03/30/00

LC000330

VAL>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

WARREN>> CALIFORNIA'S CONSTITUTION REQUIRES IT TO BUILD SCHOOLS WHERE THEY'RE NEEDED, BUT SOME PARENTS SAY THE STATE HAS IGNORED THE NEEDS OF THEIR CHILDREN AND THEY'RE TAKING LEGAL ACTION.

CONSTANCE RICE>> THIS IS A LAWSUIT BY CHILDREN AND BY THEIR PARENTS, CHILDREN WHO ARE IN OVERCROWDED SCHOOLS WITHOUT SEATS, WITHOUT PROPER FACILITIES. THIS CASE IS ABOUT WHAT THE STATE IS FAILING TO DO.

VAL>> AND IN TONIGHT'S THINKERS, SHAKERS & NEWSMAKERS, WE HEAR HOW MUSIC CAN MAKE YOUR CHILD SMARTER, BUT ARE SCHOOLS TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY?

SHARLENE HABERMEYER>> THE ARTS ARE EQUAL IN IMPORTANCE TO ENGLISH, MATH AND SCIENCE. SO WHAT YOU CAN DO AS A PARENT, YOU CAN GO TO YOUR SCHOOL AND ASK THEM, "HOW ARE YOU IMPLEMENTING THAT?" AND THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO TELL THE PARENTS HOW THEY'RE IMPLEMENTING THE NATIONAL MUSIC STANDARDS.

WARREN>> IS TELEVISION SPORTS COVERAGE GETTING TOO PERSONAL? ASK PATT MORRISON.

PATT>> SEE NO PROFITS, HEAR NO PROFITS. CASHING IN ON PRIVACY, ON TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

VAL>> AND WE'LL TALK WITH THE WOMAN BEHIND "ADVENTURE DIVAS". HOLLY MORRIS DESCRIBES HER AMAZING ENCOUNTERS DURING A WORLDWIDE PILGRIMAGE IN SEARCH OF INSPIRING WOMEN.

WARREN>> THESE STORIES COMING UP NEXT ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT FOR THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2000.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING CORPORATIONS AND FOUNDATIONS:

THE JAMES IRVINE FOUNDATION
WHICH IS DEDICATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INFORMED CALIFORNIA CITIZENRY.

GTE
A COMPANY COMMITTED TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS EXCELLENCE AND AN OPEN DIALOGUE AMONG ALL PEOPLE.

AND THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

VAL>> GOOD EVENING, I'M VAL ZAVALA.

WARREN>> AND I'M WARREN OLNEY.

VAL> OUR TOP STORY TONIGHT, DOES THE STATE PLAY FAVORITES WITH MONEY FOR NEW SCHOOLS? CALIFORNIA LAW REQUIRES THAT EVERY STUDENT IN EVERY PART OF THE STATE GETS THE SAME OPPORTUNITY FOR LEARNING, BUT TODAY A COALITION OF STUDENTS, PARENTS AND CIVIL RIGHTS GROUPS CLAIMED THAT'S NOT HAPPENING. THEY CONTEND THAT WHEN THE STATE PASSES OUT MONEY FOR SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION, LOS ANGELES AND OTHER URBAN AREAS DON'T GET THEIR FAIR SHARE.

WARREN>> COALITION MEMBERS CLAIM THAT STUDENTS ARE HARMED BECAUSE THE STATE IS DIVERTING MONEY AWAY FROM OVERCROWDED URBAN CENTERS IN FAVOR OF SUBURBS AND RURAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS. THEY FILED SUIT TODAY AGAINST GOVERNOR GRAY DAVIS, SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT DELAINE EASTIN AND THE STATE ALLOCATION BOARD. THEY'RE DEMANDING BIG CHANGES.

WHAT ONCE WAS OPEN LAND IN PARTS OF THE INLAND EMPIRE IS NOW PACKED TIGHT WITH NEW HOUSING. NO SOONER IS ONE TRACT COMPLETED THAN BULLDOZERS READY THE NEXT PARCEL. NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS BRING LOTS OF NEW FAMILIES AND CREATE THE NEED FOR NEW SCHOOLS.

HERE IN TEMECULA, IN SOUTHERN RIVERSIDE COUNTY, PART OF ABBY REINKE ELEMENTARY IS ALREADY UP AND RUNNING AS CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES ON THE NEXT PHASE OF THE SCHOOL. RIGHT NOW TEMECULA VALLEY UNIFIED HAS TWENTY-THREE SCHOOLS AND FIVE MORE ARE PLANNED FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS TO KEEP UP WITH THE AREA'S EXPECTED GROWTH. EVERYONE TAKES IT FOR GRANTED THAT THERE WILL BE ENOUGH SCHOOLS FOR ALL THE KIDS.

ED HILL>> IT'S A REALLY VERY FAST-GROWING CITY, SO JUST TO KEEP UP WITH THE STUDENT POPULATION, IT'S AN ABSOLUTE MUST.

