4/29/03

LC030429

VAL ZAVALA>> TONIGHT ON LIFE AND TIMES --

JESS MARLOW>> CALIFORNIA’S NATIVE-AMERICAN TRIBES. ARE THEY PLAYING FAIR WITH THE PEOPLE WHO WORK AT THEIR CASINOS?

RICHARD MILANOVICH>> IF THEY CAN GET US UNDER THE GUN, THEY FEEL A BETTER OPPORTUNITY TO GO AFTER THE OTHER CASINOS UP AND DOWN CALIFORNIA.

VAL>> AND THEN WE’LL MEET THE STARS OF THE NEW PBS HIT, “MANOR HOUSE”. NEVER BEFORE HAS CLASS WARFARE BEEN SO CIVILIZED AND WITH A BRITISH ACCENT TO BOOT.

JESS>> PLUS, AN AWARD-WINNING TEACHER WITH LESSONS FROM THE BARD.

VAL>> IT’S ALL STRAIGHT AHEAD ON TONIGHT’S LIFE AND TIMES.

LIFE AND TIMES 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>> THEIR CASINOS ARE MAKING A FORTUNE.

JESS>> BUT ARE CALIFORNIA’S NATIVE-AMERICAN TRIBES SHARING THE WEALTH? SOME CASINO WORKERS CLAIM THEY’RE FORCED TO RELY ON CHARITY HEALTHCARE BECAUSE THE TRIBES WON’T GIVE THEM ADEQUATE INSURANCE. BUT AS PHILIP BRUCE REPORTS, TRIBAL LEADERS SAY THE PUBLIC HASN’T HEARD THE WHOLE STORY UNTIL NOW.

PHILIP BRUCE>> GRACIELA RAMIREZ EARNS $8.50 AN HOUR WORKING IN THE LAUNDRY AT THE CASINO SPA IN DOWNTOWN PALM SPRINGS. AFTER FOUR YEARS ON THE JOB, SHE THINKS HER WAGES ARE TOO LOW AND SHE’S UNHAPPY ABOUT THE HEALTHCARE BENEFITS OFFERED BY HER EMPLOYER, THE AGUA CALIENTE BAND OF CAHUILLA INDIANS.

GRACIELA RAMIREZ (INTERPRETED)>> I HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE FOR MYSELF, BUT MY HUSBAND HAS NO HEALTH INSURANCE. FOR FAMILY HEALTH INSURANCE, IT COSTS ALMOST $3,000 A YEAR.

PHILIP BRUCE>> RAMIREZ SAYS SHE AND HER HUSBAND RELY ENTIRELY ON HER INCOME SINCE HE’S DISABLED.

GRACIELA RAMIREZ (INTERPRETED)>> THERE IS NO WAY I WOULD BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO PAY THE HEALTH INSURANCE FOR MY HUSBAND. I BRING HOME EVERY TWO WEEKS $581. WITH ONE PAYCHECK, I PAY THE RENT. WITH THE OTHER PAYCHECK, I PAY FOR THE FOOD AND THE BILLS. THERE IS JUST NO WAY I COULD AFFORD IT.

PHILIP BRUCE>> CARLOS CARMONA ALSO WORKS AT THE CASINO SPA. HE’S CURRENTLY MAKING $8.20 AN HOUR AS A JANITOR AND SAYS HE CAN’T AFFORD TO ENROLL HIS WIFE AND THREE CHILDREN IN THE FAMILY HEALTH PLAN.

CARLOS CARMONA (INTERPRETED)>> I HAVE MY THREE KIDS ON MEDI-CAL. IT’S ALL I HAVE FOR THEM. THE COMPANY HAS OFFERED ME AN INSURANCE PLAN THAT IS SOMETHING LIKE $350 A MONTH AND THERE IS NO WAY I COULD AFFORD THAT.

PHILIP BRUCE>> THE TWO CASINO WORKERS ARE BOTH IN CONTACT WITH THE PALM SPRINGS LOCAL OF THE HOTEL AND RESTAURANT EMPLOYEES UNION. DAHLIA WARD IS AN ORGANIZER FOR THAT GROUP.

DAHLIA WARD>> I HAVE NOT FOUND MORE THAN A SMALL HANDFUL OF WORKERS WHO ACTUALLY CAN AFFORD TO PAY THE COMPANY HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN.

PHILIP BRUCE>> WARD’S CONTENTION IS SUPPORTED BY A UCLA-FUNDED STUDY OF WAGES AND HEALTHCARE BENEFITS AT THE SECOND AND NEWER CASINO OPERATED BY THE AGUA CALIENTE TRIBE NEAR RANCHO MIRAGE. ACCORDING TO THAT STUDY, MANY CASINO WORKERS ARE FORCED TO RELY ON TAXPAYER-SUPPORTED MEDI-CAL OR ON HEALTHY FAMILY PROGRAMS TO COVER THEIR CHILDREN. BUT AGUA CALIENTE CHAIRMAN, RICHARD MILANOVICH, DISPUTES THE FINDINGS AND SAYS HIS WORKERS ARE SATISFIED WITH THE TRIBE’S HEALTHCARE PACKAGE.

