10/9/02

LC02109

VAL ZAVALA>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

JESS MARLOW>> SOME PEOPLE TALK ABOUT SAVING ENERGY, OTHERS JUST DO IT. THAT’S THE STORY OF ONE LOCAL COUNTY THAT’S GOING GREEN.

STEVE BENNETT>> EVERY TIME A CAR IS DUE TO BE REPLACED, THEN WE SHOULD REPLACE IT WITH A HYBRID UNLESS THERE’S SOME SPECIAL REASON WHY A HYBRID WOULD NOT SERVE THE PARTICULAR FUNCTION THAT THAT CAR WOULD BE USED FOR.

VAL>> DO CHILDREN GET A BETTER EDUCATION IN A SINGLE-SEX SCHOOL? SOME SAY ALL GIRLS AND ALL BOYS IS A BLUEPRINT FOR HIGHER TEST SCORES, BUT DOES IT PREPARE STUDENTS FOR THE REAL WORLD? TONIGHT AN EXPERT MOM HAS SOME ANSWERS.

JESS>> WHEN YOU CALL THE POLICE, THE LAST THING YOU WANT IS A BUSY SIGNAL. TONIGHT PATT MORRISON HAS SOME THOUGHTS ON HOW TO CONNECT WITH THE COPS.

PATT MORRISON>> DON’T TOUCH THAT PHONE DIAL. HERE’S THE 411 ON 311 VERSUS 911 -- ON TONIGHT’S INFINITELY MORRISON.

VAL>> PLUS, A DILEMMA FACING SCORES OF BABY BOOMERS, THE CHALLENGE OF CARING FOR AGING PARENTS. TONIGHT WE’LL SEE HOW SOME PEOPLE ARE CHANGING THE WAY AMERICA CARES FOR ITS ELDERS.

JESS>> THESE STORIES COMING UP ON TONIGHT’S LIFE AND TIMES.

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

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.

AND THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT
THE STATE'S LARGEST HEALTH FOUNDATION SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CALIFORNIA'S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT, A PARTNER FOR HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES.

VAL>> GOOD EVENING, I’M VAL ZAVALA.

JESS>> AND I’M JESS MARLOW. IMAGINE LIVING IN A PLACE WHERE THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO GENERATE ELECTRICITY FROM COW MANURE AND GRASS CLIPPINGS. IF THAT’S YOUR IDEA OF HOW TO SAVE THE PLANET, THEN VENTURA COUNTY MAY BE THE PLACE FOR YOU.

VAL>> THE COUNTY HAS LAUNCHED A MAJOR CRUSADE TO SAVE ENERGY AND FIND NEW WAYS OF GENERATING POWER FROM RENEWABLE RESOURCES AND, AS GAY YEE REPORTS, IT ALL BEGAN WITH LAST YEAR’S CALIFORNIA ENERGY CRISIS.

GAY YEE>> WITH ONLY 700,000 RESIDENTS AND A LOT OF OPEN SPACE, VENTURA COUNTY CAN AVOID MANY OF THE PROBLEMS COMMON TO URBAN SETTINGS, BUT THIS AREA WAS DEEPLY AFFECTED BY THE STATE’S ENERGY CRISIS. NOW PEOPLE HERE ARE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THEY DON’T GET CAUGHT UP IN FUTURE SHORTAGES. THAT’S WHY VENTURA COUNTY IS GOING GREEN WITH A MAJOR EFFORT TO GENERATE ITS OWN ENERGY FROM RENEWABLE RESOURCES.

DAVID INGER>> THE ENERGY CRISIS IN CALIFORNIA IS STILL WITH US. IT MAY HAVE SOME EBBS AND FLOWS, BUT IT’S DEFINITELY GOING TO RE-OCCUR AND SO A LOT OF THE MOTIVES THE COUNTY HAS IS TO TRY TO MOVE TOWARDS A CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS SOME FORM OF ENERGY INDEPENDENCE.

GAY YEE>> DAVID INGER IS VENTURA COUNTY’S ENERGY MANAGER. SO FAR, THE COUNTY HAS PLACED SOLAR PANELS ON A DOZEN OF ITS THIRTY-ONE FIRE STATIONS.

DEWAINE DENNIS>> YOU RETURN YOUR INVESTMENT PRETTY QUICK AND THESE THINGS LAST VIRTUALLY FOREVER. THEY HAVE TWENTY-FIVE-YEAR WARRANTIES. THEY’RE MADE OF CRYSTALLINE, WHICH IS BASICALLY BEACH SAND, AND THERE’S NO MOVING PARTS.

GAY YEE>> DEWAINE DENNIS AND HIS PARTNER INSTALLED THE SYSTEM HERE AT BRAND NEW FIRE STATION 50 IN CAMARILLO AND AT THE OTHER COUNTY FIRE STATIONS. TYPICALLY, THE SOLAR PANELS ARE IN PLAIN VIEW OF THE NEIGHBORS AND THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT THE COUNTY WANTS.