WARREN>> IN LOS ANGELES, THE STORY IS VERY DIFFERENT. HERE THERE ARE VAST NUMBERS OF CHILDREN, MORE THAN 700,000 IN LA UNIFIED, AND THERE'S A DESPERATE SHORTAGE OF CLASSROOMS, BUT BUILDING MORE SCHOOLS ISN'T EASY. WE ALL KNOW THE STORY OF BELMONT, THE NOW HALTED $200 MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT ON THE EDGE OF DOWNTOWN. ANOTHER EXAMPLE TOOK PLACE IN INDUSTRIAL SOUTHGATE, WHERE LA UNIFIED BOUGHT LAND FOR A HIGH SCHOOL. BUT NOW THAT PROJECT IS DEAD, THE VICTIM OF WIDESPREAD TOXIC CONTAMINATION. EVERYONE POINTS THE FINGER AT LA UNIFIED, BUT NOW A COALITION LED BY THE MEXICAN AMERICAN LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATION FUND AND OTHER CIVIL RIGHTS GROUPS IS SAYING IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO DESPAIR OVER THE LA DISTRICT.

CONSTANCE RICE>> THIS IS A LAWSUIT BY CHILDREN AND BY THEIR PARENTS, CHILDREN WHO ARE IN OVERCROWDED SCHOOLS WITHOUT SEATS, WITHOUT PROPER FACILITIES. THIS CASE IS ABOUT WHAT THE STATE IS FAILING TO DO. WHAT WE ARE SAYING IS THAT WE'RE TELLING THE STATE ALLOCATION BOARD, "PUT THE MONEY WHERE THE PROBLEM IS. FUND CHILDREN WITHOUT SEATS, WITHOUT CLASSROOMS FIRST. DO A COMMON SENSE, RATIONAL, CONSTITUTIONAL, NEEDS-BASED SYSTEM OF HANDING OUT NEW SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION MONEY."

WARREN>> TODAY, THE COALITION ANNOUNCED A LAWSUIT DEMANDING THAT THE STATE CONFORM TO THE LAW BY CONSIDERING NEED INSTEAD OF AWARDING CONSTRUCTION BOND MONEY TO DISTRICTS WHO ARE JUST FIRST IN LINE WITH THEIR APPLICATIONS.

CONSTANCE RICE>> FIRST COME-FIRST SERVE MEANS THAT SCHOOLS WITH NO NEED TO LOW NEED CAN RECEIVE MONEY TO BUILD NEW SCHOOLS BEFORE AND TAKE AWAY MONEY FROM CHILDREN WHO DON'T EVEN HAVE SEATS.

WARREN>> THE COALITION ARGUES THAT OVERCROWDING HURTS LEARNING. IT POINTS TO THE LOWER ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF KIDS BUSSED MILES EVERY DAY BECAUSE THERE'S NO ROOM FOR THEM AT NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS. THIS IS THE SCENE OUTSIDE CAHUENGA ELEMENTARY IN HOLLYWOOD EVERY MORNING STARTING AT WELL BEFORE 7:00. THESE KIDS ARE AMONG THE 15,000 LA UNIFIED STUDENTS WHO ARE BUSSED FAR FROM THEIR HOMES EVERY DAY. AND HERE AT VERDUGO HILLS HIGH IN THE NORTHEAST VALLEY, HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS ARRIVE BY BUS FROM FAR AWAY PLACES.

GARY TURNER>> A LOT OF THOSE STUDENTS HAVE BEEN RIDING THE BUS FOR YEARS. THEY'VE GONE THROUGH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL, SO THIS IS A WAY OF LIFE TO THEM.

WARREN>> YEAR-ROUND SCHOOLS ARE ANOTHER BIG ISSUE. MANY YEAR-ROUND SCHOOLS TRADE A SHORTENED ACADEMIC YEAR FOR AN EXTRA HALF-HOUR OF INSTRUCTION ON THE DAYS WHEN THE KIDS CAN ATTEND. BUT IT'S NOT THE SAME, ARGUES GARFIELD HIGH TEACHER, CARLOS JIMENEZ.

CARLOS JIMENEZ>> IT'S NOT SO MUCH WHAT YOU DO IN CLASS EACH DAY. IT'S THE READING AND THE STUDYING THAT THEY DO AT HOME. SO I LOOK AT IT AS SEVENTEEN LESS HOMEWORK NIGHTS.

WARREN>> IT'S EASIER TO FIND LAND FOR SCHOOLS IN SUBURBS AND RURAL DISTRICTS THAN IT IS IN THE CITIES, BUT DISTRICTS IN DEVELOPING AREAS SAY THEIR SUCCESS AT GETTING STATE MONEY SHOULD NOT BE HELD AGAINST THEM. HEMET UNIFIED IN RIVERSIDE COUNTY HAS ONLY 17,000 STUDENTS, BUT IT RANKS SEVENTEENTH ON THE LIST OF DISTRICTS RECEIVING THE MOST STATE SCHOOL BOND MONEY SINCE 1984. BUT RICHARD BECK, THE MAN IN CHARGE OF BUILDING SCHOOLS IN HEMET, SAYS THE AREA HAS OVERCROWDING PROBLEMS TOO.

RICHARD BECK>> RIVERSIDE COUNTY IS PROBABLY THE FASTEST GROWING COUNTY IN THE STATE, PERCENTAGE-WISE, AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO FOR PROBABLY THE NEXT TEN YEARS. SO THERE IS A REAL HIGH DEMAND FOR SCHOOL FACILITIES IN THIS PARTICULAR COUNTY.

WARREN>> BECK SAYS THAT WHEN THIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OPENED IN 1997, THERE WERE SO MANY CHILDREN NEEDING SEATS THE DISTRICT HAD TO ADD SIXTEEN BUNGALOWS TO THE CAMPUS PLANNED FOR JUST TWENTY-TWO REGULAR CLASSROOMS. SOON THE NUMBER OF BUNGALOWS WILL EXCEED THE NUMBER OF CLASSROOMS. TODAY, HEMET HAS SEVERAL APPLICATIONS BEFORE THE STATE, ONE FOR AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEXT TO HOMES THAT ARE PLANNED NEARBY.

