12/12/02

LC021212

VAL ZAVALA>> TONIGHT ON LIFE AND TIMES --

JESS MARLOW>> A PASADENA TEACHER SPEAKS OUT ABOUT THE BEHAVIOR OF BLACK STUDENTS AND STIRS UP A MAJOR RACIAL CONTROVERSY.

SCOTT PHELPS>> YOU KNOW, I THINK IT’S GOT TO BE A GOOD THING TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT REAL ISSUES WHOEVER YOU ARE. GET THEM ON THE TABLE. IF WE CAN NEVER TALK ABOUT IT, WELL, HOW ARE WE EVER GOING TO COME TO GRIPS WITH IT.

VAL>> THEY TELL FARM WORKERS IT’S MEDICINE WHEN, IN FACT, THEY’RE ACTUALLY BEING EXPOSED TO PESTICIDES.

ESPERANZA SOTELO>> BUT IT’S NOT MEDICINE. IT’S CHEMICALS.

GAY YEE>> AND YOU DIDN’T KNOW THAT?

ESPERANZA SOTELO>> NO.

GAY YEE>> AND THE PEOPLE WHO WORK THE FIELDS DON’T KNOW THAT?

ESPERANZA SOTELO>> NO.

VAL>> TONIGHT THE FINAL PART OF OUR LOOK AT THOSE WHO RISK THEIR HEALTH IN CALIFORNIA’S FIELDS.

JESS>> PATT’S BEEN WONDERING HOW DOES A NETWORK NEWS ANCHOR SUDDENLY BECOME THE NEW POLICE CHIEF’S RIGHT HAND MAN.

PATT MORRISON>> YET ANOTHER BIG GUN FROM THE BIG APPLE MAY BE COMING WEST FOR A BITE OF THE BIG ORANGE. SO WHAT ELSE IS NEW -- ON TONIGHT’S INFINITELY MORRISON.

VAL>> BABE RUTH COULD KNOCK A BASEBALL OUT OF THE PARK, BUT HIS ACTING SKILLS FELL SHORT ESPECIALLY WHEN IT CAME TO PLAYING SANTA CLAUS. TONIGHT A SWING AND A MISS AS THE BABE TAKES ON ST. NICK. IT’S JUST PART OF OUR SPECIAL HISTORICAL LOOK AT CHRISTMAS.

JESS>> THESE STORIES COMING UP NEXT 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. CAN A WHITE TEACHER CRITICIZE BLACK STUDENTS WITHOUT BEING LABELED A RACIST? IN PASADENA, THAT QUESTION IS BEING PUT TO THE TEST AND IT’S CAUSING ALL KINDS OF SOUL-SEARCHING IN A SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT’S ALREADY HAD SOME PAINFUL EXPERIENCES WITH RACIAL TENSION.

VAL>> THE RECENT CRISIS STARTED AFTER A TEACHER AT JOHN MUIR HIGH SCHOOL SUGGESTED THAT MOST OF THE STUDENTS WHO MISBEHAVED THERE ARE AFRICAN-AMERICAN. AS TONI GUINYARD REPORTS, THE INCIDENT HAS OPENED SOME OLD WOUNDS, BUT IT’S ALSO PROVOKING A NEW DIALOG.

TONI GUINYARD>> PASADENA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT ADMINISTRATORS SAY THE PUBLIC IS GETTING THE WRONG IDEA ABOUT ITS STUDENTS. THEY’D LIKE EVERYONE TO FOCUS ON GAINS BEING MADE IN THE CLASSROOMS, BUT RIGHT NOW EXAMPLES OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE ARE BEING OVERSHADOWED BY COMMENTS MADE IN AN E-MAIL WRITTEN BY MUIR HIGH SCHOOL, SCOTT PHELPS. HE WROTE OF OBSERVATIONS HE MADE ABOUT SOME OF HIS STUDENTS AND, IN DOING SO, STATED WHAT OTHERS MAY HAVE BEEN THINKING BUT NEVER DARED SAY ALOUD.

SCOTT PHELPS>> WHAT I DID WAS START TALKING ABOUT TEST SCORES AND THEN TALKED ABOUT THE NINTH GRADERS AND THEN TALKED ABOUT THE BEHAVIOR AND TALKED ABOUT MOST OF THEM WERE AFRICAN-AMERICAN, SO IN SINGLING OUT, LOTS OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE WERE OFFENDED, I THINK.

TONI GUINYARD>> MANY WERE OFFENDED, INCLUDING CAL STATE LOS ANGELES PROFESSOR OF EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION, DR. RUTH JOHNSON.

DR. RUTH JOHNSON>> I HAD SEVERAL, YOU KNOW, REACTIONS TO THE LETTER. ONE WAS THAT I FELT THAT IT DEPICTED BLACK STUDENTS IN A WAY THAT THEY WERE INTELLECTUALLY INFERIOR. I FELT THAT IT REPRESENTED THE VIEWS OF A LOT OF TEACHERS AND HOW THEY THINK ABOUT BLACK STUDENTS.