DAVID INGER>> THE TYPE OF SYSTEM THAT YOU SEE ON THIS ROOF WOULD BE VERY TYPICAL OF WHAT COULD BE PUT ON AN AVERAGE RESIDENCE. THERE’S NOTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT IT. IT BLENDS IN VERY EASILY, SO IT DOES HAVE AN EDUCATIONAL VALUE FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.

GAY YEE>> A SYSTEM SUCH AS THIS COSTS ABOUT $18,000, BUT WITH A STATE REBATE AND A TAX CREDIT, A HOMEOWNER WOULD PAY LESS THAN HALF THAT WHILE SAVING AN ESTIMATED $1,000 A YEAR IN ELECTRICITY BILLS.

DAVID INGER>> IT’S JUST A MATTER OF PRODUCING ELECTRICITY DURING THE DAYTIME, TAKING THE LOAD OFF THE GRID, RUNNING THE METER BACKWARDS AND BASICALLY NOT HAVING TO EVEN THINK ABOUT IT. IT JUST SITS THERE AND DOES ITS JOB.

GAY YEE>> THE COUNTY IS ALSO LOOKING TO REPLACE ITS FLEET OF 140 CARS WITH HYBRIDS. THIS MODEL RUNS ON A COMBINATION OF ELECTRICITY AND GASOLINE AND GETS UP TO THREE TIMES MORE MILES TO THE GALLON THAN THE CAR IT REPLACED.

STEVE BENNETT>> EVERY TIME A CAR IS DUE TO BE REPLACED, THEN WE SHOULD REPLACE IT WITH A HYBRID UNLESS THERE’S SOME SPECIAL REASON WHY A HYBRID WOULD NOT SERVE THE PARTICULAR FUNCTION THAT THAT CAR WOULD BE USED FOR.

GAY YEE>> VENTURA COUNTY SUPERVISOR, STEVE BENNETT, IS A BIG SUPPORTER OF HYBRID CARS.

STEVE BENNETT>> PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT ELECTRIC CARS BECAUSE THEY DON’T HAVE THE RANGE AND HOW LONG IT TAKES TO RECHARGE. BUT WITH A HYBRID CAR, YOU HAVE ALL THE FLEXIBILITY OF A REGULAR AUTOMOBILE AND, AT THE SAME TIME, YOU GET SO MUCH BETTER GAS MILEAGE, ETC. PLUS THEY’RE WONDERFUL CARS TO DRIVE. THEY HAVE LESS VIBRATION, LESS NOISE AND PEOPLE GET HOOKED ON THEM. ONCE YOU DRIVE ONE, YOU’RE REALLY HOOKED ON IT.

GAY YEE>> SOMETIMES THE COUNTY’S EFFORTS TO SAVE ENERGY ARE HIDDEN AWAY. THIS CHILLER, FOR EXAMPLE, SITS IN THE BASEMENT OF A JAIL THAT HOUSES EIGHT HUNDRED INMATES.

DAVID INGER>> NOW THE REASON WHY I WANTED TO SHOW THIS, THIS IS A BRAND NEW STATE OF THE ART CHILLER THAT REPLACED THE OLDER CHILLERS THAT WERE ABOUT TWENTY YEARS OLD. THE TECHNOLOGY HAS CHANGED SO MUCH IN THE LAST TWENTY YEARS THAT THIS SYSTEM PROVIDES THE SAME AMOUNT OF COOLING ENERGY WITH ABOUT HALF AS MUCH ELECTRICITY. SO IN OTHER WORDS, IT COSTS HALF AS MUCH TO OPERATE THIS SYSTEM AS THE OBSOLETE SYSTEM THAT IT REPLACED.

GAY YEE>> DAVID INGER HAS A $7 MILLION DOLLAR UTILITY BUDGET AND HE’S ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO CUT COSTS AND INCREASE EFFICIENCY. BUT VENTURA COUNTY IS ALSO LOOKING LONG-RANGE AND TRYING TO PLAN FOR A FUTURE WHEN ENERGY MAY BE SCARCE AND UNAFFORDABLE.

KATHY LONG>> OF COURSE, WITH THE ENERGY CRISIS THAT HIT US IN 2000, THAT REALLY DID BRING TOGETHER A COLLABORATIVE OF PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT HOW TO PROTECT AND RENEW RESOURCES, WHAT ALTERNATIVE OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE, WHAT SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM GOALS SHOULD WE HAVE AS A REGION.

GAY YEE>> THE COUNTY HAS EVEN BEGUN LOOKING AT WAYS TO GENERATE POWER FROM THE THINGS IT NOW THROWS AWAY. FOR EXAMPLE, AGRICULTURE IS A BIG PART OF VENTURA’S ECONOMY. SOME ASK, WHY NOT FIND WAYS TO TURN FARM WASTE PRODUCTS AND EVEN GRASS CLIPPINGS INTO ENERGY?