RICHARD BECK>> THESE 665 HOMES SHOULD BE BUILT WITHIN A PERIOD OF THREE TO FIVE YEARS. SO THIS SCHOOL -- AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, WE'RE WORKING ON PURCHASING THE PROPERTY. RIGHT AT THE MOMENT, WE'RE READY TO FINALIZE THAT AND WE HAVE PLANS READY TO GO TO THE STATE FOR REVIEW. HOPEFULLY, THE PLANS WILL BE READY FOR CONSTRUCTION AND STATE FUNDING IN SEPTEMBER OR OCTOBER.

WARREN>> BUILDING SCHOOLS FOR CHILDREN IN HOUSING THAT DOESN'T EXIST YET IS EXACTLY WHAT THE COALITION'S COMPLAINING ABOUT.

CONSTANCE RICE>> IF COMMUNITIES ARE DEVELOPING, ALL WE'RE SAYING IS, YOU CAN'T BUILD A SCHOOL THAT SITS EMPTY WAITING FOR CHILDREN WHO DON'T EXIST RIGHT NOW BEFORE YOU BUILD THE SCHOOLS FOR THE CHILDREN WHO DO EXIST IN URBAN CENTERS AND WHO HAVE BEEN ERASED FROM THE FORMULAS.

WARREN>> SO FAR, THE STATE HAS DEFENDED ITS PRACTICE OF AWARDING MONEY TO THOSE WHO ARE FIRST IN LINE, BUT SOME SEE THIS LAWSUIT AS A WAY OF APPLYING PRESSURE FOR A CHANGE IN PROCEDURE. HOWARD MILLER IS LA'S CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER.

HOWARD MILLER>> THIS IS AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY. THE DECK HAS BEEN STACKED AGAINST LA GETTING THE STATE BOND MONEY IT SHOULD GET. THIS LAWSUIT PROVIDES THE HOPE THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO OBTAIN, FOR CONSTITUTIONAL REASONS THAT ARE VALID, THE STATE BOND MONEY THAT THE STUDENTS OF LOS ANGELES DESERVE TO HAVE AND BUILD THE SCHOOLS THEY SO DESPERATELY NEED.

WARREN>> FOR MANY HERE AT TODAY'S PRESS CONFERENCE, THE BELIEF IS THAT SOLVING LA'S OVERCROWDING WILL BE AN IMPORTANT STEP IN HELPING KIDS LEARN.

VAL>> NOW, WARREN, YOU ACTUALLY WENT TO A BRIEFING ON THIS TOPIC. IT IS VERY COMPLICATED AND VERY POLITICAL, I CAN IMAGINE.

WARREN>> THIS IS HUGE. THERE ARE DEVELOPMENTS ALL OVER THE STATE, AS THE ONES WE SAW IN RIVERSIDE AND ELSEWHERE, WHERE DEVELOPERS AND CITY COUNCIL PEOPLE AND POTENTIAL HOMEOWNERS ARE ABOUT TO MOVE IN ASSUMING THAT SCHOOLS ARE GOING TO BE THERE AND THAT THE KIDS WILL BE ABLE TO GO. IF THIS LAWSUIT SUCCEEDS, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET THE MONEY THAT THEY EXPECT. IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO COME TO LOS ANGELES BECAUSE THE NEED IS GREATER HERE WHERE WE HAVE OVERCROWDING ALREADY. YOU CAN IMAGINE THE IMPLICATIONS OF THAT IN THE PLACES WHERE THEY DON'T GET THE MONEY. AND THE STATE ALLOCATION BOARD, WHICH IS BEING SUED, GIVES OUT MONEY EVERY MONTH. SO THERE ARE ALL THESE SCHOOL DISTRICTS LINING UP WAITING TO GET THERE'S. THEY'VE PUT IN THEIR APPLICATIONS -- LA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT IS NOTORIOUSLY SLOW IN DOING SO --

VAL>> IS THAT PART OF THE PROBLEM?

WARREN>> OH, SURE, SO THEY'RE WAY BEHIND. BUT IF THE SUIT SUCCEEDS, AGAIN, THEY WOULD LEAPFROG AHEAD OF THESE OTHER DISTRICTS. SO THE IMPLICATIONS STATEWIDE ARE ENORMOUS. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE VERY ANGRY.

VAL>> NOW THE SUIT IS ACTUALLY FILED AGAINST THE GOVERNOR AND DELAINE EASTIN, THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS. HAVE THEY RESPONDED? DO THEY HAVE TO RESPOND?

WARREN>> NO, I DON'T THINK THEY'VE HAD TIME YET. BUT THE MAIN DEFENDANT IS THE STATE ALLOCATION BOARD, WHICH GETS THE MONEY AND DECIDES HOW TO APPORTION IT STATEWIDE.

VAL>> BOY, A FIGHT COMING UP.

WARREN>> YOU GOT IT.

VAL>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WELL, OUR TOP STORY TOMORROW, IF YOU THINK YOU'RE PAYING MORE THAN EVER FOR GAS THESE DAYS, THINK AGAIN.

>> IN INFLATION-ADJUSTED TERMS, FUEL PRICES WERE MUCH HIGHER IN 1980 THAN THEY ARE TODAY. THEY WERE EQUIVALENT OF OVER $2.50 A GALLON.

