Description: Christy George reports that Laval Wilson (Superintendent, Boston Public Schools) has submitted a plan to reform the Boston Public Schools to the Boston School Committee. George notes that the plan represents Wilson's educational philosophy and his vision of how to improve the schools. The School Committee's vote on the plan has turned into a vote of confidence on Wilson. Interviews with School Committee members John Nucci and Joe Casper. Nucci supports Wilson's plan. Casper says the vote will decide if Wilson will lead the school system forward. School Committee members taking a vote. George notes that the Committee appears to have approved most of the plan. George notes that some parents are unhappy with the plan. Interviews with Doris Labitue (parent) and Peter Lowber (parent). Wilson with supporters at a press conference. Charles Stith (Union United Methodist Church) speaks in support of Wilson's plan.
0:59:59: Visual: Footage of Dr. Laval Wilson (Superintendent, Boston Public Schools) at a press conference with African American leaders including Reverend Charles Stith (Union United Methodist Church). Wilson says the Boston School Committee does not need to approve every detail of his proposals as they are written. Christy George reports that Wilson was talking about compromise before the School Committee voted on his proposals; that Wilson is usually seen as being uncompromising. V: Footage of Wilson at a press conference on May 12. Wilson says that it is not unreasonable to expect a senior in high school to read at an eighth grade level or above. George reports that Wilson's frustration with the system has led him to muse publicly about leaving his post as superintendent. V: Shot of Wilson looking over the shoulder of a student in a classroom. Footage of Stith saying that Wilson's proposals for the schools make sense; that he wants Wilson to stay in his post. Footage of Wilson saying that he plans to stay in his post for a number of years. Shot of Wilson speaking to some elementary school children. George reports that the plan submitted by Wilson to the School Committee represents two years of work by Wilson; that the plan also represents Wilson's future in the School System. V: Footage of John Nucci (Boston School Committee) saying that the plan represents Wilson's vision and his philosophy on how to improve the school system; that he hopes the School Committee will approve the plan. George stands in the rear of the Boston School Committee chambers. The School Committee meeting is in progress. George reports that the referendum on Wilson's plan has turned into a vote of confidence on Wilson. V: Footage of Joe Casper (Boston School Committee) saying that the education plan has Wilson's "fingerprints all over it"; that "the honeymoon is over"; that this evening's vote will decide if Wilson will lead the school system forward. Footage of Edward Winter (Secretary, Boston School Committee) calling the roll for a School Committee vote. School Committee members Casper, William Donlan, John Grady, Kevin McCluskey, Jean McGuire, John O'Bryant and Thomas O'Reilly voting yes. Shot of Wilson conferring with O'Bryant and Nucci. George reports that the School Committee appears to have approved most of Wilson's plan; that some parents are unhappy with the plan. V: Footage of Doris Labitue (Boston parent) saying that she came out to voice her concern about the plan; that the School Committee does not seem interested in the opinions of parents. Labitue says that the members of the School Committee did not seem to understand the fine points of the plan. Footage of Peter Lowber (Boston parent) saying that the School Committe is afraid to reject the plan because they are afraid of losing Wilson as superintendent. George reports that the School Committee was still in session when she filed the report.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 06/22/1987
Description: Fritz Wetherbee profiles Katie Portis (President of Women, Inc.). Wetherbee reports that Women, Inc. is a service organization in Dorchester that provides housing, treatment, and other services for poor and drug dependent women. Wetherbee notes that one of the goals of Women, Inc. is to provide support for single mothers who want to keep their children. Wetherbee interviews Portis. Portis talks about the organization and her reasons for starting it. Wetherbee profiles Ethel, a resident at the Women's Inc. house. In an interview, Ethel talks about the help she has received from the organization. Wetherbee interviews Diana Christmas (residential counselor) and Linda Galloway (resident at the Women, Inc. house) about the organization. Wetherbee's report is accompanied by footage of the interior and exterior of the Women, Inc. house.
