quORTerly briefing:
issues and trends
1999

National Community Action Committee
Lynn Leeb, Chair
Lucille Brotman, quORTerly briefing Writer/Editor

Winter 1999
Fall 1999
Spring 1999

Winter 1999

Thou Shalt Hang the Ten Commandments in Thy Schools

The Family Research Council, a 15-year-old national religious right organization based in Washington, recently launched a campaign, "Hang Ten," to encourage public schools and government offices to post the Ten Commandments. The movement has caught on in counties in Kentucky, and the FRC is pushing for nationwide acceptance. The organization, whose mission is to promote "the traditional family unit and the Judeo-Christian value system upon which it is built," has also distributed nearly 500,000 Ten Commandments book covers.

The government display of religious articles or codes violates the First Amendment's establishment clause which mandates the separation of church and state. In the Women's American ORT Public Policy Resolution on Church & State, we oppose the "use of public property, including public schools, for religious displays." The Supreme Court and lower federal courts have already decided the issue. For instance, in Stone v. Graham (1980), the Supreme Court ruled a Kentucky law unconstitutional that required the posting of the Ten Commandments in public schools.

This past summer, the House of Representatives passed the Ten Commandments Defense Act which would make it legal for states and local governments to post the Ten Commandments in schools and other municipal buildings. The Senate has not yet voted. It's important to inform members of the Senate that we are opposed to this legislation.

Members will want to keep abreast of what's happening in their local school districts. For more information on this campaign and other issues challenging the separation of church and state, visit the following Web sites: www.au.org (Americans United for Separation of Church and State), a Washington-based religious liberty watchdog group, www.aclu.org (American Civil Liberties Union) and www.pta.org (Parent Teachers Association), all of which are opposed to the assault on the separation of church and state.


Helms Rejects Unladylike Behavior

The Associated Press reported that Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C., ordered Capitol police to remove several congresswomen from an Oct. 28 Senate hearing after they disrupted the meeting by trying to present him with a letter signed by more than 100 House members in support of the "United Nations Convention to Eliminate All Forms of Discrimination Against Women," an international treaty against sexual discrimination. Helms, who chairs the Foreign Relations Committee, has blocked a Senate vote on the 1979 U.N. treaty. After asking the women to "please act like ladies," Helms called the police.


WAO Contributes on International Issues

Did you know that Women's American ORT has representation on the U.N.'s Non-Governmental Organizations/Department of Public Information? And the World ORT Union has credentials as an N.G.O., which enables contracting for international cooperation efforts. N.G.O. committees address issues including health, ecology, disarmament and the status of women. To read up on human rights issues, visit the U.N. home page at www.un.org. Also, you may wish to contact local colleges and universities for speakers on international issues.


ORT Chapters Pitch in For Literacy

Through the Women's American ORT "Adopt-A-Shelf" campaign, Chapters across the country are collecting new books to donate to sites in their communities.

In Pennsylvania, the Makefield Chapter-at-Large is considering a Jewish Community Center library and a Jewish day school as the recipients of its books. And the Philadelphia Region has chosen a synagogue library in Bucks County. Its members are busy taking courses to prepare to become school literacy volunteers as part of the Philadelphia Jewish Coalition for Literacy. Members in Boston and Florida are also participating in similar programs sponsored by the Coalition. In fact, many states have literacy initiatives. To read up on programs in California, visit www.readcalifornia.org.

The Wayside Chapter in Massachusetts is actively gathering books for a Head Start program. An exciting kick-off event, a Thanksgiving screening of Toy Story II for members, friends and their children was held, and each child was asked to bring a book.

The Chapters of Florida's Greater Sarasota Area Council have made literacy a priority in their communities. WAO members participated in the second annual Reading Festival, a family event also attended by authors and journalists. Members are also involved in the Sarasota Literacy Coalition and a mentoring program through Big Brothers, Big Sisters. The Gulfwind Chapter members donated books to the newly opened Jewish Family and Children's Service. Area Boys Clubs and Girls Clubs received more than 100 books from the Islandside Chapter, and the Sarasota Palm Chapter added to the children's collection at a municipal library. On the eastern coast of the state, the North Broward Region is collecting children's books for a Jewish day school.

Studies have shown that independent reading is the best way to help children succeed in school – and life. In addition to providing books through the "Adopt-A-Shelf" campaign, you can volunteer to read to children and adults, become a mentor or take courses to teach literacy. Survey your Chapters to see what they would like to do. For more information on the "Adopt-A-Shelf" campaign, call the National Office at 800.51.WAORT, ext. 263. Bookplates are available from the Supply Department, ext. 228.