RICHARD MILANOVICH>> THE CLEAR MAJORITY THAT WE’RE AWARE OF ARE QUITE HAPPY WITH THE HEALTHCARE BENEFIT PACKAGE THAT WE HAVE AFFORDED THEM.

PHILIP BRUCE>> MILANOVICH IS PROUD THAT EACH OF HIS CASINO WORKERS DOES HAVE INDIVIDUAL HEALTH INSURANCE WHICH IS PROVIDED FREE AND HE SAYS THERE’S NOTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT EMPLOYEES HAVING TO CONTRIBUTE IF THEY CHOOSE FAMILY COVERAGE. BUT THE UNION DOESN’T AGREE AND CLAIMS THE TRIBE SHOULD PAY FOR FAMILY MEMBERS TOO. JACK GRIBBON IS A UNION STATE POLITICAL DIRECTOR.

JACK GRIBBON>> CERTAINLY THEY CAN AFFORD IT. THEY ARE FABULOUSLY WEALTHY EMPLOYERS HERE IN PALM SPRINGS, FABULOUSLY WEALTHY. IN FACT, I HARDLY THINK THEY’D NOTICE IT IF THEY PROVIDED FULL FAMILY HEALTHCARE FOR ALL THEIR EMPLOYEES.

PHILIP BRUCE>> ARE THE CASINO WORKERS UNHAPPY? TRIBAL LEADERS SAY NO AND THEY TOLD US TO SEE FOR OURSELVES. ORLANDO SALINAS HAS BEEN A COCKTAIL WAITRESS AT THE AGUA CALIENTE CASINO SINCE IT OPENED TWO YEARS AGO.

ORLANDO SALINAS>> I BOUGHT A NEW HOUSE SINCE I WORK OVER HERE, SO I’M VERY HAPPY WITH THIS JOB.

PHILIP BRUCE>> SALINAS SAYS THE FAMILY HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN IS NOT AN ISSUE FOR HER. SHE’S KEPT HER CHILD IN THE STATE’S HEALTHY FAMILY PROGRAM WHICH SHE ENROLLED IN BEFORE COMING TO WORK AT THE CASINO.

ORLANDO SALINAS>> I HARDLY HEAR ANY PROBLEMS ABOUT IT, SO I DON’T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

PHILIP BRUCE>> THE TRIBAL CHAIRMAN BELIEVES MANY OF THE COMPLAINTS AND DISGRUNTLED WORKERS ARE PART OF AN ORGANIZED EFFORT TO UNIONIZE CASINO WORKERS STATEWIDE. HE CLAIMS HE’S BEEN TOLD AS MUCH BY UNION LEADERS.

RICHARD MILANOVICH>> WE MET WITH MR. GRIBBON AND MR. GRIBBON TOLD US DIRECTLY THAT WE ARE GOING AFTER YOU -- US, MEANING THE TWO CASINOS -- BECAUSE THEY ARE IN TROUBLE FROM A MEMBERSHIP PERSPECTIVE AND THAT, IF THEY CAN GET US UNDER THE GUN, THEY FEEL A BETTER OPPORTUNITY TO GO AFTER THE OTHER CASINOS UP AND DOWN CALIFORNIA.

JACK GRIBBON>> OF COURSE, THAT’S WHAT WE’RE DOING. THAT’S WHAT WE’RE SUPPOSED TO DO. THAT’S WHY WE EXIST. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THEIR CASINO EXISTS TO MAKE MONEY. OUR ORGANIZATION EXISTS TO HELP EMPOWER WORKERS SO THEY CAN MOVE FORWARD AND RAISE A STANDARD WHERE THEY CAN LIVE IN DIGNITY.

PHILIP BRUCE>> THE UNION HOPES THE ISSUE WILL DRAW ATTENTION IN SACRAMENTO WHERE THE GOVERNOR AND THE TRIBES ARE ABOUT TO RENEGOTIATE CONTRACTS SETTING THE RULES FOR CASINO OPERATIONS. THE TRIBES WANT MORE SLOT MACHINES AND THE GOVERNOR WANTS MORE CASINO PROFITS TO GO INTO THE STATE’S COFFERS. MEANWHILE, GRIBBON SAYS LAWMAKERS SHOULD BE ALARMED THAT CASINO EMPLOYEES ARE RESORTING TO TAXPAYER-SUPPORTED HEALTH PROGRAMS DESIGNED FOR THE POOR AND HE’S GOTTEN THE BACKING OF OVER FIFTY MEMBERS OF THE CLERGY IN THE PALM SPRINGS AREA.

JAMES TOM>> AS A CLERGY PERSON, I’M NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE UNION PER SE. I’M INTERESTED IN THE JUSTICE ISSUE FOR THE WORKERS THAT THEY CAN EARN ADEQUATE WAGES.

