Date: Fri 11-Jul-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: DOTTIE

Quick Words:

Yackel-Sheff-vs-O'neill

Full Text:

Yackel On Sheff Vs O'Neill

B Y D OROTHY E VANS

The impact of the Sheff vs O'Neill Supreme Court decision on local schools was

the subject of a debate recently that will be broadcast this Sunday, July 13,

on a show titled "Black Perspective."

The half-hour program will be aired at 7:30 am, and it features Newtown High

School student Mark Yackel taking part in the panel discussion.

Mark, who is entering his senior year, spent several months in his junior

American Government class helping his classmates prepare a student response to

the landmark desegregation ruling. The class was taught by social studies

co-chair Gwen Parks.

The television show was taped Monday, June 30, at West Hartford's Channel 30,

station WVIT, with host Allison Clay.

Mark said he shared the podium with five other participants, including two

state senators, two state representatives and a student from Hartford's

Buckley High School.

"It was a fantastic experience, and I had a lot of fun doing it," Mark said

Monday from his home.

He said the program began with the senators from Hartford and Ridgefield

speaking about the historical background of Sheff vs O'Neill.

Then the two state reps from New Haven and Hartford explained what had been

done so far in Connecticut schools to address the problems of inequality in

educational opportunity.

Finally, Mark and the other student panelist offered their personal opinions

and described their respective schools' responses.

"Unfortunately, I'll be in Bermuda this Sunday, so I won't be able to see the

show," Mark said.

He has asked "plenty of friends" to tape it for him, however.