Supreme Court Rejects Vermont Vouchers

The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a ruling this month by the Vermont State Supreme Court that vouchers to attend a Catholic high school would constitute government support of religious worship, thereby violating the state constitution. Vermont law permits students living in districts without their own public schools to receive state money to attend other public or nonsectarian schools.

In this case, the Chittenden Vermont school board, which doesn't have its own public school, sought state funding to pay student tuition to attend a Catholic school in a neighboring community. When the state denied the request, the school district sued. Following the State Supreme Court ruling, the district discontinued its efforts. Parents, however, appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing that the First Amendment doesn't allow the state to deny an educational benefit to otherwise eligible parents and children based on religious values, content and views of the educational program offered by a private school of their choice.

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Fall 1999

'ADOPT-A-SHELF' CAMPAIGN

Have you received a copy of the "Adopt-a-Shelf" campaign guidelines? Chapters are encouraged to donate books to local schools, municipal libraries, synagogue libraries, community centers or any location where adults and children gather and read. For a copy of the campaign guidelines, contact the Women's American ORT supply department at 800.51.WAORT, ext. 228.

Please start to discuss this idea soon. There are only three basic steps:
1) Decide where you want to donate books and ask for appropriate approval/guidelines.
2) Use every opportunity to gather books (e.g., installations, meetings, membership recruitment events).
3) Present books under the WAO banner for publicity. The newly designed "Adopt-A-Shelf" bookplate, which can be placed in each book and provides space for local Chapter information, is available from the National Office.

For helpful ideas on purchasing appropriate books for children, refer to www.cbcbooks.org (the Children's Book Council). Also, www.amazon.com and www.bn.com (Barnes & Noble) provide lists of children's books with reviews and age suitability.


KANSAS SCHOOL BOARD - 1999 OR 1925?

The Kansas Board of Education voted to remove evolution from the science curriculum, bringing back memories of famous attorney Clarence Darrow and the 1925 Scopes trial. Scopes was prosecuted for teaching evolution because it violated the ideas of creationism.

This fall, schools across the nation have opened to ongoing debate over the separation of church and state. Issues such as school vouchers and the display of the Ten Commandments continue to be fought on the nation's school grounds. "Adults have been playing these games with children for a very long time," said Marc Stern, a lawyer with the American Jewish Congress.

The action in Kansas is merely the latest effort to delete any mention of evolution from the state's science curriculum. Because the adoption of standards in any subject cannot be dictated under state law, each of the state's 304 school districts will decide whether to follow the state board guidelines. What they decide will seriously affect the students. Those wishing to attend college may not meet the science requirements. Kansas State University has had difficulty recruiting faculty for its biology department. Even those teachers who do believe in evolution may be unable to justify devoting time to the subject since it will not be covered on the statewide assessments. The exam results are published, and teachers and principals are concerned about how well their students perform.

Chapters wanting to know more about the subject of evolution vs. creationism can find willing speakers from both biology and anthropology departments at local universities and colleges. Many rabbis are also willing to speak on the topic. Your Chapter should know what your local school board thinks about the topic. Many nonprofit groups concerned with education have information on their Web sites. Check out www.au.org (Americans United for Separation of Church and State) and www.aclu.org (the American Civil Liberties Union).


BUSH AND PUBLIC EDUCATION

Texas Gov. George W. Bush has announced that as president he would force schools in poor areas to either improve test results or lose some of their federal funding. That money would then be given to parents to spend on tuition at schools of their choice. Bush proposes using Title I funds, which are federal monies, for disadvantaged schools. The governor also said he would alter Title I and another major federal program, Head Start. Since Republicans generally have staunchly opposed these programs, there may be considerable debate over his proposal to change them.

The governor's plans would reward or penalize schools based on tests created and administered by the states. He avoided calling his proposal a voucher plan though it is clearly based on the same desire to take children out of public schools. The plan did not describe how the government would ensure that parents spend the money properly or what the criteria would be for the private schools where the students would transfer to.

Bush focused on reading as the primary skill necessary for success, saying that children should begin reading by age 3 or 4. Phonics, he believes, is the best teaching method.

For years, Women's American ORT has campaigned for the need to improve education and against vouchers as destructive to public education. Every Chapter can discuss the results of testing in local schools and the current proposals to address the problems. Many of our members volunteer or work in schools and will be happy to discuss questions raised at meetings.

For more ideas, see www. ira.org (the International Reading Association), www.connectforkids.org, or http://pfie.ed.gov (Partnership for Family Involvement in Education).


KEEP ALERT

Please urge your members to watch for legislation that violates separation of church and state. Every state is facing state and/or local vouchers, and federal legislation is pending on vouchers, the Religious Freedom Amendment, flag burning and posting of the Ten Commandments in public schools. Please call the National Office, ext. 263, if there's something you'd like us to know.