PHILIP BRUCE>> JAMES TOM IS PASTOR OF THE CITY’S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH. HE SAYS LOW-WAGE WORKERS CAN’T AFFORD THE FAMILY HEALTHCARE PLAN THE TRIBE OFFERS AND HE SAYS THAT’S DISTURBING.

JAMES TOM>> THAT SEEMS TO ME TO BE RATHER UNFAIR WHEN THE TRIBES CLAIM TO BE MAKING A LOT OF MONEY AND I SEE THE TRIBE HERE IN PALM SPRINGS PUTTING UP A $100 MILLION DOLLAR FACILITY FOR GAMBLING.

PHILIP BRUCE>> TOM SAYS IT’S IRONIC THAT TRIBAL MEMBERS WHOSE ANCESTORS WERE OPPRESSED FOR SO LONG NOW SEEM TO HAVE LITTLE OR NO REGARD FOR THE PAY AND BENEFITS OF THEIR WORKERS. BUT RICHARD MILANOVICH RECENTLY WARNED THE LOCAL RELIGIOUS LEADERS NOT TO ALLOW THEMSELVES TO BE MANIPULATED BY A MASSIVE LABOR UNION THAT IS INTERESTED ONLY IN INCREASING ITS MEMBERSHIP AND COLLECTING DUES FROM EMPLOYEES. FOR SOME, HOWEVER, THE DISPUTE IS ABOUT MORE THAN MEMBERSHIP AND DUES.

GRACIELA RAMIREZ (INTERPRETED)>> I THINK THAT I DESERVE MORE. IT’S VERY HARD WORK THAT I DO IN THE LAUNDRY, PARTICULARLY IN OUR AREA. WE WORK UNDER VERY EXTREME TEMPERATURES. IT’S VERY HOT.

JESS>> SOME SAY CALIFORNIA’S INDIAN TRIBES ARE RELUCTANT TO DEAL WITH LABOR UNIONS BECAUSE THEY REGARD THEMSELVES AS LEADERS OF SOVEREIGN NATIONS IN WHICH THE UNIONS HAVE NO LEGAL STATUS. THE TRIBAL LEADERS CLAIM THEY’LL TALK WHEN THE UNIONS ARE PREPARED TO OFFER A FAIR DEAL.

VAL>> TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, DOWNTOWN L.A.’S NEW BUILDING BOOM. RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPERS CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF IT, BUT AS A NEW BUILDING GOES UP, SOME HISTORICAL ONES MAY BE IN JEOPARDY.

>> DID A NEIGHBORHOOD EVER EXIST THERE? HOW CAN YOU TELL? (LAUGHTER) OH, WELL, I SAW A PICTURE ONCE. THERE’S NO TANGIBLE EVIDENCE OF IT, SO IT’S A SIGNIFICANT LOSS.

PHILIP BRUCE>> HERE ARE THE RESULTS OF LAST NIGHT'S LIFE AND TIMES "WHAT DO YOU THINK?" POLL: ELDERLY DRIVERS SHOULD BE GIVEN A HANDS-ON DRIVERS TEST AT AGE 70: AGREE, TWENTY-ONE PERCENT, DISAGREE, SEVENTY-NINE PERCENT. LOG ONTO OUR WEBSITE AT KCET.ORG TO WEIGH IN ON A NEW QUESTION TOMORROW.

JESS>> SOME MIGHT CALL IT A CLASSROOM MIRACLE, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY THE HANDIWORK OF A REMARKABLE TEACHER, RAFE ESQUITH. HE TEACHES FIFTH GRADE AT HOBART ELEMENTARY, A CROWDED SCHOOL IN CENTRAL LOS ANGELES. HIS STUDENTS ARE MOSTLY CENTRAL AMERICAN AND KOREAN IMMIGRANTS FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES.

VAL>> BUT IN SPITE OF THE DISADVANTAGES, ESQUITH HAS THE YOUNGSTERS SCORING IN THE TOP TEN PERCENT ON STANDARDIZED TESTS AND MANY HAVE GONE ON TO ATTEND TOP COLLEGES. HIS FORMULA? HARD WORK, HIGH EXPECTATION AND THE PLAYS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE. IN FACT, RAFE'S "SHAKESPEARIANS" HAVE EVEN PERFORMED AT THE GLOBE THEATRE IN LONDON. HERE'S A CLIP OF THE KIDS IN "HENRY THE IV".

[FILM CLIP]

JESS>> ESQUITH HAS NOW WRITTEN A BOOK ABOUT HIS TEACHING SUCCESSES AND THOSE AMAZING KIDS. IT'S CALLED "THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS". WE'RE PLEASED TO HAVE THE AUTHOR, RAFE ESQUITH, WITH US NOW.

RAFE ESQUITH>> THANK YOU.

JESS>> THE MOST REMARKABLE THING TO ME IS NOT THE FACT THAT THEY PLAY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, THAT THEY PERFORM SHAKESPEARE, BUT THE FACT THAT YOU GET THEM TO COME TO SCHOOL AT 6:30 IN THE MORNING, STAY UNTIL FIVE AND COMING IN ON SATURDAY.