KAY MARTIN>> ONE OF THE BEAUTIES ABOUT BIOLOGICALLY-PRODUCED PRODUCTS IS THAT THEY’RE BIODEGRADABLE AND RENEWABLE, SO THEY’RE NON-POLLUTING TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

GAY YEE>> AS AN OFFICIAL WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENERGY RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, KAY MARTIN IS WORKING WITH STATE, FEDERAL AND PRIVATE GROUPS TO EXPLORE NEW SOURCES OF ENERGY. ONE PROJECT IS ON THE CAMPUS OF THE JUST-OPENED CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY CHANNEL ISLANDS. FOR YEARS, THERE’S BEEN A GENERATOR ON THE GROUNDS THAT USES NATURAL GAS TO PRODUCE ENERGY, BUT NOW THERE’S A PLAN INVOLVING THE COUNTY, THE UNIVERSITY, INDUSTRY AND A LOCAL THINK TANK TO PRODUCE METHANE GAS USING GREEN WASTE. THE MATERIAL WOULD DECOMPOSE IN LARGE TANKS.

KAY MARTIN>> WHEN IT DECOMPOSES UNDER CONTROLLED CONDITIONS, WE GET A GAS AND THAT GAS CAN BE COMBUSTED JUST LIKE NATURAL GAS. THE DIFFERENCE IS THAT IT’S A TOTALLY RENEWABLE FUEL SOURCE FOR THE GENERATION OF ENERGY.

GAY YEE>> THE DEMONSTRATION PROJECT PLANNED FOR THIS LOCATION WILL ALSO PRODUCE FERTILIZER AND WATER FOR IRRIGATION AND, IF IT WORKS, SIMILAR OPERATIONS COULD ONE DAY GENERATE POWER FOR THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.

KAY MARTIN>> IT’S ANTICIPATED THAT THERE MAY BE CONSIDERABLE INTEREST BY LOCAL AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS, FOR EXAMPLE, TO BE ABLE TO DEVELOP THEIR OWN SUPPLY OF POWER ON-SITE FOR THEIR OPERATIONS THAT COULD BE FUELED BY WHAT ARE ESSENTIALLY WASTE PRODUCTS IN THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY.

JESS>> TOMORROW THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES WILL ANNOUNCE ITS OWN PLAN FOR JUMPING ABOARD THE GREEN MACHINE. COUNCIL MEMBERS ALEX PADILLA AND ERIC GARCETTI WANT TO INVEST $95 MILLION DOLLARS IN NON-POLLUTING ENERGY TECHNOLOGY. THEY SAY LOS ANGELES CAN GET THE MONEY BY SELLING PART OF THE CITY’S STAKE IN THE MOJAVE GENERATING STATION, COINCIDENTALLY A POWER PLANT THAT RUNS ON COAL.

VAL>> TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, RE-INVENTING THE LAPD. BILL BRATTON SAYS HE HAS BIG PLANS, BUT DOES THE INCOMING CHIEF REALLY KNOW WHAT HE’S UP AGAINST?

WILLIAM BRATTON>> I THINK MY RECORD SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. I CARE ABOUT COPS. I UNDERSTAND THEM. I UNDERSTAND THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY. I WILL WORK VERY HARD TO MEET THEIR NEEDS SO THAT THEIR NEEDS, WHEN MET, WILL MEET THE NEEDS OF THE CITIZENS OF THIS CITY.

JESS>> IT’S AN OLD IDEA THAT’S BEEN AROUND SO LONG THAT IT’S NEW AGAIN: SINGLE-SEX SCHOOLS. THE QUESTION IS, DO STUDENTS GET A BETTER EDUCATION WHEN THE CLASSROOMS ARE FILLED WITH ALL BOYS OR ALL GIRLS? SUPPORTERS CLAIM IT’S A RECIPE FOR HIGHER TEST SCORES AND FEWER DISTRACTIONS, BUT DO SINGLE-SEX SCHOOLS TRULY GIVE YOUNGSTERS THE SKILL THEY NEED TO FUNCTION IN THE REAL WORLD?

VAL>> JOINING US TONIGHT IS AUTHOR AND JOURNALIST, KAREN STABINER. SHE HAS WRITTEN A NEW BOOK CALLED “ALL GIRLS: SINGLE-SEX EDUCATION AND WHY IT MATTERS”. SHE WROTE THE BOOK NOT JUST AS AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER, BUT ALSO AS A MOTHER. WELCOME TO LIFE AND TIMES.

KAREN STABINER>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

JESS>> AND AT WHAT POINT IN YOUR DAUGHTER’S LIFE DID YOU DECIDE SHE SHOULD GO TO AN ALL-GIRL SCHOOL?

KAREN STABINER>> AFTER I WROTE THE BOOK (LAUGHTER). I STARTED THINKING ABOUT IT WHEN SHE WAS IN THE FOURTH GRADE BECAUSE I HEARD PARENTS WITH OLDER GIRLS TRYING TO DECIDE BETWEEN SINGLE-SEX AND CO-ED. NONE OF THEM HAD GONE TO A SINGLE-SEX SCHOOL AND I THOUGHT HOW CAN WE POSSIBLY DECIDE UNLESS SOMEBODY TAKES A LOOK.

VAL>> SO YOU TOOK A LOOK AT TWO VERY DIFFERENT, ALBEIT BOTH ALL-GIRL SCHOOLS?