VAL>> THAT'S COMING UP TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT AT 7:00.

WARREN>> SCIENTISTS HAVE PROVEN THAT MUSIC IS NOT ONLY GOOD FOR THE SOUL, IT'S GOOD FOR THE BRAIN. BY PROVIDING CHILDREN WITH MUSICAL TRAINING, PARENTS CAN HELP THEM DEVELOP LEARNING SKILLS IN OTHER AREAS. SHARLENE HABERMEYER IS A MOTHER FROM TORRANCE WHO SPENT SIXTEEN YEARS LEARNING ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF MUSIC ON CHILDREN. VAL TALKED WITH HER FOR TONIGHT'S THINKERS, SHAKERS & NEWSMAKERS.

VAL>> NOW YOU HAVE KNOWN FOR EIGHTEEN YEARS WHAT MANY OF US KNOW INSTINCTIVELY AND THAT IS MUSIC ENHANCES A CHILD'S BRAIN DEVELOPMENT. BUT BE A LITTLE BIT MORE SPECIFIC. EXACTLY WHAT DOES IT DO?

SHARLENE HABERMEYER>> WELL, MUSIC IS ACTUALLY THE CORNERSTONE OF EDUCATION BECAUSE IT SUPPLIES THE FOUNDATION OF EVERYTHING THAT A CHILD NEEDS TO LEARN DURING THEIR EDUCATION. IT REALLY, REALLY HELPS TO BUILD THEIR BRAIN IN THOSE AREAS THAT WILL HELP THEM LATER ON WITH READING AND WITH MATH AND WITH SCIENCE AND ALL THE OTHER SUBJECTS.

VAL>> SPECIFICALLY, WHAT PART OF THE BRAIN DOES IT HELP? DOES IT HELP JUST ONE PART? DOES IT HELP ALL PARTS? WHAT DOES IT DO WHEN A CHILD IS LEARNING AN INSTRUMENT AND LEARNING MUSIC?

SHARLENE HABERMEYER>> WELL, MUSIC IS VERY INTERESTING IN THAT IT REQUIRES THE ENTIRE BRAIN. THE LEFT, THE RIGHT, THE FRONT, THE BACK PORTIONS OF THE BRAIN. AND WHEN YOU'RE USING THE ENTIRE BRAIN, OF COURSE IT'S GOING TO MAKE THE LEARNING PROCESS EASIER.

VAL>> SET US STRAIGHT, ALSO, ON THE MOZART EFFECT. THERE WERE STUDIES THAT CAME OUT ABOUT -- I THINK IT WAS ABOUT SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS AGO -- SAYING THAT STUDENTS WHO LISTENED TO MOZART DID BETTER, THEIR IQ ROSE WITHIN A VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. FIRST OF ALL, TELL US WHAT ACTUALLY WAS THE MOZART EFFECT?

SHARLENE HABERMEYER>> OKAY. WHAT THE MOZART EFFECT WAS, DR. FRANCIS RAUSCHER AND DR. GORDON SHAW, UC IRVINE, TOOK IN COLLEGE STUDENTS AND THEY DIVIDED THEM INTO THREE GROUPS. THEY WANTED TO SEE -- THEY HAD THEM LISTENING TO EITHER A NEW AGE KIND OF MUSIC OR THEY JUST SAT IN SILENCE FOR TEN MINUTES OR THEY LISTENED TO MOZART'S PIANO --

VAL>> SO THREE GROUPS LISTENED TO THREE DIFFERENT THINGS?

SHARLENE HABERMEYER>> RIGHT. THEN THEY GAVE THEM WHAT'S CALLED A SPATIAL TASK. IT'S LIKE A PUZZLE, A CUTTING AND A FOLDING TASK. AFTER THE ONES THAT LISTENED TO MOZART -- WHEN THEY DID THE TASK, THEIR SPATIAL IQ ROSE BETWEEN EIGHT AND NINE POINTS IN TEN MINUTES. NOW IT WAS ONLY A TEMPORARY EFFECT, BUT THEY CALL IT THE MOZART EFFECT.

VAL>> AND THE MOZART EFFECT WAS BASED ON LISTENING ONLY, NOT LEARNING AN INSTRUMENT. AND THE TEST WAS NOT A GENERAL IQ TEST. IT WAS WHAT KIND OF TEST?

SHARLENE HABERMEYER>> IT'S CALLED SPATIAL-TEMPORAL REASONING. WHAT THAT IS IS THE ABILITY -- THE EASIEST WAY TO EXPLAIN IT, I THINK, IS THAT IT'S THE ABILITY TO SEE IN PICTURES. ANOTHER THING THAT YOU GET WITH SPATIAL-TEMPORAL REASONING IS THAT IT HELPS WITH READING COMPREHENSION. THERE'S TWO PROBLEMS WITH LITERACY TODAY AND WE HEAR THAT IN THE NEWSPAPERS ALL THE TIME. ONE, KIDS CAN'T READ, AND NUMBER TWO, THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY READ. A LOT OF TEACHERS SAY YOU CAN'T TEACH READING COMPREHENSION, BUT THERE ARE PROGRAMS OUT THERE THAT TEACH IT. THEY'RE PATENTED PROGRAMS AND IT'S ALL BASED ON BEING ABLE TO SEE IN PICTURES. IMAGERY THINKING. PEOPLE WHO HAVE THIS TO A HIGH DEGREE UNDERSTAND THAT THINKING IN PICTURES IS REALLY THE WAY THAT WE NEED TO GO TO SOLVE PRESSING PROBLEMS AS WELL.

