Bethpage-Tribune_1970-03-05

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Island Trees Serving Bethpage - Plainview - Island Trees - Plainedge - Seoford
Vol^ 4 No. 20
Old Bethpage
Thursday, March 5, 1970 10c per copy
Land Exchange Means More Parents^ ReatHu^EagleVCrv'
n^^l.^. n«J.!iai» I .-.A.'—. I.l^u^ By rnii«m ** " Parks, Parking Lots Here
Councilman Edmund A. Ocker,
speaking for the Town Board,
reported yesterday, March 4,
that the Town of Oyster Bay and
the County of Nassau have
completed negotiations on a
complicated land transaction
that will save the Town more
than $110,000 while it purchases
parking and recreational land for
the residents of Bethpage. -
Ocker, who initiated contact
with the County two years ago
and who is described as the
driving force behind the
negotiations, said that the Town
Board has approved, by
resolution on Tuesday, March 3,
authorization for the Town At­torney
to conclude the
negotiations Ocker began.
"The people of Bethpage will
realize immediate benefits from
this transaction," Ocker stated.
"One of the properties involved in
the land- swap is a tract south of
the Long Island Railroad (racks
just east of Stewart Avenue that
will permit an additional • 70
(Continued on Pa%e 5)
Mary McCutcheon and Thomas Cullem
The eagle became bold, andthe feathers began to fly.
In more exact terms, this is what happened: "The
Eagle's Cry", Bethpage High School student
newspaper, came out with a February issue containing
articles that have aroused considerable community
ire. The articles contain references to sex, religion;
and rebellion which some people consider offensive
(see accompanying article). /
This week, Joan Cable, a community leader,
requested an open meeting of the Board of Education
to discuss the newspaper. Board President Joseph
Dawson, while declining to hold a general meeting, has
offered to use one of the Board's work sessions for a
possible "dialogue" with interested taxpayers.
Pert, pretty Denise Zawol, 17, of Plainview, is among
the contestants in the Lady Martin Beauty Pageant
which will have-its finals April 5 at the Garden City
Hotel. The beauty search, open to girls 16 to 26 years
old, single or married, offers a $5,000 modeling con­tract
to-the winner. Contest entry forms are obtainable
at any Martin Paint Store on Long Island or by writing
Lady Martin Beauty Pageant, Garden City Hotel,
Garden City, L.I.
The meeting will be held next
Tuesday night, March 10, at 8:30
in the administration building on
Cherry Ave. (near the high
school).
On March 3, the Board met in
Eugene
ol< Jflbe
student
rs. Although the Board
made no statement, individual
trustees Hugh Coyte and Kestutis
K. Miklas assailed "The Egale's
Cry." ,
' The TRIBUNE was unable to
reach either Murphy or the
student editors for comment.
Stated Coyle:
"The school paper is paid for
by the taxpayer. Religion or God
cannot be mentioned in the school
system, according to law. The
column, 'The Savior in Fun City',
has no place in the paper.
"Rock Begins New Era has no
place in' the paper or home
because of the use of vulgar
language. 'Report from Red-
Tape Mountain' is an insult to the
school administration and
authority."
Miklas added:
"I have always believed in and
still strongly believe in the
freedom ...of press. (But) the
people who have the opportunity
to express themselves should
clearly understand (the need for)
common sense as well as good
taste and judgment in presenting
the issues, without hurting the
beliefs and convictions of others.
"I am very upset about these
articles-their tone, vocabulary,
and the philosophy behind
(thesn)....! can see thatt t he
frefedpm of speech...no longer can
and control o\
irresponsible...."
Meanwhile, local units of the
American Legion and the Knights
of Columbus have reportedly
scheduled a joint meeting for
Monday night. Stressing that
they spoke as indiviuals, and did
not necessarily represent the
opinions of their organizations,
Joseph Krol of the K of C and
Arthur Fruaff of the Legion, also
issued statements.