KAREN STABINER>> YES. I LOOKED AT THE MARLBORO SCHOOL IN LOS ANGELES WHICH IS A 112-YEAR-OLD PRIVATE INSTITUTION.

VAL>> VERY ELITE.

KAREN STABINER>> YES, VERY --

JESS>> -- AND EXPENSIVE.

KAREN STABINER>> YES, AND DEMANDING AND RIGOROUS, AND ALSO AT THE YOUNG WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP SCHOOL OF EAST HARLEM WHICH IS NOW A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD EXPERIMENTAL PUBLIC SCHOOL FOR DISADVANTAGED GIRLS IN NEW YORK CITY.

VAL>> BOY, YOU COULDN’T GET MORE OPPOSITE THAN THAT. WHAT DID YOU FIND?

KAREN STABINER>> I FOUND IN BOTH PLACES THAT THERE ARE GIRLS WHO WAKE UP EVERY MORNING AND REALLY WANT TO DO REMARKABLE THINGS AND WOULD JUST AS SOON DO IT WITHOUT BOYS IN THE CLASSROOM. THEY FELT THAT THIS GAVE THEM A TREMENDOUS ADVANTAGE. IT GAVE THEM BETTER FOCUS. IT GAVE THEM THE CHANCE TO BE THEMSELVES IF THAT MEANS SAYING, “I DON’T UNDERSTAND THE MATH PROBLEM, COULD YOU PLEASE LOOK AT IT AGAIN FOR ME” WITHOUT BEING EMBARRASSED THAT THEIR BOYFRIEND MIGHT FIND THEM FOOLISH OR THAT THEIR BOYFRIEND MIGHT FIND THEM TOO SMART.

JESS>> ONE OF THE TRADITIONAL CONCERNS -- IN A SINGLE-SEX SCHOOL, MOST OF THEM WEAR UNIFORMS, AS I RECALL, SO THEY’RE ISN’T THE BUSINESS ABOUT FUSSING ON WHAT TO WEAR TO SCHOOL TODAY, AND THE OTHER IS THE DISTRACTION OF THE OPPOSITE SEX. BUT THIS GOES BEYOND THAT IN YOUR JUDGMENT TO THE SUBJECT OF LEARNING?

KAREN STABINER>> OH, ABSOLUTELY. THERE IS SOME EARLY BRAIN RESEARCH THAT IS FRUSTRATING FEMINISTS, BUT I THINK WE CAN’T TURN AWAY FROM IT, THAT SHOWS THAT BOYS’ AND GIRLS’ BRAINS DO TEND TO PROCESS INFORMATION DIFFERENTLY. I ALWAYS FIND THAT, WHEN A SEVENTH GRADE FATHER GOES INTO A MATH CLASS, HE COMES OUT QUITE BEFUDDLED AND WANTS TO KNOW WHEN THE GIRLS ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO LEARN SOMETHING. OF COURSE, THE ANSWER IS THEY’RE LEARNING RIGHT NOW. THEY JUST DON’T LEARN IT IN THE SAME WAY HE DID. THEY LIKE TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE PROCESS OF LEARNING. THEY LIKE TO COLLABORATE WITH EACH OTHER. THEY’RE NOT SO QUICK TO SHOOT THEIR HANDS IN THE AIR. THEY’D LIKE TO THINK ABOUT THE ANSWER FOR A MOMENT BEFORE THEY SPEAK. AND A GIRL-FRIENDLY CLASSROOM IS REALLY QUITE, QUITE DIFFERENT FROM THE CO-ED MODEL THAT WE’RE USED TO.

VAL>> AND YOU WERE SAYING THAT ACTUALLY THE MODEL WE’RE USED TO WAS DESIGNED FOR BOYS ORIGINALLY. GIRLS WEREN’T INVOLVED AT ALL IN THE BASIC TEMPLATE THAT WE --

JESS>> -- IT WAS A VERY LONG TIME AGO.

KAREN STABINER>> WELL, STILL WE HAVE TO -- YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HAVE THIS REVERENCE FOR THE CO-ED SCHOOL AND CRITICS OFTEN SAY, YOU KNOW, THAT WE SORT OF CAN'T CONSIDER SINGLE-SEX BECAUSE CO-ED IS OUR GOLD STANDARD. BUT IN FACT, PUBLIC SCHOOLS WERE STARTED FOR BOYS AND GIRLS WERE ONLY LET IN LATER IN THE GAME AND AFTER THEIR PARENTS COMPLAINED A WHOLE LOT AND, SINCE THE SCHOOLS ALREADY EXISTED, THE DISTRICTS DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO SAY, NOW, WHAT WOULD BE BEST FOR SCHOOLS AND WE'LL CREATE A NEW SCHOOL. THEY SIMPLY LET THEM IN TO AN EXISTING ENVIRONMENT AND IT'S NOT, AS THE RESEARCH HAS SHOWN, ALWAYS VERY FRIENDLY TO GIRLS IN THE WAY THAT THEY LEARN.

JESS>> NOW YOU STUDIED SINGLE-SEX SCHOOLS, GIRLS ONLY?

KAREN STABINER>> GIRLS ONLY.