TONI GUINYARD>> JOHNSON LATER THOUGHT THE E-MAILED LETTER COULD BE USED TO LOOK AT BROADER EDUCATIONAL ISSUES AND THAT’S WHAT’S HAPPENING. FROM SCHOOLS TO AREA BUSINESSES, PHELPS’ COMMENTS TOUCHED A NERVE. PEOPLE ARE NOW OPENLY DISCUSSING STUDENT BEHAVIOR AND ACHIEVEMENT.

CAREN HAMILTON>> WE’RE LOSING OUR KIDS. WE’RE LOSING A WHOLE GENERATION OF KIDS AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I DON’T KNOW WHAT IT IS, BUT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT NEEDS TO FIGURE SOMETHING OUT.

JOE HOPKINS>> WHEN PHELPS SAID THE BLACK KIDS ARE HANGING OUT IN THE HALLS, THAT CLASSES AND STUDIES ARE JUST SOMETHING THEY DO BETWEEN RECESS, THE PARENTS KNEW IT.

TONI GUINYARD>> AND NOW HE SAYS IT’S TIME FOR PARENTS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. PASADENA SAN GABRIEL VALLEY JOURNAL PUBLISHER, JOE HOPKINS, HAS WRITTEN SEVERAL COLUMNS CRITICAL OF THE DISTRICT AND OF PARENTS.

JOE HOPKINS>> THE MINUTE THE TEACHER SAYS SOMETHING TO JOHNNIE, THEN WE GET UPSET WITH THE TEACHER AND WE DON’T EVEN LOOK AT JOHNNIE’S PROBLEM, SO WE HAVE DROPPED THE BALL BY OMITTING TO DO OUR DUTY AS PARENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE KID UNDERSTANDS THAT HE’S THERE TO LEARN, NOT TO TEACH.

DR. RUTH JOHNSON>> THIS ISSUE IS NOT A PASADENA ISSUE. IT’S BROADER THAN A PASADENA ISSUE. IT’S ABOUT THE ACHIEVEMENT OF BLACK STUDENTS AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN SCHOOLS TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE.

TONI GUINYARD>> AND THIS, SAY MANY EDUCATORS, IS THE REAL ISSUE. FINDING WAYS TO ATTACK ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT ISSUES RELATED TO BOTH STUDENTS AND THEIR TEACHERS.

AMBER HUDSON>> IT’S JUST LIKE INTERRUPTING EVERYBODY ELSE’S EDUCATION WHILE THE OTHER STUDENTS ARE DISRUPTING AND THE TEACHERS CAN’T TEACH TO THEIR POTENTIAL.

GEORGE MCKENNA>> THE REALITY IS THAT ALL OF OUR TEACHERS ARE NOT CAPABLE OF THE SAME KINDS OF CONTROL IN THE CLASSROOM AS OTHERS ARE, SO DO WE DISCARD THE TEACHER, DO WE DISCARD THE STUDENT OR DO WE HELP ALL? MY BELIEF IS THAT WE SHOULD HELP THEM ALL.

TONI GUINYARD>> OUR REQUEST TO VISIT CLASSROOMS AT MUIR WAS DENIED. THERE WERE CONCERNS OUR PRESENCE WOULD CAUSE A DISTRACTION, BUT WE WERE PERMITTED ACCESS INTO ELLIOTT MIDDLE SCHOOL, A SCHOOL WE’RE TOLD WHERE BEHAVIOR WAS ONCE A PROBLEM.

>> KNOCK IT OFF, PLEASE.

TONI GUINYARD>> BUT THE BEHAVIOR CLIMATE IS CHANGING. SOME OF THESE STUDENTS WILL EVENTUALLY GO ON TO HIGH SCHOOL AT MUIR.

JERRY CRADDUCK>> I THINK IT’S INCUMBENT UPON US AS TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS AND AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT WE SIT DOWN AND WE LOOK AT THOSE ISSUES AND WE TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE OUR KIDS ARE.

GEORGE MCKENNA>> WE’RE TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO MODIFY THE BEHAVIOR IN INDIVIDUAL CLASSROOMS THAT MAY BE DISRUPTIVE, SO I’VE SAID TO MY ADMINISTRATORS AND TO THE TEACHING TEAMS LET’S FOCUS ON THOSE CLASSROOMS THAT ARE SHOWING SOME STRUGGLING, SO THAT WHILE THAT STRUGGLING IS GOING ON, WE CAN CONCENTRATE ON THOSE PARTICULAR CLASSROOMS AS OPPOSED TO BLAMING ALL CHILDREN.