Declaring that he did not blame
the writer of "Savior" so much as
the school staff, Krol charged
"the paper faculty advisor and
the school administration are
certainly lacking in their intellect
and responsibility to allow such a
situation to exist.' We have a
permissive, apathetic, parent-taxpayer
who doesn't give a
damn." -
SaidFruauff: "The paper must
be cleaned up- in regard to both
grammar and trying to incite
other students."
Mrs. Cable almost called for
guidance. Contending that she
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What Did Students Say?
DOING THEIR ELEPHANT THING: Congressman
John Wydter, officiates a* **- - ' lation of Dexter
C. Heed 9~-* * Vice President,
There are five articles that
objections have been, raised to:
One column explored rock
music as an expression of sexual
rebellion, concluding that the
decline of rock 'n' roll would,
mean the rise of ''revolution: a
moral and political one" as a new
vehicle for expressing this
rebellion. The article used a few
words some consider beyond
good taste.
"The Savior in Fun City" was
the topic of a second article. A
social satire proposing that, if
Christ returned to earth today, he
would need a publicity man to get
known, would be considered less
newsworthy than "Raquel
Welch's bra size," and would be
treated as a troublemaker, it is
thought by some to be
disrespectful to Christ rather
than the society.
A third article lampooned
administrators, teachers, and
apathetic Bethpage students:
Entitled "Report From Red Tape
Mountain" it apparently strikes,
some parents as vulgar and
disrespectful.
"Rebellion" is the charge some
hurl at one of the paper's
editorials. Entitled "End Crack­down",
the editorial claims "an
atmosphere of repression and
fear is ^rvading the halls of
Bethpage High School", mainly
because administration attempts
to make students turn drug
dealers and pushers in is creating
widespread distrust between
'students.
Finally, "Bethpage Then-
1903" is cited for poor taste
because it describes a deceased
Bethpager of those days as an
alcoholic.
jdvi&s: hot advocate censorship, she
stated "our students must...be
able to discuss and project their
philosophies of life; yet the school
newspaper should not be used
indiscriminately for this express
purpose, because by having the
paper sanctioned by our school,
the entire student body becomes
inherent to its philosophy."
At least one teacher was also
upset by the newspaper. George
P. Daniels, describing himself as
a "disappointed teacher", was
reportedly circulating a petition
which claimed:
"Young people are in the
process of maturing both
physically and mentally...Some
become so emotionally un­dernourished
that they develop
feelings of hostility and
aggression which, they project
onto other persons, groups or
institutions...."
^•fbe February issue, of our
tides. One does not have the
license to express one's personal
aggravations indiscriminately.
The right to - express
dissatisfaction with. prevailing
conditions should be exercised by
teachers, administrators and
students alike. However, in
deference to human dignity and
respect, criticism should be
c o n s t r u c t i v e without
deprecations, vulgarity, sar­casm,
insinuations, and open
defiance."
As of press time, it was not
known whether any other
teachers had joined Datnie- in his
statement.
Hebrew Approved For
Credit In Plainview-
Old Bethpage
The Committee for Hebrew in
the Public Schools reports that
the Plainview-Old Bethpage
Board of Education recently
approved the presentation of
Hebrew as a foreign language in
the junior high schools of the
district commencing in Sep­tember
1970.
The final determination will be
dependent upon the number of
pupils who sign up.
Harold Friedman, chairman of
the committee, Rabbi.,„4MMUS
Goldberg of the. Plainview Jewish
Center and Rabbi Louis Stein of
Temple. Beth' Elohim expressed
their thanks to Dr. Robert Sav^tt,
the Superintendent of Schools,
and to Leonard Kramer,
Assistant Superintendent, for
their cooperation and un­derstanding
while this entire
matter was under discussion.
It was also pointed out that
Hebrew will carry full credit for
graduation from high school and
admission to college. In addition
to regents examination, there are
college board achievement tests
administered by the "College
Entrance Board."