1:00:01: Visual: Footage of Katie Portis (President of Women, Inc.) saying that some people take drugs to help them cope with poverty, despair, and domestic abuse. Fritz Wetherbee reports that Portis had become frustrated with the desperate conditions under which some people are forced to live. Wetherbee notes that Portis started a revolution with one kind act. V: Footage of Portis talking about how she once offered to take care of a woman's baby while the woman went down the street to sign up for a methadone program. Shot of the exterior of the Women Inc. house in Dorchester. Wetherbee reports that Portis started Women's Incorporated in Dorchester; that Women's Inc. has provided support and stability to over 5,000 women; that many of those women have stopped using drugs and are living with their children. V: Shot of an Ethel P. (resident at the Women's Inc. house) with an infant. Ethel P. walks through a hallway and into a bedroom of the Women's Inc. house. Footage of Ethel P. saying that she had no direction when she was living on the street; that she had been to jail three times. Ethel P. says that Women's Inc. has given her a place to focus on herself and to kick her addiction. Shot of Ethel P. rocking her baby. Wetherbee reports that most of the women living at the Women's Inc. house have low self-esteem; that Women's Inc. tries to instill the women with a sense of pride. V: Footage of Diana Christmas (Residential counselor) that the residents have one-to-one and group counseling sessions. Shot of the exterior of the Women's Inc. house. Wetherbee notes that Portis is frustrated that Women's Inc. cannot help every woman who becomes a resident there. V: Footage of Portis saying that the goal of Women's Inc. is to encourage every woman to keep her child; that sometimes a woman is not ready to raise a child. Wetherbee says that Women's Inc. has more success than failure. V: Footage of Linda Galloway (resident at the Women's Inc. house) talking about the help and support she received from Women's Inc.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 11/24/1987
Description: Christopher Lydon reports that the Nieman Foundation has awarded Zwelakhe Sisulu (South African journalist) the Louis Lyons Award. Sisulu has been jailed by the South African government and has not been charged with a crime. Michael Pride (Concord Monitor of Concord, NH) and Al Max (Chairman, Lyons Committee) at a press conference. Pride talks about Sisulu's courage. Max says that Sisulu is the third South African journalist to win the award. Lydon notes that Zwelakhe Sisulu is the son of Walter Sisulu (founder of the African National Congress), who has been jailed since 1964 and is featured prominently in a new documentary film about the life of Nelson Mandela. Lydon's report includes photos of Zwelakhe Sisulu and footage from the HBO film Mandela. Fernando Lima (Mozambique News Agency) speaks about Zwelakhe Sisulu.
1:00:03: Visual: Footage of Mike Pride (Concord Monitor of Concord, NH) at a press conference. Pride talks about Zwelakhe Sisulu's great courage in the face of adversity. Shots of photos of Sisulu. Christopher Lydon reports that Sisulu's father was the founder of the African National Congress (ANC); that Walter Sisulu and Zwelakhe Sisulu are both in jail in South Africa. V: Footage from the Home Box Office (HBO) film Mandela. Lydon reports that Walter Sisulu is a major figure in the HBO film about the life of Nelson Mandela (ANC leader). Lydon notes that Mandela has been jailed since 1962; that Walter Sisulu has been jailed since 1964; that Oliver Tambo (ANC leader) has been exiled from South Africa. Shot of a black and white photo of Zwelakhe Sisulu. Lydon reports that Zwelakhe Sisulu has been jailed; that Zwelakhe Sisulu has not been charged with any crime. Lydon notes that Zwelakhe Sisulu will be honored by the Neiman Foundation. V: Footage of Al Max (Chairman, Lyons Committee) at a press conference. Max says that Sisulu is the third South African to have won the award. Max says that he hopes that Sisulu will be the last South African to win the award while in in prison. Footage of Fernando Lima (Mozambique News Agency). Lima speaks for Zwelakhe Sisulu, saying that apartheid is the cause of the trouble and disturbances in South Africa.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 09/18/1987