10 O'Clock News | Evening Compass broadcast

Peter Meade discusses the declining white enrollment in Boston Public Schools

Evening Compass broadcast
Original Airdate: 9/10/1975

Length: 00:37:34
Item Type: newstape - aircheck

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Full Description

0:00:48
Ed Baumeister introduces show. Opening credits read Compass: Late Edition. Baumeister reports that there was little school-related violence; that a juvenile in Charlestown was arrested for disorderly conduct; that school attendance was 52,109 (68.4%); that white students were in the minority in the school population.

0:02:22
Pam Bullard reports on the percentages of white and minority children in Boston schools. Bullard reports that under the court-ordered desegregation plan, 60 of 162 Boston schools are projected to be predominantly African American; that 46 of 115 elementary schools are projected to be predominantly African American; that current attendance levels put 61 of 115 elementary schools predominantly African American. Bullard reports that school officials fear that white children will become a minority in Boston schools.

Visual: Footage of Peter Meade (Mayor's office) talking about a non-white majority in Boston schools. Meade says that one could project a non-white majority in the future based on elementary school enrollments; that racial imbalance in Boston schools is unfortunate.

Bullard reports that elementary enrollment is down 18% from previous year; that 73 whites of 306 have attended the Lee School so far; that 85 of 145 whites have attended the Morris School so far; that 86 of 136 whites have attended the Ripley School so far; that 75 of 148 whites have attended the Kilmer School so far. Bullard reports that many white parents enrolled children in private schools to avoid eventual busing; that Catholic schools are serving as a haven for anti-busers despite a pledge to the contrary by Humberto Cardinal Medeiros (Archdiocese of Boston).

V: Footage of Medeiros saying that he would examine enrollment numbers at Catholic schools; that he doubts that students will be sent back to public schools.

Bullard reports that school officials are uncertain if white students will return; that the Catholic schools serve as a "built-in private school system."

0:07:43
Baumeister reports on transportation problems involved in busing.

V: Footage of Charles Leftwich (Associate Superintendent of Schools) at a press conference. He briefs reporters on a missing bus from one of the charter companies.

Baumeister reports that late buses are a problem; that in four separate incidents, buses failed to show up at all.

V: Footage of Leftwich advising students to wait one half hour for the bus before returning home or finding alternate transportation. Leftwich says that parents and bus monitors should call the information center so that another bus can be sent.

Baumeister reports that some students are still without school assignments.

V: Footage of Robert Donahue (Boston School Department) giving information on registration for students without assignments. Frances Condon (Boston School Department) briefs press on the opening of kindergartens and gives information on registration for new kindergarten students.

Baumeister gives information about making transfers from one school to another; about the flexible campus program.

0:14:01
Bullard talks to Thayer Fremont-Smith (attorney, Boston Home and School Association) in the studio. Fremont-Smith urges opponents of busing to refrain from violence. He notes that private school is an option and that the Boston HSA and others are appealing the (Morgan v. Hennigan) decision in court. Fremont-Smith says that the Boston HSA is appealing on the grounds that the scope of the court-ordered plan is too broad; that they will challenge specifics of the plan; that the appeals process will be difficult. Fremont-Smith says that segregated schools in Boston are a result of ethnic neighborhoods, not intentional segregation; that busing drives out the white population and results in racially imbalanced schools; that the court-ordered plan intrudes on the rights of parents. Fremont-Smith says he hopes the courts will change their policy on busing; that there is no immediate relief this year for opponents of the plan; that an anti-busing amendment to the Constitution would force the courts to change their policy. Bullard points out that the city has cut off funding for the HSA's court appeal process. Fremont-Smith defends the HSA's position of fighting busing in the courts, but not on the streets or in the schools. He says that the HSA will raise funds privately if necessary.

0:22:28
Baumeister reports that the opening of several alternative schools is planned; that none have yet been approved by the Boston School Committee. Baumeister talks about media coverage of the media during the Boston school crisis. He reports that the media are the object of distrust in many Boston neighborhoods.

0:24:00
Edwin Diamond (media critic) says that the media consumer has the right to question the media's performance. He reports that the News Study Group in the Political Science Department at MIT has been watching media coverage of the busing crisis. He says that the group has concluded that the press is not neutral; that media presence influences how events play out; that the press is aware of the effects of their presence; that Boston newspaper coverage has been balanced and professional. Mike McNamee (MIT student) analyzes Boston Globe coverage of the first day of school. He notes that the Globe hired Jimmy Breslin (New York journalist) to supplement their coverage; that Paul Szep (Boston Globe cartoonist) lampooned media coverage of busing on the Globe editorial page.

V: Shot of Szep cartoon.

McNamee comments on the Globe's decision to cover other news stories besides busing.

V: Shots of front pages of The Boston Globe and The Boston Herald American.

He comments on other editorial decisions: to show that the opening day had been fairly peaceful; to focus on opening day in the context of a long-term desegregation plan; to cover every angle of the story. McNamee notes that editorial decisions were made by top editors with input from reporters. Robert Healy (Executive Editor, Boston Globe) says that the Globe was aiming for complete, balanced, and contextualized coverage; that the Globe learned from the experience of covering schools during the previous year; that reporters had more influence than McNamee credited them with. Diamond asks if the coverage of opening day was better this year. Healy talks about intensive preparations to cover the opening of school this year. Healy notes that a local paper needs to cover a local story differently than a national paper would cover it. He notes criticism of the newspaper's coverage of the previous school year. McNamee says that the Globe covered the story well. Diamond tells the story of an anti-buser who grudgingly came to respect the Globe's complete coverage.

0:37:33
Baumeister gives an update on tomorrow's newscasts. He closes the show.
Credits roll.

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