TONI GUINYARD>> NOW BEGINS THE EFFORT TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES OF BEHAVIOR AND PERCEPTIONS, EXPECTATIONS AND ACADEMICS. IT WON’T BE EASY. JUST ASK SCOTT PHELPS.

SCOTT PHELPS>> YOU KNOW, I THINK IT’S GOT TO BE A GOOD THING TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT REAL ISSUES WHOEVER YOU ARE. GET THEM ON THE TABLE. IF WE CAN NEVER TALK ABOUT THEM, WELL, HOW ARE WE EVER GOING TO COME TO GRIPS WITH THEM?

JESS>> TONI GUINYARD JOINS US NOW. HE WAS CITING EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE THAT MOST OF THE TROUBLEMAKERS WERE, AS IT TURNS OUT, AFRICAN-AMERICANS, BUT THERE WAS THE SUGGESTION THAT HE WAS INTIMATING THAT THE CULTURE PRODUCED THAT, THAT THE BLACK CULTURE PRODUCED BAD BEHAVIOR. THAT’S A REAL STRETCH, ISN’T IT?

TONI GUINYARD>> TO BE REAL HONEST WITH YOU, DIFFERENT PEOPLE READ DIFFERENT THINGS INTO THAT LETTER. SCOTT PHELPS SAYS WHAT HE MEANT TO DO IS SAY, HEY LOOK, DON’T ALWAYS BLAME THE TEACHER. BUT OTHER PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY SAY WAIT ONE MINUTE HERE, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THESE DIFFERENT ISSUES. AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDENTS LEARN DIFFERENTLY FROM OTHER STUDENTS. THEY DO BETTER IN GROUPS.

JESS>> DO THEY REALLY?

TONI GUINYARD>> RESEARCH SHOWS AND EDUCATORS WILL TELL YOU. MANY EDUCATORS, AT LEAST, WILL SAY LOOK AT THE RESEARCH. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDENTS LEARN BETTER IN GROUPS, LEARN BETTER WHILE ENGAGING. BUT THEN YOU HAVE ANOTHER TRAIN OF THOUGHT THAT SAYS YOU STILL HAVE TO HAVE DISCIPLINE IN THE CLASS AND IT’S ABOUT THAT DEFINITION OF DISCIPLINE AND BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS.

JESS>> SO THE SUGGESTION THAT IT MIGHT BE CULTURAL IS NOT FAR-FETCHED?

TONI GUINYARD>> WELL, IT DEPENDS ON WHO YOU SPEAK WITH. OTHERS AREN’T GOING TO BUY INTO THAT ARGUMENT. SOME WILL, AND SAY LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE, BUT THERE IS A BROADER ISSUE HERE. IT’S NOT JUST SIMPLY THESE KIDS ARE BEING BAD, THEY’RE MISBEHAVING. IT’S MORE ABOUT HOW ARE THEY LEARNING? HOW ARE WE CONNECTING? HOW ARE WE RESPONDING TO WHAT THEY DO? ARE WE BLOWING THIS OUT OF PROPORTION? THAT IS WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THAT COMMUNITY ARE SAYING. EVEN IF THEY AGREE WITH SCOTT PHELPS, THEY SAY MAYBE WE’RE TAKING THIS A LITTLE TOO FAR. LET’S ALL SLOW DOWN, LET’S DO SOMETHING THAT’S GOING TO HELP THE STUDENTS.

VAL>> SO WHAT HAS TO BE DECIDED HERE? SCOTT PHELPS, I BELIEVE, IS ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE --

TONI GUINYARD>> -- HE’S BACK AT SCHOOL.

VAL>> OH, HE’S BACK AT SCHOOL?

TONI GUINYARD>> HE’S BACK AT SCHOOL AND HE SAID HE HAS --

JESS>> -- AND THAT WAS PAID ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE. HE WAS NOT REALLY BEING DISCIPLINED OTHER THAN BEING WITHHELD FROM THE CLASSROOM.

TONI GUINYARD>> WELL, YOU HAD TO SLOW EVERYTHING DOWN HERE. THIS IS AN EMOTIONAL ISSUE. IT TOUCHED A LOT OF PEOPLE. MAYBE FOLKS TALKED ABOUT IT AT HOME, BUT THEY DIDN’T TALK ABOUT IT IN PUBLIC AND HE BROUGHT THIS TO THE SURFACE. AND ONE THING, ALMOST EVERYONE, WHETHER THEY AGREE WITH HIM OR NOT, SAY WE’RE GLAD WE’RE AT LEAST TALKING ABOUT IT. PROGRAMS ARE BEING PUT INTO PLACE, COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE COMING INTO THE SCHOOL AND THEY’RE ACTUALLY WORKING TO CHANGE THINGS.

VAL>> TONI GUINYARD, THANK YOU SO MUCH. INTERESTING STORY.

TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, THE CHALLENGE OF FINDING ADOPTIVE HOMES FOR OLDER CHILDREN. THERE ARE SOME SAD STORIES, BUT WE FOUND ONE WITH A HAPPY ENDING.

>> I KEEP TELLING HIM OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. IT'S LIKE A LITANY THAT IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU DO. I AM GOING TO BE YOUR MOM FOREVER, SO YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU WANT OR THAT YOU THINK YOU NEED TO DO, BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE THE FACT THAT I'M YOUR MOM.

JESS>> WHEN YOU'RE A WORK, THE LAW SAYS YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW WHETHER YOU'RE BEING EXPOSED TO SOMETHING THAT'S POTENTIALLY HARMFUL. BUT TONIGHT YOU'LL SEE HOW MANY OF THE STATE'S FARM WORKERS ARE REGULARLY EXPOSED TO POISONS WITHOUT SO MUCH AS A WARNING.

VAL>> IT'S THE FINAL PART OF OUR SPECIAL LOOK AT THE HEALTHCARE CRISIS FACING THE PEOPLE WHO HARVEST CALIFORNIA'S CROPS. AS GAY YEE REPORTS, MANY FARM WORKERS PUT THEIR LIVES IN DANGER WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING IT.

[FILM CLIP]

GAY YEE>> YOU'RE LOOKING AT PERHAPS ONE OF THE MOST HAZARDOUS JOBS IN THE NATION. FARM LABORERS STOOP IN SOIL, CLIMB AND CARRY HEAVY LOADS AND SOMETIMES OPERATE EQUIPMENT THAT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ADEQUATELY TRAINED TO USE. ACCORDING TO ADVOCATES, THE WORK IS SECOND ONLY TO CONSTRUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF INJURIES AND ACCIDENTS.

EMANUEL BENITEZ>> I LOOK FOR FIELD SANITATIONS VIOLATIONS, SAFETY VIOLATIONS....

GAY YEE>> EMANUEL BENITEZ IS ON THE LOOKOUT. HE WAS A MIGRANT FARM WORKER HIMSELF ONCE. LIKE SO MANY OTHERS, HE SPENT YEARS FOLLOWING THE HARVEST UP AND DOWN CALIFORNIA. TODAY EMANUEL IS A COMMUNITY OUTREACH WORKER FOR A GROUP CALLED CALIFORNIA RULE LEGAL ASSISTANCE. WE MET HIM THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHER, RICK NAHMIAS, AS WE VISIT SOME OF THE PEOPLE AND PLACES PROFILED IN HIS PHOTO EXHIBIT ON FARM LABOR CALLED "THE MIGRANT PROJECT".

RICK NAHMIAS>> WELL, THE FACT THAT MOST PEOPLE THINK FARM WORK HAS THIS ROMANTIC GET UP AT DAWN WITH THE CHICKENS AND GO OUT AND, YOU KNOW, PICK THIS OR THAT AND GO HOME. BUT WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH TONS AND TONS OF PRODUCE THAT HAS TO BE PACKED AND MOVED AND SHIPPED AND BOXED AND CRATED, ALL KINDS OF THINGS ARE HAPPENING.

GAY YEE>> EMANUEL USES A CAMERA TOO. HE ACTS AS A WATCHDOG, MAKING SURE WORKERS HAVE SIMPLE NECESSITIES, PORTABLE TOILETS, SAFE DRINKING WATER. HE SAYS HE'S SEEN WHAT PEOPLE RESORT TO WHEN THESE THINGS AREN'T AVAILABLE.

EMANUEL BENITEZ>> BECAUSE THERE WAS NO WATER, THEY WERE USING THE STEMS FROM THE SQUASH IN ORDER TO START DRINKING FROM THE FOUNTAIN THAT THE WATER WAS IN THESE BIG PIPES. SO BY DOING THAT, YOU DON'T KNOW IF THAT WATER HAS PESTICIDES.

GAY YEE>> BUT AS WE SOON SEE, EMANUEL OFTEN ISN'T WELL-RECEIVED WHEN GROWERS AND LABOR CONTRACTORS SPOT HIM.

>> WHY DON'T YOU GET OFF THE LAND? GET OFF THE LAND RIGHT NOW.

GAY YEE>> IT'S REALLY CAL OSHA'S JOB TO PROTECT THE WORKFORCE, BUT THE AGENCY HAS ONLY 250 INSPECTORS. NOT ONE DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE. IT RELIES ON COMPLAINTS AND EMANUEL SAYS MOST FARM WORKERS ARE TOO AFRAID TO GO TO AUTHORITIES. INSTEAD, THEY COME TO HIM.

EMANUEL BENITEZ>> WE HEAR FROM WORKERS THAT THEY'RE WORKING IN SIXTY-FOOT TALL PALM TREES WITHOUT ANY SAFETY PROTECTION AT ALL, THEY'RE WORKING UNDER 105 DEGREES WITHOUT WATER, WITHOUT TOILETS.