VAL>> THAT'S INTERESTING. NOW, IT'S WELL-KNOWN ALSO THAT MUSICAL CURRICULUM HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT OF OUR SCHOOLS. THEY'RE BEGINNING TO PUT MORE MUSIC CLASSES BACK IN THE CURRICULUM, BUT IN GENERAL, IT REALLY ALMOST BECAME EXTINCT, YOU COULD SAY.

SHARLENE HABERMEYER>> YES, AND IN 1994, GOALS 2000 WAS PASSED BY THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION INTO LAW. GOAL NUMBER THREE SAYS THAT THE ARTS ARE EQUAL IN IMPORTANCE TO ENGLISH, MATH AND SCIENCE. WHAT YOU CAN DO AS A PARENT, YOU CAN GO TO YOUR SCHOOL AND ASK THEM, "HOW ARE YOU IMPLEMENTING THAT?" THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO TELL THE PARENTS HOW THEY'RE IMPLEMENTING THE NATIONAL MUSIC STANDARDS.

VAL>> SO YOU'RE SAYING THAT A PARENT CAN BECOME ACTIVE IN THEIR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT TO MAKE SURE THE SCHOOL IS OFFERING MUSIC EDUCATION? WHAT IF --

SHARLENE HABERMEYER>> THERE ISN'T ANYTHING?

VAL>> THERE ISN'T ANY. WHAT CAN A PARENT DO INDIVIDUALLY? THEY'VE GOT A YOUNG CHILD, SAY TWO YEARS OLD. WHERE'S A GOOD PLACE TO START?

SHARLENE HABERMEYER>> MOMMY AND ME CLASSES ARE WONDERFUL.

VAL>> MOMMY AND ME?

SHARLENE HABERMEYER>> MOMMY AND ME TYPES OF MUSICAL CLASSES. BY THE TIME THEY'RE THREE OR FOUR, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE ALL DIFFERENT KINDS OF THINGS TO LOOK AT IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEY KIND OF NEED TO LOOK AROUND AND SEE, BUT THEY CAN DO A LOT OF THINGS AT HOME TOO. THE FIRST THING, OF COURSE, IS LISTEN TO THE MUSIC. YOU'RE GOING TO DEVELOP WHAT IS CALLED LISTENING SKILLS. THAT'S ONE THING THAT TEACHERS REALLY WANT KIDS TO DO, TO BE ABLE TO LISTEN, AND IT'S STRENGTHENING THE AUDITORY CORTEX OF THE BRAIN WHICH IS WHERE ALL THE READING SKILLS START AS WELL. SO LISTENING TO THE MUSIC --

VAL>> SO EVEN IF I, AS A PARENT, DO NOT KNOW HOW TO PLAY AN INSTRUMENT, JUST LISTEN CAREFULLY, EXPOSE MY CHILD TO -- IS THERE ANY KIND OF MUSIC THAT'S BETTER FOR A CHILD THAN ANOTHER KIND?

SHARLENE HABERMEYER>> WELL, WHEN THEY'RE REALLY YOUNG, I LIKE LULLABIES. I THINK LULLABIES ARE REALLY WONDERFUL. I THINK IT'S GREAT TO HAVE KIND OF, YOU KNOW, ACTIVE TYPES OF MUSIC WHEN THEY'RE PLAYING. I HAVE FIVE THAT I USUALLY SUGGEST TO PARENTS. ONE IS "PETER AND THE WOLF", WHICH IS AN ABSOLUTE MUST. "THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE", "THE NUTCRACKER", CAMILLE SAINT-SAENS' "CARNIVAL OF THE ANIMALS" IS ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL AND, OF COURSE, "THE YOUNG PERSON'S GUIDE TO INSTRUMENTS OF THE ORCHESTRA". SO THOSE ARE THE FIVE MUSTS THAT I SAY THAT YOU SHOULD EXPOSE YOUR CHILD TO.

VAL>> THEN AS THEY GET OLDER, YOU OBVIOUSLY -- IDEALLY, THEY DO LEARN AN INSTRUMENT. SHOULD PARENTS PUSH THEIR CHILD? WHAT IF THE CHILD DOESN'T WANT TO READ, DOESN'T WANT TO PRACTICE, DOESN'T SEEM TO LIKE A PARTICULAR INSTRUMENT? WHAT SHOULD A PARENT DO? PUSH HIM OR NOT?

SHARLENE HABERMEYER>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I THINK I WOULD LET THEM DECIDE ON WHAT INSTRUMENT, AND THEN IN OUR HOME --

VAL>> LET THE CHILD DECIDE?

SHARLENE HABERMEYER>> LET THE CHILD DECIDE WHAT INSTRUMENT. IT WILL MOTIVATE THEM MORE ON PRACTICING. AND THE PARENT NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THAT EVERY SINGLE CHILD GOES THROUGH A PERIOD OF TIME WHEN THEY DON'T LIKE TO PRACTICE. WHAT I SAY TO PARENTS IS, WHEN YOUR CHILD COMPLAINS AND WHINES ABOUT GOING TO SCHOOL, DO YOU SAY, "OKAY, YOU CAN QUIT"? NO. AND WHAT YOU'RE TEACHING THAT CHILD IS PERSEVERANCE, DETERMINATION AND FINISHING A TASK. WHEN I LECTURE, THERE ARE MANY PARENTS WHO RAISE THEIR HAND AND SAY, "MY PARENTS LET ME QUIT AND I WISH THAT I NEVER HAD."