RAFE ESQUITH>> WELL, IT'S LIKE "FIELD OF DREAMS". IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME. ONE OF THE REASONS I WROTE THIS BOOK IS THAT I THINK PEOPLE HAVE A MISUNDERSTANDING OF ECONOMICALLY DEPRIVED CHILDREN. THESE KIDS ARE HUNGRY AND THEY WANT A GOOD EDUCATION. THEY WANT WHAT THE KIDS ON THE WEST SIDE HAVE, BUT SOMEONE HAS TO SHOW THEM THE WAY AND THAT'S WHY I GET PAID THE BIG MONEY (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) ALMOST $40,000.

RAFE ESQUITH>> YEAH.

VAL>> NOW YOU HAVE, OF COURSE, WRITTEN A BOOK, BUT YOU'VE ALSO BEEN HONORED BY NUMEROUS PEOPLE, MOST RECENTLY, I GUESS, OPRAH WINFREY GAVE YOU HER $100,000 USE YOUR LIFE AWARD.

RAFE ESQUITH>> YES, SHE DID. I'M A LUCKY TEACHER.

VAL>> BUT IS THIS SOMETHING THAT YOU ALONE CAN DO? IS IT UNIQUE? ARE YOUR TECHNIQUES UNIQUE? WHAT CAN BE --

RAFE ESQUITH>> -- NO, THEY'RE NOT UNIQUE AND THAT'S WHY I WROTE THE BOOK. I'M A LUCKY TEACHER. FOR WHATEVER REASON, MAYBE BECAUSE I'M IN LOS ANGELES, MAYBE BECAUSE OF THE SHAKESPEARE, I'VE BEEN NOTICED A LOT. BUT THERE ARE SO MANY TERRIFIC TEACHERS OUT THERE WHO DON'T GET THEIR NAME IN THE PAPER AND THEY START TO GIVE UP. IT IS A TOUGH JOB AND THE SYSTEM SOMETIMES DOESN'T TREAT THE TEACHERS FAIRLY AND THEY ARE SO OVERWORKED SOMETIMES THAT THEY WANT TO GIVE UP. I WROTE THIS BOOK TO TELL ESPECIALLY THE YOUNG TEACHERS NOT TO GIVE UP BECAUSE WE DO HAVE FABULOUS KIDS AND, USING SOME OF MY METHODS, THEY CAN ACCOMPLISH GREAT THINGS, ESPECIALLY THAT HIGH EXPECTATION.

JESS>> AND A KEY ELEMENT IS THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS?

RAFE ESQUITH>> WE REALLY HAVE CREATED A FAST FOOD SOCIETY. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BOOKS NOW LIKE ALGEBRA MADE EASY, SHAKESPEARE MADE EASY. IT'S NOT EASY.

JESS>> COMPUTERS FOR DUMMIES.

RAFE ESQUITH>> YEAH, COMPUTERS FOR DUMMIES. I'VE EVEN HAD PEOPLE COME UP TO ME AND SAY MY CHILD ISN'T READING WELL. WHAT COMPUTER SHOULD I BUY? I TELL THEM A LIBRARY CARD IS A LOT CHEAPER. IT'S COMMON SENSE. IT'S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE.

VAL>> YOU'VE ALSO DISCOVERED THAT MATH FOR STUDENTS WHO DON'T HAVE ENGLISH AS A FIRST LANGUAGE IN THE HOME IS A WONDERFUL SUBJECT FOR THEM.

RAFE ESQUITH>> WELL, WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT SELF-ESTEEM. WHEN CHILDREN START TO BELIEVE THAT THEY'RE GOOD AT SOMETHING, THEY CAN BE GOOD AT OTHER THINGS. SINCE MATH IS A UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE, YOU SEE THIS ALL THE TIME WITH THE CHILDREN THAT DON'T SPEAK LANGUAGE AS THEIR FIRST LANGUAGE. THEY HAVE LOW READING SCORES, BUT HIGHER MATH SCORES, SO WE BUILD ON THAT MATH TO GET THEM TO FEEL CONFIDENT AND THEN THE READING CAN FOLLOW BY CREATING THIS CLIMATE, THIS CULTURE, IN OUR CLASSROOM THAT WE EXPECT A LOT FROM THESE CHILDREN.

JESS>> YOU EXPECT THEM TO LEARN TO PLAY NOT JUST ONE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT, BUT SEVERAL.

RAFE ESQUITH>> WE HAVE A FABULOUS ORCHESTRA TEACHER AT OUR SCHOOL. WE HAVE A FABULOUS CHORUS TEACHER AT THE SCHOOL. I WORK WITH THESE FOLKS. I'VE LEARNED FROM THEM. NOW WE HAVE KIDS THAT PLAY UP TO SEVEN MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

VAL>> NOW ANOTHER THING THAT YOU DO IS YOU DRAW FROM SHAKESPEARE AND OTHER PIECES OF LITERATURE, INCLUDING THE CIVIL -- TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CIVIL WAR LETTERS THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE IN A MOMENT.

