25 years ago: Basic skills, not drug prevention, first priority for Lawrence schools

From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Aug. 25, 1986:

  • In spite of a national poll identifying drugs as the No. 1 problem facing U.S. public schools, Lawrence school Supt. Dan Neuenswander said that the first concern here was basic education. “I am always concerned about substance abuse, but I wouldn’t say it is a greater or lesser problem here than elsewhere,” said Neuenswander. “Our No. 1 emphasis is trying to get to a place where we can guarantee that every child masters basic skills — to not let kids slip through the cracks.”
  • Almost six continuous hours of music had greeted visitors to South Park over a recent weekend, when about 80 musicians had gathered for the Kansas State Fiddling and Picking Championships. A 40-minute jam session concluded the event, with as many as 10 musicians filling one of the stages.