GAY YEE>> THERE IS PLENTY OF DIRT FOR GROWING HERE IN THE COACHELLA VALLEY. UNFORTUNATELY, MANY OF ITS FARM LABORERS ALSO HAPPEN TO BE DIRT POOR. IT MAY COME AS A SURPRISE IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, SINCE CALIFORNIA ALSO HAPPENS TO BE THE RICHEST AGRICULTURAL STATE IN THE NATION. YET THE HEALTH AND LIFESTYLES OF MANY MIGRANT FARM WORKERS RESEMBLE THOSE FOUND IN THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES. HOUSING IS OFTEN SUBSTANDARD OR NONEXISTENT. FARM WORKERS ARE FOUND CAMPED OUT IN THE WOODS OR UNDER HIGHWAY OVERPASSES.

AND IN THE FIELDS, THEIR WORK CONSTANTLY EXPOSES THEM TO PESTICIDES AND CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS. THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY SAYS 300,000 FARM WORKERS SUFFER ACUTE PESTICIDE POISONING EVERY YEAR. ESPERANZA SOTELO IS A MEMBER OF LIDERES CAMPESINAS, AN ADVOCACY GROUP MADE UP OF FARM WORKER WOMEN. SHE WAS A FARM LABORER TOO, BUT NOW SHE TEACHES WORKERS HOW TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.

ESPERANZA SOTELO [INTERPRETED]>> THE PERSON WHO IS SPRAYING IS SPRAYING THE PLANTS ONLY, BUT THE PESTICIDES ARE CARRIED IN THE AIR AND WHO LIVES NEXT TO ALL OF THIS IN THE RANCHES? WE DO. YOU'RE RIGHT.

GAY YEE>> ESPERANZA SAYS MANY FARM WORKERS HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY'RE EXPOSED TO ON AN ALMOST DAILY BASIS. SHE SAYS MANY WORKERS ARE TOLD PESTICIDES ARE LIKE MEDICINE PUT ON THE CROPS TO MAKE THE PLANTS HEALTHY AND STRONG.

ESPERANZA SOTELO>> BUT IT IS NOT MEDICINE. IT'S CHEMICAL.

GAY YEE>> AND YOU DIDN'T KNOW THAT?

ESPERANZA SOTELO>> NO.

GAY YEE>> AND THE PEOPLE WHO WORK THE FIELDS DON'T KNOW THAT?

ESPERANZA SOTELO>> NO.

GAY YEE>> BUT THERE ARE SOME WHO SAY IT'S HARD TO SYMPATHIZE WITH FARM WORKERS WHO MAY HAVE COME INTO THIS COUNTRY ILLEGALLY. CRITICS SAY, IF CONDITIONS ARE THAT BAD, THE WORKERS SHOULD LEAVE. IF THAT HAPPENS, GROWERS SAY CALIFORNIA'S $27 BILLION DOLLAR FARM INDUSTRY COULD BE DEVASTATED.

TOM STEINBECK>> MY FATHER SAID WHEN YOU CEASE CARING FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO BEND OVER AND PICK UP YOUR FOOD, YOU'RE CULTURALLY IN DEEP TROUBLE.

GAY YEE>> TOM STEINBECK'S FATHER, JOHN, WROTE "THE GRAPES OF WRATH" MORE THAN SIXTY YEARS AGO. IT TOLD OF THE PLIGHT AND POVERTY OF FARM WORKERS.

HENRY FONDA>> "WHEREVER THERE'S A FIGHT SO HUNGRY PEOPLE CAN EAT, I'LL BE THERE."

GAY YEE>> PHOTOGRAPHER, RICK NAHMIAS, SAYS THERE ARE STRIKING SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE PHOTOS TAKEN OF FARM WORKERS IN THE 1930'S AND HIS PHOTOS IN "THE MIGRANT PROJECT" DECADES LATER. HE SAYS THE LANGUAGE AND THE SKIN COLOR HAVE CHANGED, BUT NOT THE HUMAN COST OF PUTTING FOOD ON AMERICA'S TABLE.

VAL>> IF YOU'D LIKE MORE INFORMATION ON GAY YEE'S SPECIAL REPORTS, LOG ONTO KCET.ORG AND CLICK ON THE FARM WORKER ICON.