RAFE ESQUITH>> WELL, BASICALLY, IN TERMS OF THE LITERATURE, I TOOK ALL OF THE BOOKS THAT HAVE BEEN BANNED AND WE READ THEM (LAUGHTER) BECAUSE THEY'RE OFTEN THE BEST BOOKS. JOHN STEINBECK OR MALCOLM X OR ANNE FRANK, WHICH, IN SOME STATES, CHILDREN ARE NOT ALLOWED TO READ, THE KIDS READ THESE AND GOBBLE THEM UP.

JESS>> AND FIFTH GRADE IS A BIT YOUNG TO BE READING STEINBECK, ISN'T IT?

RAFE ESQUITH>> WELL, THEY READ WITH ME. IN OTHER WORDS, I DON'T SAY GO HOME AND READ THEM. WHEN THEY GO HOME AND READ, THEY READ THE BOOKS THAT YOU WOULD EXPECT A FIFTH GRADER TO BE READING. BUT THERE'S NO POINT IN THEM READING A BOOK WITH ME THAT THEY CAN READ ON THEIR OWN. I'M PAID TO SHOW THEM THINGS THAT THEY CAN'T DO ON THEIR OWN.

JESS>> NOW YOUR KIDS HAVE GONE ON TO SOME OF THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTRY. TO USE THE STEREOTYPE, "KOREANS? OF COURSE, THEY'RE SMART. THEY'RE ASIAN."

RAFE ESQUITH>> WELL, YOU SAID IT YOURSELF. IT'S A STEREOTYPE. WE HAVE BRILLIANT LATINO CHILDREN IN THESE SCHOOLS, GIFTED CHILDREN, STUDENTS OF EXTRAORDINARY ABILITY.

JESS>> THEY HOLD THEIR OWN.

RAFE ESQUITH>> EASILY, EASILY. TWO OF THE THREE STARS OF "HENRY THE IV" WERE LATINO CHILDREN AND THEY'VE BEEN OFFERED $100,000 SCHOLARSHIPS TO A PRESTIGIOUS MIDDLE SCHOOL ALREADY. WITH THE CIVIL WAR, THE OTHER THING IS THAT MALCOLM X WROTE THAT HE ALWAYS FELT THAT HE WAS IN AMERICA, BUT NOT OF AMERICA. I WANT THESE CHILDREN TO FEEL THAT THEY ARE AMERICANS. WE DON'T TEACH CITIZENSHIP THE WAY WE NEED TO, SO MY CHILDREN TRAVEL ALL OVER AND WE STUDY THE CIVIL WAR AND WE GO TO GETTYSBURG AND WE WERE EVEN INVITED TO THE SUPREME COURT TO DO A HISTORY PERFORMANCE FOR THEM. IT WAS A LOT OF FUN.

VAL>> MAYBE THAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THIS LITTLE BOY'S PERFORMANCE IN THE READING OF A CIVIL WAR LETTER. LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

[FILM CLIP]

JESS>> HE'S NOT JUST READING THAT. HE'S LIVING THAT. THAT TEAR COURSING DOWN HIS CHEEK.

RAFE ESQUITH>> I ALMOST CRY JUST WATCHING HIM. AMAZING CHILD.

VAL>> BEAUTIFUL YOUNG BOY. SO YOU'RE SAYING YOU'VE TRAVELED, YOU'VE BEEN TO LONDON? HOW DO YOU FUND THESE TRIPS? THEY COST MONEY.

RAFE ESQUITH>> IT DOES. FOR THE FIRST TEN YEARS, I USED TO WORK FOUR JOBS TO MAKE IT ALL HAPPEN. I WAS JUST ANGRY TO KNOW ALL THESE FABULOUS KIDS THAT WEREN'T BEING GIVEN AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY. THAT'S WHAT OUR COUNTRY STANDS FOR. I GOT LUCKY AND A FORMER STUDENT INCORPORATED MY CLASSROOM AS A NONPROFIT CORPORATION AFTER HE FINISHED YALE LAW SCHOOL. HE SAID THAT I SAVED HIM AND IT WAS TIME THAT HE SAVED ME.

VAL>> SO YOU WERE ABLE TO ACCEPT DONATIONS AND NOW THE DONATIONS FUND THE TRIPS.

RAFE ESQUITH>> FROM PEOPLE LIKE OPRAH AND COMPANIES ALL OVER THE WORLD.

VAL>> THAT'S PHENOMENAL. DO YOU EVER GET IN TROUBLE WITH THE L.A. BUREAUCRACY, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF THE CURRICULUM? BECAUSE THEY HAVE A VERY STRICT CURRICULUM AND IT SOUNDS LIKE YOURS IS A LITTLE BIT --

RAFE ESQUITH>> -- OF COURSE NOT (LAUGHTER). I ALWAYS COOPERATE WITH THE L.A. BUREAUCRACY AND I'M GLAD TO WORK FOR THEM.

