Senator BAYH. I wonder if you could make available to the committee the information that your national council has which could help us with what I mentioned to Mr. Walentynowicz earlier.

Mr. SKLENAR. I have a copy of the Federal court order recognizing and defining Slavic national origin.

Senator BAYH. I am not so much concerned about the origin as the evidence of discrimination. You mentioned the Detroit school situation. I would like for you to give us other examples where the Slavic people have been discriminated against so that we would have hard evidence.

Mr. SKLENAR. The only thing we have are statistics.

Senator BAYH. If you would let us have it, we would appreciate it very much.

Mr. SKLENAR. Certainly.

Senator BAYH. Without objection, this information will be inserted into the record at the appropriate point.

Senator BAYH. Mr. Scott?

Senator SCOTT. Mr. Chairman, I know you have to leave early today and I have some other things also. Mr. Sklenar, we appreciate very much your being with us and sharing your thoughts with us on this

matter.

If you will submit the items that the chairman mentioned for the record, we will have the advantage of them. As you suggested in your prepared testimony, our staffs can, of course, review that material. Thank you very much,

Mr. SKLENAR. Senator, my statement was prepared about a week ago, before I left Detroit. There was another decision of the U.S. District Court in Detroit which declared the affirmative action in the police department of Detroit to be unconstitutional.

So you see that we are facing the problem of discrimination in our city.

Senator SCOTT. That is before the Supreme Court, as you know, at the present time. For my own part, I am hopeful that all of our citizens will be treated equally and that the Supreme Court will rule against

Mr. SKLENAR. As a representative of my organization, I am not asking for any privileges or any quotas. We are asking to be able to compete on equal terms.

Senator BAYH. That is why I want you to give us this information. I guess we are all products of our backgrounds. I know my friends and the community leaders in places like East Chicago, Hammond, Whiting, Gary, and South Bend, the Slovak percentage is rather high and the influence they have in the community is rather significant. So it is conceivable that I am unaware of discrimination that is going on there.

But if you will let us have this information, we will look at it carefully and see that something is done to end any discrimination that is found. We will talk to the Commission about it and to the Census Bureau as they prepare the 1980 census survey questions so we can get the date we need. We need your help and I think that your idea, as reluctant as you may be in putting together a national organization to

be concerned about the civil rights of your ethnic groups, is a good one; the squeaky wheel gets the grease. I think there is a direct relationship between the extent that you express your concerns through your members to the Congress, and the chance of achieving some success for your point of view.

Thank you very much.

Mr. SKLENAR. Thank you.

[The additional exhibits, No's. 23 to 32, subsequently submitted for the record by Mr. Sklenar follow:]

[EXHIBIT No. 23]

BOARD OF EDUCATION

REGULAR MEETING, DETROIT, MICHIGAN, JANUARY 19, 1971, (OFFICIAL)

The regular meeting of the Board of Education was called to order by President McDonald at 7:50 p.m.

Present-Members Brown, Czarnecki, Dickerson, Golightly, Hathaway, Krebs, Martin, Stewart, Stopczynski, Tadajewski, Tindle, Wojcik, and President McDonald-13.

Absent-None.

There being a quorum present, the Board of Education was declared to be in session.

Present-Norman Drachler, Superintendent of Schools; Charles Wolfe, Executive Deputy Superintendent of Schools; Arthur Johnson, Julia McCarthy, and Aubrey McCutcheon, Deputy Superintendents of Schools; and Carl von Ende, Attorney.

President McDonald announced, for the information of the audience, that this regular meeting of the Board is held for the purpose of hearing the suggestions and comments of the community. Those matters which are under the jurisdiction of the Regional Boards or pertain to personnel will not be discussed. A time limit of approximately ten minutes was established for each presentation. The President then announced that requests for hearings on this date have been Teceived by the Secretary's office, as follows, and that additional requests from the audience may be submitted in written form to the Secretary, listing name, address, and subject:

1. Musetta E. Foster (Did not appear).

2. A. Patterson (Did not appear).

3. Mr. Kazimierz J. Olejarczyk-Michigan Division of Polish American Congress, Czechoslovak National Council, and Ukrainian Congress Committee. 4. Mr. Fred Waddell-Education Committee of Credit Counseling Centers (Did not appear).

5. Mrs. Robert Herivel, President, McLean School Parent-Teacher Association. Mr. Kazimierz Olejarczyk, President of the Polish American Congress, Inc.. informed the Board of Education that the Slavic community, representing the largest ethnic minority group in the city, wanted to share in the decisions which shape their lives and the lives of their children. He asked that the Board be more liberal and responsive to the Slavic community and provide opportunity for greater participation and representation in the decision-making positions of the Detroit Public Schools. Mr. Olejarczyk then cited the various administrative levels in which members of the Slavic community are not represented and also charged that no attempt has been made by the administration to improve the image of the Slavic group in Detroit through ethnic studies in the schools.