LIFEANDTIMES@KCET.ORG
WWW.KCET.ORG.
LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT
4401 SUNSET BLVD.
LOS ANGELES, CA 90027
(323) 953-5555

JESS>> LOS ANGELES IS ABOUT TO GET A NEW GUARDIAN OF HOMELAND SECURITY, BUT WHAT QUALIFIES A NETWORK TV ANCHOR FOR SUCH A JOB? PATT SAYS HE KNOWS PEOPLE. THAT'S TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

PATT MORRISON>> THE BUZZ IN POLICE POLITICS THIS WEEK IS THAT A REPORTER WHO CO-HOSTS AN ABC SHOW CALLED "20-20" MAY BE QUITTING WHAT HAS GOT TO BE A MILLION DOLLAR JOB TO BRING TO LOS ANGELES HIS 20-20 KNOW-HOW ON A BUREAUCRAT'S SALARY. JOHN MILLER HAS BEEN ASKED TO SERVE AS SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO CHIEF BILL BRATTON, TO WHOM HE HAS BEEN A LONG-TIME CONFIDANTE AND ADVISER.

A CITY COUNCIL REPORT EARLIER THIS YEAR CALLED FOR RECRUITING A NATIONAL COUNTER-TERRORISM EXPERT AND A CITY DIRECTOR OF HOMELAND SECURITY. NOW MILLER IS A LONG-TIME ABC REPORTER WHO INTERVIEWED JOHN GOTTI AND OSAMA BIN LADEN AND CO-WROTE A BESTSELLER ABOUT SEPTEMBER 11 AND TERRORISM. IF THIS IS THE RIGHT GUY FOR THE JOB, WHAT EXACTLY IS THE JOB? WHATEVER MILLER'S QUALIFICATIONS, ALL THIS RAISES A CURIOUS QUESTION.

L.A. IS UNDOUBTEDLY INTERNATIONAL IN ECONOMY AND POPULATION, BUT IT SOUNDS ALMOST AS IF THE LAPD MAY BE TRYING TO DEVELOP ITS OWN ANTI-TERRORISM FOREIGN POLICY. NOW BRATTON WAS VERY CLEAR THAT MILLER WOULD BE A POLICY GUY, NOT A RUN-OF-THE-MILL LAPD SPOKESMOUTH. THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN AN ODD JOB IN A DEPARTMENT THAT HASN'T MUCH WANTED PEOPLE TO KNOW ITS BUSINESS.

ONE COP WHO HELD THE PR JOB FOR TWENTY-TWO YEARS SPENT A LOT OF HIS TIME AS A TECHNICAL ADVISER TO COP SHOWS. FOR HIS "DRAGNET" SHOW, JACK WEBB HAD HIS STAFF CRAWL AROUND THE FLOOR OF THE LAPD PRESS OFFICE TO COUNT THE SPOTS ON THE LINOLEUM TO REPLICATE THEM EXACTLY ON THE "DRAGNET" SET.

BUT THE LAPD HAS A LOT MORE IMPORTANT AUDIENCE THAN THE ONE VEGGING OUT ON CRIME DRAMAS IN FRONT OF THE TV SET. JOHN MILLER, LAPD'S SPOKESMAN, MIGHT HAVE WON OVER HIS EAST COAST COLLEAGUES WHOSE NEWS-THINKING ABOUT LOS ANGELES TENDS TO BE DRIVEN EITHER BY A CELEBRITY OR EXOTIC MAYHEM. IN FACT, I'D SAY THAT, TO THE NEW YORK-D.C. WAY OF THINKING, THE IDEAL, THE CLASSIC, LOS ANGELES NEWS STORY WOULD BE ELIZABETH TAYLOR WITH A SURFBOARD IN ONE HAND AND A GUN IN THE OTHER.

VAL>> TONIGHT WE'RE GETTING INTO THE WAY-BACK MACHINE FOR A LOOK AT HOW SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HAS OBSERVED THE HOLIDAYS DOWN THROUGH THE YEARS. FOR EXAMPLE, THERE'S THIS FOOTAGE OF THE ROSE PARADE FROM 1939 CAPTURED HERE IN ALL ITS GLORY IN BEAUTIFUL BLACK AND WHITE.

JESS>> THAT'S JUST A SAMPLE OF WHAT'S IN STORE TONIGHT FROM THOSE INCREDIBLE OLD HEARST NEWSREELS. JOINING US AGAIN IS TIM KITTLESON, DIRECTOR OF UCLA'S FILM AND TELEVISION ARCHIVES. WHAT A WONDERFUL WAY OF CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS.

TIM KITTLESON>> THIS IS NICE STUFF. LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

VAL>> IT IS BEAUTIFUL STUFF. WE'RE GOING TO GET RIGHT INTO IT BECAUSE YOU BROUGHT SOME GREAT THINGS. THE FIRST THING IS FROM 1940 AND THIS IS A CHRISTMAS IN PALM SPRINGS AND IT INVOLVES SOME MERMAIDS.

TIM KITTLESON>> A WET CHRISTMAS IN PALM SPRINGS. THE CATALOG CARD READS --

JESS>> -- SANTA IS DOWN THE CHIMNEY (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) WHAT WAS GOING ON HERE? WHY WERE THEY EVEN DOING SUCH A THING?