JESS>> DOES THE SAME THING APPLY TO SAME-SEX SCHOOLS, BOYS?

KAREN STABINER>> THERE IS NOT AS MUCH RESEARCH ON BOYS. THE PROBLEM FOR THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS GOING TO BE THAT WE TEND TO SEE A LOT OF STUDIES THAT SAY GIRLS DO BETTER ON THEIR OWN. WE ALSO SEE SOME EARLY RESEARCH THAT SAYS BOYS PROFIT FROM HAVING GIRLS IN THE CLASSROOM, A KIND OF CIVILIZING INFLUENCE ON BOYS (LAUGHTER). SO THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT HOW TO IMPLEMENT THE NEW LEGISLATION ALLOWING PUBLIC SINGLE-SEX SCHOOLS AND PROGRAMS AND STILL GIVE EVERYONE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY.

VAL>> OKAY, SO THEY LEARN BETTER. WHAT ELSE DO GIRLS LIKE BETTER ABOUT ALL-GIRL SCHOOLS? I MEAN, SOCIALLY, DO THEY LIKE IT BETTER?

KAREN STABINER>> WELL, I WROTE ABOUT THESE GIRLS DURING A YEAR. I HAD SOME SENIORS AND A SEVENTH GRADER AND SOME NINTH GRADERS. THE SENIORS WERE VERY WORRIED TOWARD THE END OF THE YEAR. ONCE THEY GOT DONE WORRYING ABOUT COLLEGE, THEY WORRIED ABOUT WHETHER THEY WERE EVER GOING TO HAVE A BOYFRIEND AND IF THEY WOULD KNOW HOW TO BEHAVE. I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT THEY ALL WENT OUT, FOUND BOYFRIENDS, GOT THEIR HEARTS BROKEN, GOT OVER IT AND --

VAL>> -- (LAUGHTER) SAME OLD, SAME OLD.

KAREN STABINER>> YEAH, SAME OLD, SAME OLD. BUT NO, THE DIFFERENCE WAS THEY REALLY FELT THAT THEY HAD SUCH A SOLID SENSE OF WHO THEY WERE, THAT IN THESE SIX YEARS IN A GIRLS SCHOOL, THEY HAD BUILT SUCH A FOUNDATION FOR THEMSELVES THAT THEY HAD A BETTER SENSE OF WHO THEY WANTED TO BE WITH AND WHO THEY DIDN'T AND WERE LESS LIKELY TO GIVE THEMSELVES OVER TO A RELATIONSHIP AND STOP BEING WHO THEY WERE. YOU KNOW, FOR ALL THE RESEARCH, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO TALK TO THE GIRLS, AND WHAT THEY SAY IN BOTH SCHOOLS IS THAT THEY FEEL STRONGER FOR IT. THEY FEEL THAT THEY GO OUT INTO THE WORLD ACTUALLY BETTER PREPARED.

JESS>> NOW AT THE COLLEGE LEVEL, THE HIGHER EDUCATION, THE TREND IS THE REVERSE? TO GET RID OF SINGLE-SEX SCHOOLS?

KAREN STABINER>> YES.

JESS>> OR TO CHANGE THEM TO MAKE THEM CO-ED?

KAREN STABINER>> YES. I'M NOT SURE -- IF I HAD TO MAKE A CHOICE MYSELF AS A PARENT, NOT AS A JOURNALIST, I WOULD SAY THAT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL YEARS WHEN GIRLS ARE ENTERING ADOLESCENCE AND SOME OF THEM ARE TEENY TINY AND SOME OF THEM ARE HUGE AND EVERYONE'S A LITTLE BIT UNCOMFORTABLE WITH WHO THEY ARE BECAUSE IT CHANGES EVERY DAY, THAT THAT'S THE TIME WHEN SEPARATING THE GENDERS REALLY GIVES A GIRL A GOOD START.

VAL>> DO THEY END UP AS BETTER LEADERS?

KAREN STABINER>> WELL, THERE ARE STATISTICS THAT, IF YOU LOOK AT BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT, THERE IS A DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER OF GIRLS SCHOOL GRADUATES AT HIGH LEVELS IN VARIOUS FIELDS. I THINK WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT THEY COME OUT BELIEVING THAT THEY CAN DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO, WHETHER THAT IS AN ADVANCED PROGRAM IN MATH OR A CAREER IN SCIENCE. THEY DON'T HAVE THE SORT OF SOCIALLY DEFINED RESTRICTIONS THAT TOO MANY OF US EXPERIENCE.

JESS>> BUT, EXCEPT FOR THE HARLEM EXPERIMENT, MOST OF THEM COME FROM FAMILIES THAT ARE PRETTY WELL OFF, THAT ARE ENCOURAGING.

KAREN STABINER>> YES. WELL, UP UNTIL NOW, IT WAS AGAINST THE LAW. IN FACT, THE HARLEM SCHOOL FACED GREAT LEGAL CHALLENGES BEFORE THEY WERE ALLOWED TO OPEN. BUT BECAUSE OF THIS NEW LEGISLATION, THE NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT, THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO ISSUE GUIDELINES FOR SINGLE-SEX SO THAT ANY PUBLIC SCHOOL PARENT, LIKE THE HARLEM PARENTS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THIS, CAN GO TO THEIR SCHOOL AND LOBBY FOR A MATH CLASS OR A SCIENCE CLASS.

