
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!Regeots vote to implement UN-O pay hike
BY LARRY SPARKS
The University of Nebraska Board of Re
gents Tuesday voted to implement without
appeal the 6.6 percent pay increase granted
University of Nebraska-Omaha faculty
members.
The raise, ordered last month by the
Commission of Industrial Relations, is retro
active to the 1982-83 school year. The com
mission last week turned down NU's motion
for a rehearing, but the regents had consid
ered an appeal to the Nebraska Supreme
Court.
"Naturally, I'm very pleased that they
are willing to accept the CIR ruling," said
Janet West, president of the UN-0 chapter
of the American Association of University
Professors.
The regents met in closed session for
three-and-one-half hours before reaching
the decision. Meanwhile, West and 10 of her
UN-0 colleagues, along with five University
of Nebraska-Lincoln faculty members,
waited in the lobby of the Nebraska Center
for Continuing Education with signs urging
the board not to seek an appeal.
After resuming open session, the board
voted 7-0 to approve a resolution read by
Regent Nancy Hoch, Nebraska City, sup
porting implementation of the CIR order. As
stated in the resolution, all money for the
pay hike will come from the 1983-84 UN-0
operating budget.
Ms. West said she was not surprised with
the decision to charge the cost to the UN-0
budget, but she said it contradicts state
ments made earlier by the board and ad
ministration. This spring, she said, the administration
argued for a lump-sum appropriation from
the Legislature to allow for a flexible budg
et. Now, the regents are stressing the impor
tance of keeping the campus budgets sepa
rate, she said.
In a statement read by Regent Kermit
Hansen, Omaha, based on current projec
tions, paying the pay raises "will directly
impact academic programs at UN-0 and
could result in the elimination of as many as
25 professional staff positions."
Ms. West, however, accused the regents
of writing a strong statement to pacify any
feelings UN-L faculty members might have
about forming a bargaining unit. Substantial
academic cuts can be avoided, she said.
"We would certainly hope that most of
the cuts will come out of administration irb
stead of academics," she said.
The regents ordered UN-0 Chancellor
Delbert Weber to study programs which can
be reduced or eliminated. Weber is to make
a progress report at the July 23 meeting and
submit a list of recommendations by Sept. 9.
Ms. West said she hopes the administra
tion will allow the faculty to have a say in
what cuts are made. She said the AAUP
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Janet West, president of UN-0 American Associa- meeting. Demonstration in support was given by
tion of University Professors talks to Channel 10 UN-0 instructors. The regents approved the pay
news crews Tuesday, before Board of Regents raise.
might propose its own list of recommended
cuts to the board.
According to the regents' statement, fu
ture salary increases at the three NU cam
puses will be determined by comparison to
peer groups. Hansen said that probably
means identical raises will no longer be
granted to all faculty members of the NU
system. Instead, professors will get an in
crease based on how their campus com
pares to similar institutions across the na
tion, he said.
"If they use the list of comparables
they've been using, they could end up with
something like a 12 percent to 15 percent in
crease for the Lincoln faculty," Ms. West
said.
With the long battle of 1982-83 salaries
finally over, Ms. West said, she hopes the
UN-O, AAUP can build a better working
relationship with the regents and adminis
tration. "We have gone through the correct
procedures as defined by law," she said.
"Now, we hope they (the regents) will fol
low the law that says they have to bargain
with us in good faith."
Women must get
same insurance
benefits as men
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme
Court, in a ruling that could force sweeping
changes in the insurance industry, ruled
Wednesday that it is illegal for pension plans
to pay smaller monthly benefits to women
than to men.
But the court said that benefits derived
from contributions made prior to this deci
sion may still be calculated under the old
system, which allowed larger monthly bene
fits to men.
The insurance industry maintained that
the differences in monthly payments were
legitimate because women, on the average,
live longer than men.
Today's ruling came as the court con
cluded its 1982-83 term. It is due to return for
the next term on the first Monday in October.
INSID
"Party-hardy" attitude in
U.S. college students on
decline .....page 6
Backyard Farmer gains new
bug expert page 3
Intern experience helps in
the job search .....page 3
UN-L dorm residents pay
for living quarters spruce
up page 8
Smooch radio hits the Lin
coln airwaves page 5