TIM KITTLESON>> THIS WASN'T ACTUALLY EVER A NEWSREEL. IT WAS DEEP IN THE OUTTAKE OR TRIM BASKET. WE'RE NOT QUITE SURE WHAT THE REASONING WAS. THE EL MIRADOR WAS QUITE A HOTEL IN THAT PERIOD.

VAL>> WELL, WAS THIS JUST A PUBLICITY STUNT OR SOMETHING?

TIM KITTLESON>> WE THINK SO. OBVIOUSLY, NOT WELL THOUGHT OUT.

VAL>> SO HE'S HANDING OUT PRESENTS UNDER WATER TO THE, WELL, NOT MERMAIDS.

[FILM CLIP]

TIM KITTLESON>> THE SOUND GOT A LITTLE WET ALONG THE WAY.

VAL>> LET'S SEE WHAT THEY GOT.

JESS>> LISTEN TO THAT CHATTER. SOME THINGS DON'T CHANGE.

[FILM CLIP]

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) WELL, VICTORIA'S SECRET, THEY'RE NOT. THESE ARE CRAZY. WHERE DO YOU GET THESE THINGS?

TIM KITTLESON>> THERE'S 5,000 HOURS IN THAT COLLECTION OF HEARST METROTONE NEWSREEL.

JESS>> ONE OF THE GREAT TRADITIONS FOR CHRISTMAS IN HOLLYWOOD IS THE HOLLYWOOD CHRISTMAS PARADE AND YOU'VE BROUGHT SOME OF THAT TOO. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE 1959 HOLLYWOOD CHRISTMAS PARADE.

VAL>> OH, REALLY (LAUGHTER).

JESS>> WE NEEDED ONE MORE SHOT OF THAT.

VAL>> THAT WASN'T THE HOLLYWOOD CHRISTMAS PARADE, ALTHOUGH I'M SURE THAT MANY PEOPLE WOULD HAVE LIKED IT TO BE (LAUGHTER). SO YOU'VE GOT EVERYTHING CATALOGED OR ARE YOU STILL DISCOVERING AND CATALOGING THINGS?

TIM KITTLESON>> CATALOGED, BUT IT'S ON 670,000 ORIGINAL LIBRARY CARDS.

JESS>> 670,000? WE HAVE A LOT TO CHOOSE FROM.

TIM KITTLESON>> YES.

VAL>> SO YOU'RE IN THE PROCESS OF PUTTING IT ON COMPUTER, I HOPE, OR SOME KIND OF --

TIM KITTLESON>> -- WE CONSTANTLY LOOK FOR GRANTS TO GET IT INTO A DIGITAL FORMAT SO IT CAN BE ACCESSED EASILY, BUT THE PEOPLE WHO WORK WITH IT WORK ON THE ORIGINAL LIBRARY CARDS.

JESS>> NOW LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THAT 1959 HOLLYWOOD CHRISTMAS PARADE.

[FILM CLIP]>> "IN HOLLYWOOD, THE FAMOUS SANTA CLAUS PARADE USHERS IN THE YULETIDE SEASON. THE GRAND MARSHAL IS CHARLTON HESTON, ACCLAIMED FOR HIS PORTRAYAL OF "BEN HUR". THE NATIVY FLOAT IS ONE OF MANY DEVOTED TO THE SPIRITUAL...."

VAL>> THAT IS FANTASTIC. NOW IS THIS DOWN -- HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD AND SUNSET?

TIM KITTLESON>> IT WAS ORIGINALLY THE SANTA CLAUS LANE PARADE, WHICH IS INSPIRED GENE AUTRY --

JESS>> -- THE THREE STOOGES (LAUGHTER).

TIM KITTLESON>> IT INSPIRED GENE AUTRY TO WRITE "HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS".

VAL>> IS THAT RIGHT? I CAN IMAGINE THE CROWDS. NOW THIS STILL GOES ON TODAY.

TIM KITTLESON>> YES, OVER A MILLION SPECTATORS.

VAL>> AND IT'S STILL A BIG DRAW -- OH, MY GOODNESS, LOOK AT THIS. A DONKEY? OH, ON SKATES. OKAY, THAT MAKES SENSE.

[FILM CLIP]>> "AND THE STAR OF THE SHOW, AS ALWAYS, IS SANTA CLAUS HIMSELF, AT THIS TIME OF YEAR THE MOST POPULAR MAN AROUND."

JESS>> YES, INDEED. COULDN'T EVEN BE UPSTAGED BY CHARLTON HESTON.

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) THAT'S IN ACTUALLY PRETTY GOOD CONDITION FOR, WHAT, 1959?

TIM KITTLESON>> SOME OF IT'S IN GREAT CONDITION. SOME OF IT'S NOT SO HOT, WHICH IS WHY WE HAD TO LOOK AT IT SPECIFICALLY BEFORE WE TRANSFERRED IT.