VAL>> REAL QUICK, CAN YOU HAVE AN ALL-GIRLS CLASS WITHIN A CO-ED HIGH SCHOOL?

KAREN STABINER>> YOU ABSOLUTELY CAN.

JESS>> WE USED TO CALL IT HOME EC (LAUGHTER).

KAREN STABINER>> (LAUGHTER) OH, BUT NO LONGER.

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) NOT ANY MORE. THANK YOU SO MUCH, KAREN STABINER, FOR ALL YOUR WORK AND INVESTIGATION. IT'S VERY VALUABLE FOR ANY PARENT CONSIDERING THIS. THE BOOK, AGAIN, IS CALLED "ALL GIRLS: SINGLE-SEX EDUCATION AND WHY IT MATTERS".

JESS>> IT'S NO SECRET THAT THE 911 SYSTEM IS SO OVERLOADED THAT YOU MAY GET A BUSY SIGNAL IN YOUR TIME OF NEED, BUT PATT SAYS WE HAVE ONLY OURSELVES TO BLAME. IT'S TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

PATT MORRISON>> THERE'S A BILL ON THE GOVERNOR'S DESK CALLED ASSEMBLY BILL 669, BUT IN THE INTEREST OF TRUTH, IT SHOULD BE CALLED THE "PLEASE SAVE US FROM STUPIDITY" BILL. THE BILL WOULD ESTABLISH A STATEWIDE 311 NON-EMERGENCY PHONE SYSTEM. IN LOS ANGELES ALONE, MORE THAN HALF THE CALLS TO 911 ARE NOT REMOTELY EMERGENCIES. THEY'RE MOSTLY THOUGHTLESS, CARELESS CALLS ABOUT IRRELEVANCIES, NOT CRIMES AND CRISES. INDEED, PEOPLE TRYING TO REPORT CRIMES AND CRISES SOMETIMES CAN'T GET THROUGH BECAUSE OF MORONS CALLING TO GET THE CORRECT TIME.

THE BILL BY VALLEY ASSEMBLYMAN BOB HERTZBERG HAS NO PROVISION FOR HOW TO PAY FOR THIS SERVICE, BUT L.A. FIGURES IT WILL SAVE FAR MORE THAN IT COSTS TO IMPLEMENT 311, SO IT WILL GO IT ALONE, PAYING FOR 311 OUT OF THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND WHEN IT STARTS UP THE 311 SERVICE BY NOVEMBER.

NOW THE STUPIDITY FACTOR IS MIND-BOGGLING. 911 MUST BE THE MOST RECOGNIZED DIGITS SINCE THE SATANIC 666, EVEN BEFORE SEPTEMBER 11. THAT OLD TV SHOW WAS CALLED "RESCUE 911", NOT "HOW DO I GET TO DODGER STADIUM 911". AND YET HERE ARE SAMPLES OF ACTUAL CALLS TO 911 DISPATCHERS. HERTZBERG READ THEM TO THE LEGISLATURE:

"I WAS JUST WANTING TO KNOW WHY CALTRANS HASN'T MOWED THE GRASS IN THE CENTER LANE OF THE 15 FREEWAY."

"WHO DO I TALK TO IF SOMEONE JUST WALKED OFF WITH ALL YOUR LAUNDRY AT THE LAUNDROMAT?"

"YEAH, I'M HERE AT BASKIN-ROBBINS AND I'M HAVING TROUBLE WITH ONE OF THE EMPLOYEES. I'M PAYING FOR SOMETHING AND SHE DOESN'T WANT TO GIVE IT TO US." SOME PEOPLE HAVE ROCKY ROAD FOR BRAINS.

NOW, WHILE 311 IS A GOOD IDEA, THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT PEOPLE WILL LEARN THAT NUMBER ANY BETTER THAN THEY LEARNED 911. PERSONALLY, I LIKE THE IDEA OF CHARGING PENALTIES ON PHONE BILLS FOR PEOPLE WHO ABUSE 911 AND IT WOULD BE ESPECIALLY EFFECTIVE IF THE CHARGES SHOWED UP ON THE PHONE BILL NOT AS GOVERNMENT BILLING, BUT AS A 900 SEX LINE CALL. THAT OUGHT TO WORK LIKE A CHARM.

VAL>> FOR MUCH OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY, THEY WERE THE TRENDSETTERS, BUT BABY BOOMERS ARE NO LONGER KIDS AND MANY ARE NOW FACING SERIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW TO CARE FOR ELDERLY PARENTS.

JESS>> TONIGHT WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE DILEMMA BY PREVIEWING A PBS DOCUMENTARY THAT'S ALL ABOUT CARING FOR AGING PARENTS. IT'S CALLED "AND THOU SHALT HONOR".