JESS>> AND YOU ARE RICHLY PAID FOR IT, WHAT, $39,000 A YEAR?

RAFE ESQUITH>> I THINK I'M GOING TO MAKE OVER $40,000 THIS YEAR, JESS.

JESS>> ALL RIGHT.

VAL>> I'M TOLD THAT, FOR A LONG TIME, YOU DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A CAR. YOUR WIFE USED THE CAR AND YOU WALKED TO WORK?

RAFE ESQUITH>> WELL, MY WIFE ISN'T STUPID. OF COURSE, SHE USED THE CAR (LAUGHTER). SHE SAID IF I'M CRAZY ENOUGH TO PUT ALL THOSE HOURS IN, YOU CAN WALK THE FIVE MILES TO SCHOOL AND IT WAS OKAY.

VAL>> YOU HAVE A CAR NOW, I HOPE.

RAFE ESQUITH>> OPRAH BOUGHT ME A CAR. THANK YOU, OPRAH.

VAL>> THAT'S AMAZING. WE'RE GOING TO END ON SOME CLIPS OF YOUR STUDENTS FROM "HENRY THE IV". YOU SAID YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR EIGHTEEN YEARS. HOW DO YOU KEEP FROM GETTING BURNED OUT?

RAFE ESQUITH>> OH, THE KIDS. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ON TELEVISION WATCH THESE CHILDREN. HOW CAN YOU GET BURNED OUT LOOKING AT THOSE FACES?

VAL>> BUT THERE HAS TO BE SOME HARD DAYS.

RAFE ESQUITH>> THERE ARE HARD DAYS AND ONE OF THE REASONS I WROTE THE BOOK IS THAT OUR KIDS HAVE HARDER DAYS THAN WE DO.

JESS>> ANY DROPOUTS?

RAFE ESQUITH>> SURE. I FAIL SOMETIMES. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, JESS? WE TELL OUR KIDS DON'T QUIT. HOW COULD WE QUIT? WE'VE GOT TO BE THEIR ROLE MODELS.

VAL>> AND WHAT A ROLE MODEL YOU ARE. RAFE ESQUITH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

RAFE ESQUITH>> THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT.

VAL>> AGAIN, THE NAME OF THE BOOK IS "THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS". IT IS THE AMAZING AND RARE STORY OF SUCCESS IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

TO SEND A COMMENT OR A QUESTION TO OUR PROGRAM, YOU CAN REACH US BY MAIL AT THIS ADDRESS:

LIFE AND TIMES
4401 SUNSET BLVD.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90027

YOU CAN ALSO CALL OUR VIEWER COMMENT LINE (323) 953-5555) OR CONTACT US THE FAST WAY BY E-MAIL AT KCET.ORG.

VAL>> CLASS WARFARE IS BREAKING OUT. WORKERS HAVE HAD ENOUGH AND ARE REBELLING AGAINST THEIR BOSSES. NO, IT'S NOT THE STORY OF KCET'S COMPANY PICNIC. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SERVANTS AT "MANOR HOUSE", THE HISTORICAL REALITY SERIES ON PBS.

JESS>> IT'S ALL ABOUT BRITISH SOCIETY IN THE EARLY 1900'S WHEN RANK DETERMINED EVERYTHING FROM THE DESSERTS YOU ATE TO WHEN YOU USED THE LOO. A WHILE BACK, WE MET WITH SOME OF THE STARS OF "MANOR HOUSE". YOU'LL SEE THEM IN JUST A MOMENT, BUT FIRST HERE'S A LOOK AT OUR VERSION OF REALITY TV.

[FILM CLIP]

VAL>> AND JOINING US NOW IS ANNA OLLIFF-COOPER. SHE'S A DOCTOR WHO TOOK ON THE ROLE OF MISTRESS OF MANOR HOUSE. ALSO WITH US IS HUGH EDGAR. HE'S AN ARCHITECT BY TRAINING, BUT THE BUTLER, THE HIGHEST-RANKING OF THE SERVANTS AT MANOR HOUSE. ALSO WITH US IS BETH HOPPE, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF THE SERIES. WELCOME, ALL OF YOU, TO LIFE AND TIMES.

JESS>> I GUESS THE FIRST QUESTION IS WHY DID YOU DO IT? (LAUGHTER)

ANNA OLLIFF-COOPER>> (LAUGHTER) OH, IT'S A FASCINATING CHANCE, ISN'T IT, TO STEP BACK INTO TIME. HOW MANY PEOPLE GET THE OPPORTUNITY AND WHO WOULD WANT TO TURN SOMETHING LIKE THAT DOWN?

JESS>> AND HOW LONG OF A COMMITMENT WAS IT?

HUGH EDGAR>> IT WAS NINE YEARS AND THIRTEEN WEEKS (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) OH, YOU FELT LIKE THAT, RIGHT?

JESS>> NINE YEARS AND THIRTEEN WEEKS. THAT'S COMPRESSING IT (LAUGHTER).

HUGH EDGAR>> (LAUGHTER) YES.