VAL>> NOW THE NEXT ONE IS GOING TO BE EVERYBODY'S FAVORITE. PEOPLE, IF THEY HAVEN'T SEEN THIS, YOU'VE GOT TO WATCH THIS. 1947, BABE RUTH PLAYING SANTA CLAUS. TAKE A LOOK.

[FILM CLIP]

JESS>> BABE RUTH WAS THE ULTIMATE GOOD SPORT.

TIM KITTLESON>> AND A GREAT FRIEND OF CHILDREN.

VAL>> BUT HE DIDN'T LOOK TERRIBLY COMFORTABLE. HE LOOKED MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE AT HOME PLATE.

JESS>> AND THE DIALOG WAS A BIT ROUGH TOO.

TIM KITTLESON>> YES, UNSCRIPTED.

JESS>> I'LL BET IT WAS.

VAL>> HOW OLD WAS HE AT THAT TIME? HE HAD TO BE IN HIS --

TIM KITTLESON>> -- HE WAS FIFTY-TWO. HE DIED EIGHT MONTHS LATER OF THROAT CANCER.

JESS>> SO HE WAS NOT WELL. THAT ACCOUNTS FOR THE RASPY VOICE.

TIM KITTLESON>> YES. HE'D BEEN THROUGH RADIATION THERAPY.

VAL>> OH, I SEE.

JESS>> WE ALWAYS TURN TO THE HISTORIC AREAS OF THE MIDDLE EAST AT CHRISTMAS TIME. THAT IS THE BASE OF THE CHRISTMAS STORY. BUT YOU BROUGHT US SOMETHING FROM 1959, ISRAEL AND JORDAN WHEN PEACE WAS AT HAND.

TIM KITTLESON>> THE MANDELBAUM GATE, A 45-YEAR-OLD PEACE MESSAGE WHICH STILL, I THINK, WORKS TODAY.

VAL>> LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.

[FILM CLIP]>> "A HOLY CITY DIVIDED BY NATIONS STILL COEXISTING ONLY UNDER AN ARMED TRUCE TEMPORARILY PERMITS PASSAGE TO PILGRIMS TRAVELING BETWEEN ISRAEL AND JORDAN. JERUSALEM ONCE A YEAR OPENS THE BARRIER SEPARATING ARAB AND JEWISH FAITHS SO THAT CHRISTIAN WORSHIPPERS MAY FREELY REACH SACRED SITES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER, AMONG THEM THE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM.

AS THE PILGRIMS PASS THROUGH THE MANDELBAUM GATE, ISRAELI AND JORDANIAN BORDER GUARDS PERFORM WITH COURTESY THAT COULD SET AN EXAMPLE FOR SUCH OFFICIALS EVERYWHERE. THE SPIRIT OF GOOD WILL TAKES PRECEDENCE OVER OLD ENMITIES. PILGRIMS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD ARE HERE AT THIS, THEIR HOLIEST PERIOD OF THE YEAR, AND AGE IS NO BARRIER. A JORDANIAN GUARD ASSISTS A WOMAN REPORTED TO BE ONE HUNDRED YEARS OLD. JERUSALEM, SACRED TO CHRISTIANS, JEWS AND MUSLIMS, BRIEFLY CLEARS A PATH IN THE NAME OF PEACE."

JESS>> 1949.

TIM KITTLESON>> ABSOLUTELY.

VAL>> I WISH THAT WERE POSSIBLE THESE DAYS.

JESS>> NO, SORRY, IT WAS 1959, WASN'T IT?

TIM KITTLESON>> 1959, ABOUT FORTY-FIVE YEARS AGO.

VAL>> WELL, WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO TAKE A LOOK AT ONE FINAL ONE FROM "THE LITTLE RASCALS" --

JESS>> -- THE NEW YEAR'S GREETING.

TIM KITTLESON>> THIS IS OUR FAVORITE GROUP TO USHER IN THE NEW YEAR.

[FILM CLIP]>> "GOODBYE OLD YEAR, HELLO 1936! NOW ALL TOGETHER! HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM OUR GANG AND HEARST METROTONE NEWS!"

JESS>> (LAUGHTER) THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) THANK YOU SO MUCH, TIM KITTLESON.

TIM KITTLESON>> IT'S OUR PLEASURE AND, ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US AT UCLA, MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.

JESS>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IF YOU'D LIKE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT UCLA'S FILM AND TELEVISION ARCHIVE, YOU CAN CALL THE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN OR LOG ONTO THE ARCHIVE'S WEBSITE AT CINEMA.UCLA.EDU.

[310-206-8013]

VAL>> AND, AS ALWAYS, YOU CAN CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT KCET.ORG.

JESS>> THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT'S PROGRAM. THANKS FOR JOINING US. HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

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