VAL>> SHARLENE HABERMEYER, THANK YOU SO MUCH. GREAT ADVICE AND A WONDERFUL RESOURCE, YOUR BOOK "GOOD MUSIC - BRIGHTER CHILDREN". THANK YOU.

SHARLENE HABERMEYER>> THANK YOU.

VAL>> HOW ABOUT YOU, WARREN? I WAS GUITAR AND CLARINET.

WARREN>> I WAS PIANO, TROMBONE AND GUITAR AND IT'S A GOOD THING IT MADE ME SMART BECAUSE I WAS A LOUSY MUSICIAN.

VAL>> SEE, IT ALL DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

WARREN>> THAT'S RIGHT.

VAL>> WHAT DO YOU THINK? DO YOU THINK YOU ARE SMARTER BECAUSE OF ALL THOSE PIANO LESSONS YOU HAD TO TAKE? WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU, YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT TOPIC OR ANY OTHER REPORTS ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT. HERE ARE THE WAYS YOU CAN REACH US.

WWW.KCET.ORG.
LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT
4401 SUNSET BLVD.
LOS ANGELES, CA 90027
(323) 664-4159

WARREN>> WHILE YOU'RE COMPOSING YOUR LETTERS AND E-MAILS, PATT MORRISON IS WONDERING JUST HOW UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WE REALLY NEED TO GET WITH PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL PLAYERS. THAT'S IN TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

PATT>> THE GREAT GOD OF RATINGS MAY BE HEADING FOR A SHOWDOWN WITH THE MIGHTY CONSTITUTION. IN THE INTEREST OF JAZZING UP PRO SPORTS, WE'VE BEEN TREATED TO INSTANT REPLAYS AND ELECTRONIC FIRST DOWN LINES AND LIGHTED HOCKEY PUCKS, BUT NOW IT'S GETTING PERSONAL. NOW THEY WANT PLAYERS AND EVEN COACHES TO WEAR MICROPHONES.

THERE IS A CONSTITUTIONALLY UN-ENUMERATED RIGHT TO PRIVACY, EXCEPT, IT SEEMS, IN PURSUIT OF THE DOLLAR. WE'LL BE SEEING MORE OF THIS WHEN IT COMES TO COMPUTER PRIVACY, BUT IN THE WORLD OF SPORTS, THE HEADLOCK IS ALREADY ON. PRO BASKETBALL COACHES WERE BEING THREATENED WITH $100,000 FINES IF THEY REFUSED TO WEAR MICROPHONES. ALL RIGHT, THEY SAID, WE'LL PAY, BUT WE WON'T WEAR THEM. ULTIMATELY, THE NETWORK BACKED OFF AND PRO BASKETBALL PLAYERS HAVE FILED A LABOR GRIEVANCE OVER PLANS FOR CAMERAS IN LOCKER ROOMS AND BOOM MIKES IN TEAM HUDDLES DURING TIME-OUTS.

NOW, IN THE SERVICE OF JOURNALISM, I ONCE PLUNGED AT HALF-TIME INTO THE LOCKER ROOM OF AN NFL TEAM. I ASSURE YOU, YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE IT AND YOU CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO SMELL IT. IF SCRATCH 'N SNIFF CAPABILITY EVER COMES TO TV, THEY WILL SCRATCH AND YOU WILL SNIFF.

NOW WE HAVE NBC JOINING THE WORLD WRESTLING FEDERATION, THAT PARAGON OF CLEAN SPORTSMANSHIP, TO START AN EXTREME FOOTBALL LEAGUE. APART FROM CHANGING RULES THAT GIVE FOOTBALL A TOUCH OF FAIR PLAY, LIKE THE FAIR CATCH, THIS LEAGUE WILL HAVE CAMERAS AND/OR MICROPHONES IN LOCKER ROOMS, ON THE SIDELINES AND IN THE HELMETS OF SELECTED PLAYERS. NOW, LIKE THAT PERCENTAGE OF RACING FANS WHO ONLY WATCH FOR THE CAR CRASHES, THIS WILL ATTRACT THE FOOTBALL EQUIVALENT, THE VIEWER WHO CAN'T WAIT FOR THE MOMENT WHEN THE CENSOR'S FINGER SLIPS AND SOME EXPLETIVE GETS ON THE AIR.

JUST AS C-SPAN CAMERAS ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE ALTERED THE CONDUCT OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, HOW MIGHT CAMERAS AND MICROPHONES CHANGE THE WAY PRO ATHLETES BEHAVE? SO, WHY STOP THERE? WHY NOT CAMERAS IN THE SHOWER DRAINS, MICROPHONES IN THE WATER FOUNTAINS? AND THE DAY WILL COME WHEN CNN LAYS DOWN THE LAW TO THE PENTAGON: UNLESS WE CAN MIKE YOUR GENERALS, WE WON'T COVER YOUR WAR.

VAL>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PATT.

WELL, NOT SO LONG AGO, MANY WOMEN WEREN'T COMFORTABLE TRAVELING ALONE, BUT TODAY WOMEN ARE NOT ONLY HITTING THE ROAD SOLO, THEY RULE. SIX OUT OF TEN ADVENTURE TRAVELERS, AS THEY'RE CALLED, ARE WOMEN, WOMEN WHO HIKE, BIKE AND TREK THEIR WAY THROUGH TO NEW PLACES.