DR. WILLIAM H. THOMAS>> "WE'VE GOT MILLIONS OF FANTASTIC CAREGIVERS WHO ARE WILLING TO WORK AND TO GIVE THEIR TIME AND EFFORT TO THE CARE OF THE ELDERS, BUT THEY'RE BEING MADE TO DO IT IN A REALLY FOULED-UP, LEFTOVER, ANTIQUATED, FACTORY SYSTEM CALLED THE NURSING HOME AND I WON'T LET THAT STAND."

JESS>> JOINING US ARE THE MAKERS OF THE FILM, DALE BELL AND HARRY WILAND. IS THIS A CONDEMNATION OF NURSING HOMES?

DALE BELL>> THIS IS NOT A CONDEMNATION OF NURSING HOMES. PEOPLE IN NURSING HOMES COMPRISE ONLY TEN TO FIFTEEN PERCENT OF THE MANY MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE INVOLVED IN FAMILY CAREGIVING AND PAID CAREGIVING ACTIVITIES, SO IT'S NOT A CONDEMNATION. WE HOPE THAT IT IS A HOPEFUL LOOK AT WHAT CAN BE DONE WITH THE SYSTEM.

JESS>> A PLEA FOR REFORM THEN?

DALE BELL>> A PLEA FOR REFORM.

HARRY WILAND>> IT'S ALL ABOUT INTEGRATING ELDERS BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY, SHOWING RESPECT AND REINTEGRATING FAMILIES.

VAL>> BUT IT'S ALSO ABOUT THE STRESS THAT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CAREGIVERS ARE UNDER, WHETHER THEY'RE TAKING CARE OF AN ELDERLY PARENT OR SOMETIMES A SPOUSE OR EVEN A DISABLED CHILD. HOW MANY STORIES DID YOU TELL IN THESE TWO HOURS? IT'S JUST AMAZING.

DALE BELL>> WE'VE DONE ABOUT FIFTEEN STORIES OR SO, FIFTEEN FAMILY CAREGIVERS --

VAL>> -- AND EACH OF THEM UNIQUE.

DALE BELL>> YES. BUT THE FIGURE REALLY IS ONE IN FOUR AMERICANS IS INVOLVED IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER IN CARING FOR SOMEONE ELSE WHO IS DISABLED OR FRAIL OR ELDERLY. THAT'S AN ASTONISHING FIGURE, SO IT REALLY AMOUNTS TO SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THIRTY, FORTY OR FIFTY MILLION AMERICANS.

VAL>> AND YOU TELL THE STORY FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE.

HARRY WILAND>> YES. WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS SHOW DIVERSITY BECAUSE WE CAN LEARN FROM EACH OTHER. THERE'S ECONOMIC DIVERSITY, CULTURAL DIVERSITY, GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSITY. WE REALLY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT ALL PARTS OF THE COUNTRY TO SHOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

VAL>> IN FACT, YOU WENT TO ARIZONA TO TAKE A LOOK AT A DAUGHTER WHOSE FATHER WAS VITAL. HE WAS A PROFESSIONAL, BUT NOW HE HAS ALZHEIMER'S AND LIFE HAS CHANGED COMPLETELY. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT A CLIP FROM THAT RIGHT NOW.

[FILM CLIP]

DR. WILLIAM H. THOMAS>> "EVELYN'S FATHER, ARTHUR, SUFFERS FROM ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. ONLY FIVE YEARS AGO, HE RAN A SUCCESSFUL CHAIN OF PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIOS SPECIALIZING IN FAMILY PORTRAITS. TODAY THE SIMPLE ACT OF GETTING OUT OF BED AND TAKING A SHOWER IS OVERWHELMING."

VAL>> AND IT FALLS VERY MUCH ON HER SHOULDERS, TO THE DAUGHTER'S, VERY DEVOTED, AND HAS TO TAKE HIS SHOES AWAY EVEN SO HE WON'T WANDER OUTSIDE.

JESS>> ALZHEIMER'S IS A PROBLEM THAT REALLY BRINGS THIS ALL INTO FOCUS, ISN'T IT?

DALE BELL>> IT IS. I MEAN, THERE ARE FOUR OR FIVE MILLION PEOPLE WHO ARE NOW AFFLICTED WITH ALZHEIMER'S AND I THINK THE STATISTICS ARE THAT THESE FIGURES ARE GOING TO DOUBLE WITHIN THE NEXT TEN OR FIFTEEN YEARS.

JESS>> AND, SURPRISINGLY, I THINK YOU SHOW THAT THE MAJORITY ARE CARED FOR AT HOME?

DALE BELL>> THE GOAL IS TO TRY TO KEEP PEOPLE AT HOME AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. THE OTHER PART OF THE GOAL IS TO SEE HOW TO GET THE MONEY TOGETHER TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT BECAUSE MEDICARE DOES NOT GENERALLY ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN.

JESS>> THEY'LL PAY IF THEY'RE IN A NURSING HOME OR ANOTHER FACILITY LIKE THAT, BUT NOT FOR A CAREGIVER AT HOME?

