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January 3,1974imimNiiiimiHiiiiHiiiiiiiiiimiiiimimifiiHiiiiiiiHiHiiinimiimiwiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiimmiimimiHiHiNMiPHOENIX Page 3uiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiRMuseum Board s Seif-ExaminationProduces a Raised ConsciousnessBY CORRINE COLEMANThough Duncan Cameron%u2019s 30 month term as director of the Brooklyn Museum ended on Dec. 31, the questions raised about his leadership, which after months of public exposure led to the the offering of his resignation, seem not to have been answere with his leaving.Answers however to the perhaps ultimately more im p o rta n t q u e s tio n s relating to the function of the Museum%u2019s governing body, have emerged more clearly as a result of the Eastern Parkway institute%u2019s recent ordeal by fire.The governing board in accepting the director's resignation by a vote of 18-7 (after two earlier refusals) specified (at least in a second running of its statement of resolution) that acceptance bore no reflection on Cameron%u2019s 2Vzyear performance. %u201c The Director is a qualified, talented person who sought to serve the best interests of the Museum as he saw them,%u201d the resolution says, and advises in what seems more than a mere gesture of graciousness, that it finds the long list of charges (by past and some current staff members) against the 43 year old Canadian %u201c to be not of a substantive nature.%u201dReading more like a vote of confidence than an agreement to overturn a directorship, the resolution blames the committee itself for not having prevented the outcome. \guidance and support by the Trustees and Governors there should have been blended an outstanding cohesive group; unfortunately this was not to be;.%u201dDual implications in the board statement suggest on the one hand that the dissident staff members (who along with their other charges, accused the director of staff mistreatment and an anti-aesthetic outlook) were themselves out of order, and on the other, that the board%u2019s earlier entrance into the situation might have tempered some of the director%u2019s rigid turns as well as the dissidents%u2019 discontent.But, whether the bulk of the board believes in retrospect that it could have cut off angry press before the press got a key, or could have calmed both groups into loving cooperation (there is no hindsight hint of a wish for an earlier cut off for Cameron) there is now absolute acceptance of board responsibility for its past lackings of sensitivity and relatedness and thedetermination by the governing body to keep closer connections with Eastern Parkway in the future.The board as a result of its admitted neglect of Museum interpersonal and artistic problems during the past 30 months, was forced to open itself to those problems come to roost, in an unprecedented series of marathon meetings during recent weeks. And, according to some members, they came through this sad and intense period od midafternoon through 1 a.m. meetings and hearings with staff, ex-staff and director, the better for the experience, in a state of elation, with consciousnesses finally raised.Robert A. Levinson, Chairman of the Museum governing board for the past five months, certifies that %u201c Board leadership was insufficient\during the Cameron term. The board handled the Stewart Johnson situation badly he admits, acknowledging that the Johnson firing by Cameron last spring, after the theft of silver candlesticks from his decorative arts department, and the subsequent petition against his dismissal by 21 staff members was symbolic of the underlying controversy between staff anddirector which was to break out in the open this fall. \thought that the small commission set up a year ago to hear complaints would be sufficient,\Chairman said, referring tothe group which is said to have completely exonerated Cameron during the Johnson affair %u2014 though the culprit was alleged to have been a %u201c Cameron man\a master key.Emphasizing that the two week old Cameron resignation was accepted \the museum\out of any dispute with the director's accomplishments, and announcing that the nine staff members who left the museum this fall because of opposition to Cameron would not be rehired (therefore not vindicated) the Chairman nevertheless added that he believes neither side wholly innocent or guilty.Levinson, like other governors, experienced the cathartic changes during the recent period of board %u201c self examination%u2019%u2019 which ended in eventual acceptance of the director's resignation (which Cameron himself attributed to %u201c recent negative publicity generated by a minority of staff and former staff unwilling to accept changes and new policies,\The board got to know each other and the staff during the long