In conclusion, Mr. Olejarczyk noted that the opportunity had been taken to include with the materials presented to the Board a copy of the Proclamation adopted at a mass assembly of Americans of Polish heritage on December 5. 1970. He then quoted the assembly's twin motto: "Proud to be an American: proud to be Polish: and for your dignity and ours.”

During general discussion which followed, Board Members exchanged opinions with respect to the statements relative to categorical Slavic representation on

the administrative staff, the feelings of ethnic American youth with regard to discrimination in the public schoils, the keeping of records that include ethnic origin, and candidate promotion procedures.

Member Wojcik felt that the message of concern presented by Mr. Olejarczyk merited the attention of the Board and Member Stopczynski noted he had directed his Region Superintendent to include representation from all ethnic groups on the regional staff. Member Golightly supported the importance of being aware of all ethnic cultures. At the same time, he pointed out that the purpose of decentralization was to promote individual awareness. He felt a move in the direction of ethnic representation by percentages was a move toward divisiveness, however, what was really needed was a move toward unity. Superintendent Drachier, noting he had met with Mr. Olejarczyk and his committee prior to this Board meeting, stated that, to his knowledge, there has been no official charges of this type of discrimination; nevertheless, there may have been a lack of sensitivity on the part of administration to these concerns. Studies do indicate that inclusion of ethnic awareness enriches the educational curriculum and that this is an important factor in the self recognition of the student. The Superintendent also reviewed the transitional changes made in keeping records with respect to race and national origin; these practices have been revised periodically in keeping with social trends.

Staff has been requested to review all the facts in connection with the concerns of the Slavic community, Superintendent Drachler stated, and a report will be brought to the Board in the near future.

President McDonald thanked Mr. Olejarczyk for appearing at this public meeting of the Board.

Mrs. Robert Herivel, President of the McLean School Parent-Teacher Association, requested that the Board review the Saturday Pre-School Project in light of the financial straits of the school system and the anticipated cost of the Project. She stated it was her understanding that this was not a government-funded program and expressed the opinion that no new programs that would further increase the Board's deficit should be contemplated. While conceding the merits of such a program, Mrs. Herivel felt that continuing basic education and remedial programs for the K-12 students should hold priority over any pre-school program. In conclusion, she pointed out that the State of Michigan is limiting its spending and the Board of Education should also exercise limitations.

President McDonald advised Mrs. Herival that the Board has asked for a report at its next regular meeting with regard to this particular program. He assured her that the Board would give such a repot careful scrutiny and a full hearing. It was moved by Member Hathaway, supported by Member Krebs, that the Board adjourn at 8:30 P.M. Carried.

PATRICK A. McDONALD,
HAROLD R. BROWN,

President.

Secretary.

[EXHIBIT No. 24]

Mr. KAZIMIERZ OLEJABCZYK,
Dearborn, Mich.

DETROIT PUBLIC SCHOOLS,

DIVISION OF SCHOOL-COMMUNITY RELATIONS,

Detroit, Mich., January 22, 1971.

DEAR MR. OLEJARCZYK: I am glad that we had an opportunity to meet a few days ago and to have you express so candidly the shortcomings of our school system in relation to the placement of administrators of Slavic origins. I was, frankly, surprised to find the problem existing as it is and disappointed that we have not been more alert.

I have already begun some serious program discussions with members of our staff in the Division of School-Community Relations, and I am determined that we shall be effective in aiding development of appropriate and effective remedial measures. We will continue to need your advice and counsel on problems and issues in this area, and I hope that we will be able to get together again very soon. I want to repeat that it is my desire to meet personally and to have various members of our Division staff meet with any interested groups in the Slavic

community for the purpose of discussing the schools' program and any related problems or issues which concerned parents and citizens may want to raise with us. I will appreciate your help along this line.

Thank you for your assistance.

Sincerely,

[EXHIBIT NO. 25]

ARTHUR L. JOHNSON.

Mr. President and Members of the Central Board of Education, four years ago, representatives of the Slavic communities appeared before the Detroit Board of Education and charged the Board with blatant discrimination. The then Superintendent, Dr. Drachler, stated and I quote: "I concede we have not been as sensitive to this group as we should have been" unquote. During questioning by the press he was quoted as stating: It is wrong, and it is wrong that we did not know it until it was pointed out to us. Copy of the article and an Editorial from the Detroit Free Press of January 20 and 21, 1971 are enclosed. Then we met with Mr. Arthur L. Johnson, then Deputy Superintendent in charge of the Division of School-Community Relations. The validity of our complaint was recognized and confirmed in a letter dated January 22, 1971, copy of which is also enclosed. However, because of the extreme importance of this document I would like to read it for the record: (Please read the enclosed letter.) Our charges of discrimination were based on Section E-Personnel, Part 3Fair Employment Practices of the Guidelines for Regional and Central Boards of Education of the School District of the City of Detroit, adopted October 26, 1970 in accordance with Public Act 48 of 1970 State of Michigan. And again, for the record, I would like to read the last sentence of Part 3, page 28 of the Guidelines: "No individual shall be discriminated against because of race, creed, sex, or ethnic origin, but within each group of employees, there shall be a broadly representative cross-section of the city's population."