DALE BELL>> NO. I MEAN, YOU HAVE TO GO -- THERE ARE LITTLE POCKETS AROUND THE COUNTRY WHERE YOU CAN GET HOMECARE PAID FOR BY ADAPTATIONS OF MEDICARE AND MEDICAID, BUT YOU REALLY HAVE TO LOOK HARD IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO FIND THEM.

HARRY WILAND>> MOST CAREGIVERS DON'T KNOW THEY'RE CAREGIVERS AND THERE'S NO SELF-IDENTIFICATION. SO IF CAREGIVERS CAN REALIZE THAT THERE ARE OTHERS OUT THERE IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS, THEN THEY CAN IDENTIFY, FORM A GROUP, PETITION GOVERNMENT FOR BETTER SERVICES. THE FILM TRIES TO SHOW POSITIVE MODELS OF CARE AND, IN FACT, THE MOTION PICTURE TELEVISION FUND WHICH IS IN THE FILM IS A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF A GROUP TAKING CARE OF ITS OWN. SO THERE IS HOPE. THERE ARE RESPITE CARE SERVICES AVAILABLE HERE THROUGH USC'S ANDREW SCHOOL OF GERONTOLOGY AND WE HAVE A PIECE ABOUT THAT AS WELL.

JESS>> AND THE MOTION PICTURE HOME, THAT'S BEEN DOING IT FOR YEARS.

DALE BELL>> EIGHTY YEARS. THEY STARTED THIS WITH CHARLIE CHAPLIN AND DOUG FAIRBANKS AND MARY PICKFORD AND JUST CELEBRATED THEIR EIGHTY-FIRST ANNIVERSARY.

JESS>> WE TALK MUCH ABOUT REFORM OF THE NURSING HOME INDUSTRY, BUT LET'S TAKE A LOOK NOW AT SOMEONE WHO PROPOSED AN ALTERNATIVE.

DR. WILLIAM H. THOMAS>> NUMBER ONE, THE ORGANIZATION BEGINS TO TREAT THE STAFF THE WAY THEY WANT THE STAFF TO TREAT THE ELDERS. VERY IMPORTANT. LONG-TERM CARE HAS A BAD HISTORY OF TREATING THE STAFF ONE WAY, NOT SO NICE, AND EXPECTING THE STAFF TO TREAT THE ELDERS A DIFFERENT WAY. NUMBER TWO, THE ORGANIZATION BRINGS DECISION-MAKING BACK TO THE ELDERS AND TO THE PEOPLE AROUND THE ELDERS SO THAT THEY HAVE A VOICE IN THEIR DAILY ROUTINE AND THEIR LIFE. CRUCIAL. THIRD, THEY'VE TAKEN REAL STEPS TO MAKE THE PLACE WHERE PEOPLE LIVE RICH IN PLANTS AND ANIMALS AND CHILDREN. I WANT PEOPLE TO BE CONFUSED WHEN THEY WALK THROUGH THE DOOR. "WHAT KIND OF PLACE IS THIS? YOU KNOW, THERE'S ARE KIDS RUNNING AROUND AND PLAYING AND THERE'S DOGS AND CATS AND BIRDS AND GARDENS AND PLANTS". I WANT THEM TO BE CONFUSED. "WHAT? THIS CAN'T BE A NURSING HOME." RIGHT. IT'S AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE NURSING HOME.

JESS>> HE'S NOT A REFORMER, HE'S A REVOLUTIONARY (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) WE SHOULD SAY THAT IS DOCTOR BILL THOMAS AND HE HAS SET UP AN EDEN ALTERNATIVE IN UPSTATE NEW YORK. IS HE GOING TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL? AND HOW SUCCESSFUL HAS HE BEEN?

DALE BELL>> HE STARTED THIS ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO AND HAS TRIED SINCE THEN TO "EDENIZE" FACILITIES. HE HAS HELPED WITH THE MOTION PICTURE TELEVISION FUND. HE'S ALSO ACCOMPLISHED THIS IN 238 OTHER NURSING HOME SITUATIONS. BUT THERE ARE 17,000 AND HE'S GOT A LOT OF WORK STILL TO DO. IF PEOPLE FIND AND GO AND GET OUT OF THEIR HOMES AND LOOK FOR THESE SERVICES, THEY CAN FIND SOME GOOD, SOME BAD. THEY HAVE TO BECOME INVOLVED AND BECOME EMPOWERED.

JESS>> AND THE REFORM IS BENEFICIAL NOT ONLY TO THE PATIENTS, BUT TO THE STAFF AS WELL. OUR THANKS TO DALE BELL AND HARRY WILAND. THANKS VERY MUCH.

VAL>> AGAIN, THEIR FILM IS "AND THOU SHALT HONOR". IT AIRS TONIGHT AT NINE O'CLOCK HERE ON KCET, A PHENOMENAL TWO HOURS FOR ANYBODY AT ALL WHO'S INVOLVED IN THIS ISSUE. FOR MORE INFORMATION, YOU CAN ALSO GO TO THEIR WEBSITE AT WWW.ATSH.ORG. THAT'S OUR PROGRAM. CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE IF YOU LIKE FOR TRANSCRIPTS AND AUDIO OF RECENT PROGRAMS ON LIFE AND TIMES.

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

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