JOB SHADOWING GROWS

For two years, Feb. 2 has been "Groundhog Job Shadow Day" in many communities. Begun as a project of the School to Work effort in Boston, the activity is sponsored by segments of business, industry, Junior Achievement and the Federal Department of Education. So far, more than 125,000 students have been matched with workplace mentors. For 1999, the coalition has increased its goal to providing at least half a million students with experience. Job shadowing can give young people a new perspective on their studies because it shows them that there are many choices in their future. Students also become more motivated academically after seeing the relevance of school courses to their anticipated jobs.

The international network of ORT schools uses many forms of shadowing and believes the School to Work program offers U.S. students worthwhile activities. Check out www.jobshadow.org and www.ed.gov (the U.S. Department of Education) for more information. The job shadow web site has a 48-page description that will help you get involved as an individual or as a Chapter. You can also find an exciting Chapter program through some of the participants in your community.

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Spring 1999

THE GENDER GAP IN TECHNOLOGY

A new report by the American Association of University Women has good news and bad news: Girls have gained ground in math and science, but are falling behind in technology. Girls make up only a small percentage of students in computer science classes, and as of 1996, they comprised only 17 percent of Advanced Placement test-takers.

Boys enter the classroom with more prior experience with computers and other technology than girls because they spend much of their free time playing on computers. Girls are less comfortable with computers and tend to rate themselves lower on computer ability. Even in schools that require all students to learn basic computer skills, girls still steer clear of advanced classes.

Suggested remedy:
To change the perception that the information age is for boys only, the study concludes that schools (and states) will have to make Algebra 1 and geometry – the gatekeeper classes for college admissions and advanced study in math, science, engineering and computer science – mandatory for all students. Teacher training will have to be improved as well; it should include ways technology can be integrated into the curriculum in a way that encourages both boys and girls to use it.

Your Chapter can invite local educators or counselors to speak on your local schools' requirements for college-bound students. You can also invite speakers from your local colleges and universities to speak on teacher training requirements. After all, our U.S. schools specialize in technology, and we have encouraged girls and women to succeed in non-traditional courses for decades.

For further information, visit the American Association of University Women's web site and Educause, an organziation that is "Transforming Education Through Technology." Also see the article "What Does Testosterone Have to do with Technology?" in the Winter 1998 edition of The Reporter.


YOUR VOTE MAY HAVE MADE THE DIFFERENCE

According to Time magazine, if 9,537 votes had been different in six key districts, the Democrats would have regained control of the House of Representatives in November's election. In that same election, 119,450,000 eligible voters did not cast their ballots.

When is the next election in your area? Chapters can encourage registering and voting at meetings and in bulletins, although we cannot be involved in partisan politics. Visit The Political Index for Federal, State and local information.


OUR CHILDREN WIN

Public education was the big winner this fall. In October, Congress said it had heard the voices of constituents and increased funding for 1999 education initiatives. Congress approved a 12 percent increase over 1998, funding class size reduction, before-and after-school programs, child literacy initiatives, education technology and school modernization and construction. Congress also passed the Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act (HR 1853) to reauthorize these programs through the year 2003. Though these increases will help, they are not enough to provide all the services our children need.

In November, elections at every level of government indicated the power of women's votes and our desire for better education for all children.

Keep your eyes on the newspapers as the 106th Congress and your state legislature convene. What they decide to do with monies and programs can make all the difference to children from pre-school to 12th grade. If you have education-related programming at Chapter meetings, your members can then contact their representatives and express their concern. For information, visit The World, which posts public radio news.


COURT SETS NO PRECEDENT

The Supreme Court's decision not to review Wisconsin's school voucher system sets no precedent for school vouchers. The Milwaukee program may continue, but the decision does not amount to approval of tax aid to religious schools. Legal cases over vouchers are pending in Ohio, Vermont, Pennsylvania and Maine, and a case in Arizona deals with a religious school tax break.

Women's American ORT continues to oppose vouchers, viewing them as a tax to pay for religion. It appears that when the 106th Congress convenes in January, there will be many new voucher bills and school prayer bills proposed for this legislative year. Among them will probably be Representative Ernest Istook's (R-Okla.) proposed Constitutional Amendment that gives tax money to religious schools, allows prayer in public schools, and generally reflects the desires of the Religious Right.

Just when we finally have some money to deal with school problems, more and more voucher proposals are arising. We defeated Istook once, and we can do it again. Encourage your members to be prepared by knowing the names of the people who represent them. Look up "vouchers" and other plans to infringe on our religious liberty and constitutional safeguards on the Web: Visit Americans United and People for the American Way. For public affairs information visit Democracy Network and for Congressional lists visit www.visi.com/juan/congress

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