WARREN>> THEY ARE OUT THERE AND FEMINIST, HOLLY MORRIS, SET OUT ON THE TRAIL OF THESE NEW ADVENTURERS. HER QUEST RESULTED IN A NEW PBS SERIES CALLED "ADVENTURE DIVAS". WE MEET MORRIS AND THE WOMEN SHE'S ENCOUNTERED IN HER TRAVELS ON TONIGHT'S PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS.

HOLLY MORRIS [FILM CLIP]>> I WAS A BOOK EDITOR, LIVING VICARIOUSLY. DESK LIFE WAS STARTING TO SQUASH MY ORIGINAL SPIRIT, SO I DITCHED IT. I LOOKED AT FEAR, RENAMED IT POTENTIAL AND DREAMT UP A GIRL-WORLD PILGRIMAGE TO TRAVEL THE GLOBE AND FIND MY OWN ICONS, WOMEN WHO DON'T WAIT FOR THEIR SHIPS TO COME IN, BUT ROW OUT AND MEET THEM. I CALL THEM DIVAS.

WARREN>> HOLLY MORRIS, A DIVA YOURSELF. THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

HOLLY MORRIS>> OH, THANKS. I'M ACTUALLY A WANNABE DIVA. NOT QUITE THERE YET.

WARREN>> IT REALLY FELT GOOD TO KICK OVER THOSE PAPERS, THOUGH, DIDN'T IT?

HOLLY MORRIS>> IT DID. DITCHING DESK LIFE WAS VERY LIBERATING.

WARREN>> ALL RIGHT, WHAT'S A DIVA?

HOLLY MORRIS>> A DIVA? OH, GOD. WELL, I THINK A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH CHASING YOUR OWN POTENTIAL AND YOUR OWN DREAM, WHATEVER THAT MAY BE. SO WE'RE ON THIS PILGRIMAGE, A GLOBAL PILGRIMAGE, TO TALK TO WOMEN AROUND THE WORLD TO SEE HOW THEY DO IT, WHAT THEIR DEFINITION OF A DIVA IS, AND EXPLORE THE WIDE, WIDE WORLD OF DIVADOM. IT'S A LOT ABOUT FACING FEAR AND TAKING WHATEVER LEAPS IT IS YOU WANT TO TAKE. FOR ME, TRAVEL HAS ALWAYS BEEN A GOOD VEHICLE FOR ME TO SORT OF MAKE THOSE KINDS OF CHANGES IN MY LIFE. THAT WAS SORT OF THE GENESIS OF WHERE THIS PROJECT CAME FROM.

WARREN>> WHO ARE SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE DISCOVERED? WHAT KINDS OF PEOPLE ARE YOU LOOKING FOR, I GUESS IS A BETTER WAY TO ASK THE QUESTION?

HOLLY MORRIS>> WELL, IN THE CASE OF OUR FIRST PROGRAM, "PARADOX FOUND", WE ROAD-TRIPPED ACROSS CUBA AND PROFILED DIFFERENT WOMEN ALONG THE WAY, FEATURED DIFFERENT WOMEN. WITH THIS PROGRAM, IT WAS A FILMMAKER, A RAP GROUP, A SANTERA WHICH IS AN AFRO-CUBAN PRIESTESS. WE ALSO MET A BLACK PANTHER WHO'S IN EXILE IN CUBA, ACTUALLY AN AMERICAN. THE SIGNPOSTS OF OUR ADVENTURE ARE REALLY WOMEN AND WE REALLY WANTED TO CREATE A PROGRAM THROUGH A DIFFERENT LENS. IT'S KIND OF A MIX OF TRAVEL AND BIOGRAPHY.

WARREN>> ONE OF THE PEOPLE YOU TALKED TO IS A POET IN CUBA. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT HER AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK AND CHAT ABOUT IT.

HOLLY MORRIS [FILM CLIP]>> CARILDA WROTE SEXY POETRY IN THE 40'S AND 50'S, APPARENTLY CAUSING GREAT SCANDALS, BUT NOW SHE'S CONSIDERED A CUBAN NATIONAL TREASURE. SHE'S THE FIRST PERSON WE MEET WHO'S ACTUALLY IN A HURRY. SHE'S ON HER WAY TO GIVE A READING, BUT STILL HAS US IN FOR A QUICK VISIT. SHE LOVES OUR PILGRIMAGE AND LEFT ME THINKING ABOUT FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT WHICH WE TAKE FOR GRANTED, BUT CUBANS CAN'T. CARILDA HAS A SPIRITUAL CONNECTION TO HER COUNTRY AND CHOSE TO STAY, SO, LIKE MANY CUBANS, SHE ENTERS INTO A COMPLEX DANCE WITH THE NOTION OF EXILE.

WARREN>> SO YOU'RE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ADVENTUROUS AND YET HERE'S SOMEBODY WHO'S STUCK AT HOME. HOW DOES THAT WORK?

HOLLY MORRIS>> WELL, THE NOTION OF ADVENTURE IS REALLY A PHILOSOPHICAL ONE. YOU DON'T HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, RISK YOUR LIFE TO BE ADVENTUROUS. I MEAN, IT'S SORT OF HOW YOU APPROACH EVERY DAY. IN THE CASE OF CARILDA, SHE'S BEEN A POET. SHE'S BEEN FOLLOWING THIS PASSION OF HERS THROUGH TUMULTUOUS POLITICAL TIMES. HER ENTIRE FAMILY LEFT CUBA. LOTS OF PAIN INVOLVED IN THAT. SHE JUST SORT OF EXEMPLIFIES A REALLY, IN MY MIND, AN ADVENTUROUS LIFE.

