Description

One of CIC's primary activities was to hold biweekly meetings called "community dialogues" to discuss broad issues such as racism, police sensitivity, education, and employment discrimination within the city of San Diego. The meetings were moderated by CIC Executive Director Carroll Waymon, and his voice is often the first one heard in the audio recordings of the meetings. This meeting was another continuance of discussions about education. George Hall, deputy superintendent of schools, was present to hear concerns and to answer questions. He explained several special programs underway at schools in depressed areas of the city, which were initiated as a result of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, to assist those students with the greatest needs. Some were appreciative of the efforts being made, while others warned that the schools were not making changes nearly fast enough to offset the growing unrest and organizing of discontented students (such as United Students for Better Education) nor to stem the tide of rioting and violence. It was asserted that students felt they had no impact on their environment, and were therefore losing interest or rebelling. Members of minority groups also contended that not enough minority staff had been hired within the structure to provide students with people who identified with them and understood their needs, and further, that minority staff should be the ones to revise the curriculum to include the histories, contributions, and culture of minority people. The tape constitutes the minutes, but a summary is comprised of 7 pages of handwritten notes on stenographic-notebook paper, with tape-recorder-counter numbers on the left (002-601) next to speakers' names, and further notes in the middle or on the right.