VAL>> ACTUALLY, IT WAS THREE MONTHS, BUT I IMAGINE A LOT OF PREPARATION, RIGHT, WENT INTO THIS?

HUGH EDGAR>> WELL, I DID A LOT OF PREPARATION BEFORE GOING INTO THE HOUSE TO KNOW WHAT THE PERIOD WAS LIKE AND TO KNOW WHAT THE BUTLER HAD TO BE LIKE.

VAL>> TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT BUTLERS WERE LIKE?

HUGH EDGAR>> WELL, BUTLERS, IN A SENSE, IT WAS LIKE A PRIESTHOOD BECAUSE YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE MARRIED, SO YOU DEVOTE YOUR ENTIRE LIFE TO A FAMILY. THAT WAS THE OBJECTIVE. YOU HAD NO OTHER CONCERNS. JUST MAKE A FAMILY HAPPY. NO PROBLEMS. THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

VAL>> BUT FOLLOW STRICT RULES.

HUGH EDGAR>> ABSOLUTELY. STRICT RULES, NO EMOTION (LAUGHTER).

JESS>> WHAT WERE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PARTICIPANTS?

BETH HOPPE>> WELL, THE MOST IMPORTANT REQUIREMENT FOR THE PARTICIPANTS WAS TO HAVE A REAL INTEREST IN THE HISTORY THAT THEY WERE GOING TO EXPLORE, TO GET THEIR HANDS DIRTY WITH -- WELL, SOME OF THEM HAD TO GET THEIR HANDS DIRTY (LAUGHTER). BUT THAT WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT REQUIREMENT, THAT THEY WERE INTERESTED IN THE PERIOD, THAT THEY WOULD REALLY DEVOTE THEMSELVES TO THE PROJECT AND NOT JUST LOOK FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO --

JESS>> -- BUT YOU HAD TO HAVE A REAL FAMILY?

BETH HOPPE>> YES, IT WAS A REAL FAMILY.

VAL>> AND THAT REAL FAMILY WAS THE OLLIFF-COOPER FAMILY, YES?

ANNA OLLIFF-COOPER>> YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

VAL>> WHY DO YOU THINK YOU WERE CHOSEN?

ANNA OLLIFF-COOPER>> WELL, I HAVE TO SAY I THINK WE WERE CHOSEN AS MUCH FOR OUR FAULTS AS FOR OUR VIRTUES (LAUGHTER). I WOULD SAY THAT MY HUSBAND IS QUITE NATURALLY AUTOCRATIC, IF I CAN PUT IT LIKE THAT, AND HE TOOK TO HIS ROLE AS MASTER OF THE HOUSE WITHOUT TOO MUCH PROBLEM.

VAL>> IS IT TRUE THAT YOU HAD TO CHANGE YOUR CLOTHES LIKE THREE, FOUR, FIVE OR SIX TIMES A DAY?

ANNA OLLIFF-COOPER>> YES, THAT'S QUITE RIGHT.

VAL>> WHY?

ANNA OLLIFF-COOPER>> WELL, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO -- WELL, YOUR ONLY JOB AS THE LADY OF THE HOUSE REALLY WAS TO LOOK ELEGANT AND SUPPORT YOUR HUSBAND. YOU JUST HAD TO. THAT WAS THE WAY THINGS WERE DONE. IT WAS NOT --

VAL>> -- AND CHANGING CLOTHES WAS NOT A QUICK AND EASY --

ANNA OLLIFF-COOPER>> -- NO, IT WASN'T QUICK. IT TAKES ABOUT AN HOUR TO AN HOUR AND A HALF TO GET DRESSED UP FULLY, YES.

JESS>> AND HOW IMPORTANT WAS CLASS DISTINCTION?

ANNA OLLIFF-COOPER>> OH, IT WAS THE ESSENCE. IT WAS JUST THE WHOLE ESSENCE OF THE LIFE AT THE TIME WHERE YOU STOOD IN THE PECKING ORDER.

VAL>> NOW ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY TABOO IS FOR ANY KIND OF ROMANCE TO DEVELOP BETWEEN THE SERVANTS.

JESS>> AH, BUT IT HAPPENED.

VAL>> IT HAPPENS, YES, IT DOES, AND WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK NOW AT A CLIP FROM "MANOR HOUSE" THAT DEALS WITH THAT EVENT.

[FILM CLIP]

JESS>> AS SOMEONE WROTE, THEY WERE DOING SOMETHING OTHER THAN THE DISHES (LAUGHTER).

HUGH EDGAR>> THEY WERE DOING SOMETHING OTHER THAN THE DISHES. YOU'RE QUITE RIGHT (LAUGHTER).

JESS>> WELL, USUALLY WE'D SAY THE BUTLER DID IT, BUT I GUESS NOT.

HUGH EDGAR>> NO, NOT THE BUTLER (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> BUT YOU WERE THE ONE THAT HAD TO, WHAT, DISCIPLINE HIM AND BRING HIM INTO LINE? YOU WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BEHAVIOR OF THE SERVANTS?