WARREN>> YEAH. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE FILMMAKER AND SEE WHAT WE CAN SAY ABOUT HER.

[FILM CLIP]

THAT'S VERY ELOQUENT. AND WE SAW IMAGES OF THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT YOU ALSO TALKED TO WHILE SHE WAS SPEAKING. SO I TAKE IT SHE DEFINES A DIVA, AS FAR AS YOU'RE CONCERNED.

HOLLY MORRIS>> SHE WAS DEFINITELY A BIG DIVA ON THAT TRIP. WHAT I THOUGHT WAS REALLY INTERESTING, I ASKED HER WHEN WE MET, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S A DIVA? WITHOUT MISSING A BEAT, SHE CAME UP WITH THAT ANSWER AND SHE'D SEEN NO PRESS RELEASE, LET'S PUT IT THAT WAY. SO IT'S KIND OF NEAT, THIS SORT OF NOTION THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REALLY TRANSCENDS DIFFERENT CULTURES WE FOUND.

WARREN>> WHAT IMPACT DO YOU WANT TO HAVE ON YOUR AUDIENCE AND DO YOU HOPE THAT OTHER WOMEN WILL START DOING THE SAME SORTS OF THINGS THAT YOU'RE DOING?

HOLLY MORRIS>> WELL, I HOPE PEOPLE LEARN ABOUT DIFFERENT COUNTRIES AND, PARTICULARLY IN THIS CASE, CUBA. THEY SEE CUBA WITH A MORE HUMAN FACE, A DIFFERENT KIND OF IMAGE THAN YOU OFTEN SEE IN MEDIA ABOUT CUBA. I MEAN, IN TERMS OF THE IDEA OF ADVENTURE DIVADOM, WE DO WANT TO BUILD GLOBAL COMMUNITY AND SOME OF THE ETHICS IN THIS PROGRAM. WE BROUGHT TWO IN THE OFFICE. WE WANT TO PUT THOSE FORWARD AND WE HAVE ADVENTUREDIVAS.COM, OUR WEBSITE, REALLY A PLACE WHERE WE'RE GROWING THAT COMMUNITY WHERE PEOPLE CAN TALK AND EXCHANGE INFORMATION.

WARREN>> AND THAT ENCOURAGES PEOPLE, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, WOMEN PARTICULARLY, TO TRAVEL AND TO TRAVEL ALONE, TO FEEL THAT THEY CAN DO THAT, TO HAVE CONFIDENCE ABOUT IT.

HOLLY MORRIS>> YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK TRAVEL CAN BE A REVOLUTIONARY THING IN SOMEONE'S LIFE, ESPECIALLY WOMEN TRAVELING ALONE. GREAT THINGS CAN COME OUT OF THAT. IT'S NOT -- YOU OFTEN JUST HEAR ABOUT THE FEAR FACTOR AND THINGS LIKE THAT. BUT IT CAN BE MORE POSITIVE THAN THAT. AND ALSO JUST THE IDEA OF, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER IT IS, WHATEVER YOUR VEHICLE IS. IT'S ALL WHATEVER EXCITES YOUR DIVA WITHIN.

WARREN>> ALL RIGHT. WELL, YOU'RE OBVIOUSLY AN ADVENTURE DIVA. HOLLY MORRIS, THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

HOLLY MORRIS>> THANKS A LOT. GOOD TO BE HERE.

WARREN>> HOW ABOUT YOUR DIVA WITHIN? DO YOU WANT TO BE AN ADVENTURE DIVA?

VAL>> I'LL GET TO THE ADVENTURE DIVA. RIGHT NOW, I'M A NEWS DIVA, SO ONE DIVADOM AT A TIME.

WARREN>> THERE YOU GO.

VAL>> WELL, "ADVENTURE DIVAS" AIRS TONIGHT RIGHT HERE AT KCET AT 8:00 P.M.

WARREN>> THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US. THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT'S PROGRAM.

TOMORROW ON WHICH WAY LA, HOW CAN INNER CITY NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE WATTS GET A PIECE OF ECONOMIC PROSPERITY? YOU CAN TALK REDEVELOPMENT WITH WHICH WAY LA AT THE PACIFIC DESIGN CENTER. JOIN US THERE.

KCRW 89.9 FM, WHICH WAY LA
WEEKDAYS FROM 1-2 P.M.
REBROADCAST AT 7:00 P.M.

VAL>> FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT, HAVE A GREAT EVENING AND GREAT ADVENTURES.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING CORPORATIONS AND FOUNDATIONS:

THE JAMES IRVINE FOUNDATION
WHICH IS DEDICATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INFORMED CALIFORNIA CITIZENRY.

GTE
A COMPANY COMMITTED TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS EXCELLENCE AND AN OPEN DIALOGUE AMONG ALL PEOPLE.

AND THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

TO REACH US AT LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT, CALL 323-644-4159. SEND US AN E-MAIL TO LIFE AND TIMES@KCET.ORG OR LOG ONTO OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.KCET.ORG TO SEND MESSAGES OR DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPTS OF TONIGHT'S PROGRAM.