Four years ago, we pointed out to the Board, the Superintendent and the Deputy Superintendent, that there were no administrators of Slavic descent among the top executives. For four years, Mr. President, we have waited patiently. The new General Superintendent, who served as Executive Deputy in Dr. Drachler's administration finally completed the reorganization of the central administration. Let us see, Mr. President, how this reorganization conforms to the promises given to us four years ago and how it complies with the Guidelines: Under the newly reorganized central administration we have one General Superintendent, one Executive Deputy Superintendent, two Deputy Superintendents, and eight Assistant Superintendents.

None of the top 12 administrators is of Slavic descent. Then there are three Executive Directors, nine Divisional Directors, 22 Directors, and eight Assistant Directors.

It is hard to believe. Mr. President, but only one of them is of Slavic descent. What are you going to call it today? Four years ago, Dr. Drachler called it “lack of sensitivity." We don't know what term will be used by Dr. Wolfe. But frankly, Mr. President, we don't care what your staff will call it. We know what it is. It is the same blatant discrimination that it was four years ago. It is a flagrant violation of the law as stated in the Guidelines and it is a racist policy of the worst kind. It is not even tokenism. Mr. President, it is zeroism. Not only were we not consulted as promised, but the very existence of the second largest ethnic group in the city was completely ignored by the originators and perpetrators of this discriminatory policy. Today, Mr. President, we are appearing before this Board, and for the last time we are offering our cooperation. We are willing to cooperate but on equal basis only. We must categorically reject the role of second class citizens. If the Board is interested in our cooperation then the following actions on the part of the Board are necessary:

1. Review of the reorganization plan of the central administration. In our opinion there was either a conspiracy to deprive the second largest ethnic group of its civil rights, or there was ignorance on the part of the initiators of the plan. We hope that the Board would not tolerate incompetence and ignorance on the part of its top executives, and we are reluctant to conclude that the former is the case, and therefore, we expect the Board to take appropriate measures against persons responsible for the plan.

2. We are asking the Board for the immediate appointment of a Deputy Superintendent to be put in charge of the School-Community Relations. We

believe that it was primarily the failure of this division which contributed to the present situation. We are ready to submit the name of a highly qualified candidate for this position.

Should the Board reject or further delay action on our certainly very modest proposals, we would be forced to consider action of our own. Our attorneys are advising us that legal action would be in order. They have under study a request to the United States Commissioner of Education to investigate our charges of discrimination as to the use of federal funds. We are ready to request assistance from our Congressmen. Some of our members are urging us to develop a plan under which the Slavic communities would leave the city. Some of our members want to remove their children from the public schools, and they are appeailng to our educators to provide additional classes in parochial and private schools, to start evening schools and summer schools for their children until they will be able to relocate.

It is a sad state of affairs that in the year of the Bicentennial celebration of this country's independence we would have to consider such actions. But, Mr. President, how can our communities support a school system of a city where their educators are excluded from participation in decision making positions in the central administration.

We are proud of our heritage, Mr. President, we are proud of the contributions of our ancestors in building this country and this city, and you must understand that we cannot and will not accept the role of second class citizens.

Mr. President, now it is up to the Board. We are waiting for your action. But we are not going to wait for another four years. Not even months. We are waiting not for words, or letters, or promises. We are asking for action NOW.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Presented to the Central Board of Education on April 8, 1975 by Kazimierz Olejarczyk, President, Polish American Congress, Michigan Division; Bohdan Petrina, President, Metropolitan Detroit Ukrainian Congress Committee; Peter Vicko, President, Czechoslovak National Council of America, Masaryk Chapter Detroit; and Dr. Jan B. Sklenar, Chairman Pro Tem, Metropolitan Detroit Educators of Slavic Descent.

Mr. FRED MARTIN,

[EXHIBIT NO. 26]

Executive Director, Office of Personnel,
School Center Building.

BOARD OF EDUCATION,

THE CITY OF DETROIT, Detroit, Mich., February 23, 1976.

DEAR MR. MARTIN: It has been brought to my attention that the present eligibility list for Region Assistant Superintendents did not have anyone of Slavic descent listed on it.

To my understanding, two people from Region II had applied. Those two people were Mr. Henry Kurezewski, Region II Personnel Director, and Mr. Joseph Wytrwal, Principal, Wilson Jr. High.

If there are any further steps or preparation these two gentlemen would pursue to become eligible, I would appreciate it very much if you let me know. Thank you. Sincerely,

THE CITY OF DETROIT, Detroit, Mich., May 25, 1976.

Dr. ARTHUR JEFFERSON,

General Superintendent of Schools,

Detroit Public Schools Center, Detroit, Mich.

DEAR MR. JEFFERSON: After conferring with you last May 12, 1976, along with representatives from the Slavic community, here is our unanimous response to your request in regards to hiring more Slavic ethnics to executive and administrative positions. This statement was prepared after a thorough discussion held between several members from the various Slavic minorities.