Black tots' problem probed

              Course closes gap
Black tots' problem probed
By Ch**c* HuKhcf-r*t
StwfcnB Daily
A course aimed at understanding the influences ot the
black child's social and cultural environment is being
taught by Michael Zunich,
chairman ot tbe Child and
Family Department,
Tbe course is The Black
American child and Family
408.
Zunich a a id the course
"seeks to develop insight into
[be black child as a person,
member of (he family, school
and community-"
"Black parents warn their
children treated as any other
child. Children are children,"
Zunich said.
Working with thelleadStan
program gave him the ideas
to atari such courses, he said.
"Each class Is different.
It sometimes gets heated In
terms of various students,"
he said. ''The class Is good,
also. In lerms of sensitivity
training."
He  term* his classes as
highly sensitive to the black
students and highly valuable to
white students who warn to
know how to treat black children.
Zunich said some of his students were disappointed because they wanted to "slot tbe ,
black child Into ��� category,
but they can't. Children arc
children."
Zunich said the course is
not too specific, but did stress
some points which he left
open 10 discussion in his
class, guchascharactcristlcs
5f the disadvantaged child,
Bpecial problems and needs,
influences of poverty on child
relationships, economic Influences upon children's
learning and motivation and
other areas of group interest.
Me listed characteristics of
the black child as economic,
values and attitudes within his
minority group, motivaiion
within the family and the development of self-concept.
"In marital relations most
problems stem from the lack
of money, Zunich said
"which causes heated dls~
cu—ions and interactions and
sexual difficulties.
"Tne black father In tbe
paa? couldn't find employment
and the mother was left with
the responsibility of raising
the family. This is changing."
Tbe child's leaning and
motivation are parental concern but one cannot say a
child is bright or not Just
from bis economic background, Zunich said.
"Economic factors will
contribute to learning experiences and learning materials
in the middle class family.
Books and environmental experiences such as the zoo,
cotst money. Even at Christmas the middle class child
receives learning devices,
games, etc., whereas the poor
child  doesn't," Zunich said.
When he starts school, Zunich said, the poor child is
behind, and the Head Start
program is designed primarily to alleviate this.