HUGH EDGAR>> I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BEHAVIOR OF ALL THE SERVANTS, YES. SO THAT'S WHY I'M WARNING HIM WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES ARE. IF THEY CONTINUE, SHE WOULD BE SACKED. THEY WOULDN'T HAVE SACKED THE MAN.

JESS>> THE RATIO OF FAMILY TO SERVANTS WAS EXTRAORDINARY.

BETH HOPPE>> AND IT WAS ACTUALLY LESS THAN IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN TO RUN THAT HOUSE. WE HAD TWELVE SERVANTS AND FIVE FAMILY MEMBERS AND THE HOUSE WAS BARE BONES. WE WERE JUST GETTING BY AND THAT WAS REALLY JUST PRACTICAL CONSTRAINTS OF TRYING TO RECREATE THIS ERA. THAT HOUSE WOULD HAVE NEEDED MANY MORE SERVANTS.

VAL>> WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK NOW AT THE BUTLER -- NO, I'M SORRY -- THE MASTER OF THE HOUSE --

JESS>> -- THE AUTOCRATIC MASTER OF THE HOUSE (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> -- CALLING THE SERVANTS ON THE CARPET. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.

[FILM CLIP]

VAL>> OH, HE TOOK HIS ROLE SERIOUSLY.

JESS>> HE PLAYED AN AUTOCRAT VERY WELL.

ANNA OLLIFF-COOPER>> YES, HE DID.

JESS>> HE'S THAT WAY AT HOME?

ANNA OLLIFF-COOPER>> WELL, WE HAVE A SLIGHTLY MORE DEMOCRATIC WAY AT HOME (LAUGHTER).

JESS>> WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM THIS?

HUGH EDGAR>> WHAT ONE LEARNS FROM THIS IS THAT YOU DO NEED DISCIPLINE BECAUSE, IN REALITY, YOU CAN'T RUN A HOUSEHOLD, BUT THE VERY, VERY STRICT HIERARCHY THAT DOES NOT ALLOW PEOPLE TO SPEAK TO ME UNLESS I ADDRESS THEM REALLY ISN'T GOOD FOR COMMUNICATIONS, SO IT DOES CREATE PROBLEMS.

VAL>> WHAT DID YOU LEARN, ANNA, REAL QUICKLY?

ANNA OLLIFF-COOPER>> OH, WHAT I LEARNED WAS THAT LIFE COULD BE GREAT FUN IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO WORK ALL THE TIME (LAUGHTER).

JESS>> (LAUGHTER) EXCEPT FOR CHANGING CLOTHES.

ANNA OLLIFF-COOPER>> EXCEPT FOR CHANGING CLOTHES.

JESS>> OUR THANKS TO BETH HOPPE, TO ANNA OLLIFF-COOPER AND TO HUGH EDGAR. PART TWO OF "MANOR HOUSE" AIRS TONIGHT ON KCET AT 8:00 P.M. THE THIRD AND FINAL EPISODE AIRS TOMORROW.

VAL>> AND BEFORE WE GO TONIGHT, SOME SAD NEWS I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT MY LIFE AND TIMES PARTNER, JESS MARLOW. AS YOU MAY HAVE HEARD BY NOW, JESS MARLOW IS LEAVING US SOON. HE'S RETIRING FROM LOS ANGELES TELEVISION AFTER A CAREER THAT HAS SPANNED NEARLY FORTY YEARS IN THIS MARKET. WE ARE SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU SPENT TWO AND A HALF YEARS WITH US. JESS AND HIS WIFE PHYLLIS ARE BOUND FOR THE GOOD LIFE IN SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO. WE'RE GOING TO MISS YOU.

JESS>> WE'RE JUST LOOKING FOR ANOTHER ONE OF LIFE'S ADVENTURES AND THIS ADVENTURE HAS BEEN WONDERFUL. THE LAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS HAVE BEEN VERY PLEASANT. I COULDN'T HAVE ASKED FOR NICER PEOPLE TO WORK WITH. I STILL HAVE A FEW MORE WEEKS LEFT.

VAL>> YES, YOU DO. HE'S GOING TO BE AROUND UNTIL THE END OF MAY, SO WE WON'T BE SAYING GOODBYE EXACTLY YET, BUT WE'RE GOING TO MISS YOU TERRIBLY.

JESS>> THANKS VERY MUCH.

VAL>> WE INVITE YOU TO CHECK OUT OUR KCET.ORG WEBSITE FOR TRANSCRIPTS AND UPDATES ON OUR SHOW.

JESS>> AND THAT'S TONIGHT'S PROGRAM. FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES, THANKS AND GOOD NIGHT.

LIFE AND TIMES WAS 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.

TO REACH US AT LIFE AND TIMES, CALL 323-953-5555. SEND US AN E-MAIL TO LIFEANDTIMES@KCET.ORG OR LOG ONTO OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.KCET.ORG TO SEND MESSAGES OR DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPTS OF TONIGHT’S PROGRAM.