sessions, Levinson points out.Board member Seth Faison, a Brooklyn HeightsContinued on Page 16Resume Irregularities BlockingHarris' District 13 AppointmentBY CORRINE COLEMANInformation gathered by District 13 School Board member Seymour Pustilnik about alleged misstatements in the resume of J. Jerome Harris, has led to a court order halting Harris%u2019 appointment as Superintendent of the District which covers Brooklyn Heights, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill and parts of Bed-Stuy. and Park Slope. Harris was set to assume the position on Jan. 1.An order petitioned for by Pustilnik and signed by Judge Murray T. Feiden on December 19 (just before a public meeting scheduled to ratify the Harris appointment) %u201cenjoins the Community Board from entering into an employment contract%u201d with the California educator, pending a judicial ruling.nt-vui uiug vG & u u u i m n )on Harris%u2019 background which he began when the California educator became the District%u2019s favored candidate, revealed that Harris never served as Vice Principal in the California School system, contrary to information he presented to community and board on his resume. The educator, with a Ph.D. from California's Claremont Graduate School, worked instead, as a teacherassigned to the Vice Principal for Boys%u2019 Office (as an Assistant to the Acting Vice-Principal) when the regular V. P. was on leave, Pustilnik says. Harris was earning a teacher%u2019s salary at that time, and is presently working as a secondary school teacher, earning $16,000. per year, he adds, advising that the man chosen in what was called an unprecedented show ofcommunity involvement, never was employed as a Vice Principal anywhere.Pustilnik, who is also in opposition to the other members of the District 13 board on the question of a K-8 school in Brooklyn Heights (the board voted against the arrangement on Nov. 20) says that his presentation of thefindings from California did not deter the board majority from determination to go ahead with the Harris appointment. Though, he says, verification of his information on Harris%u2019 background was less substantial by Dec. 19, the time set for ratification, sufficient information was already obtained to warrant deferment by the Board. The Board%u2019s inaction led tothe petition before Judge Feiden. Pustilnik says.Efforts to reach other members of the board for their views on the action were unsuccessful. One member, A1 Vann, said that any comment should come from Board Chairman Claire Pearce of Park Slope, who the PHOENIX was unable to contact.YWCA Swim-Gym' P r o g r a m OpeningTo R e g is t r a n t s o f A ll A g e G r o u p sRegistration is now open for what may be the best deal in health clubs in Brooklyn. The winter session of the YWCA%u2019s swim-gym program begins the week of January 8th and runs through February 16 th.Swimming is available for every age-group %u2014 from Tiny Tots through life-saving, a prerequisite to Water Safety Instructor certification which qualifies its bearer to teach. Even a 40-year old nonfloater can gain confidence with the personalized instruction the YW offers. Classes are offered Tuesday through Friday, both weekdays and evenings, as w'ell asSaturday at the following levels: Beginners, Advanced Beginners, Interm ediate, Mixed Skills, Swimmers, Sr. Life Saving, and Tiny Tots.Siv half-hnnr sessions are abargain at $12.00. Semi-private and private lessons are available upon request. In addition, the YW pool is open for Dips, coed and family as well as special times for women only and boys only. Call the YW Program Department, 875-1190, for information on class time and Dips. Complete locker and shower facilities are available.The YW pool is undergoing its annual renovation and %u2018he newlypainted and clean pool is one of Brooklyn%u2019s most pleasant. It is available for splash parties at a very reasonable rate. It%u2019s a great solution for what to do for a birthday party, a block association activity, or any happy occasion. For information, call the Pool Office, 875-1190.Tennis classes for adults, both beginners and advanced, are being offered in the Winter Session. Tennis for Juniors, boys and girls 8-12, emphasizes the four basic strokes and game fundamentals. Classes are held on Saturday.In addition, special %u201cafter work\classes in yoga, judo-karate.modern dance and slimnastics are very popular. The YW%u2019s proximity to the IRT and BMT subways makes it a convenient stop on the way home. And if you%u2019re interested in a class or activity not listed, the YW will arrange for teachers and facilities for groups of 8 or more.Incidentally, mid-February will mark the opening of a complete men%u2019s facility with locker room, workout rooms and classes at the YW. in addition to a Businessmen's Special for lunchhour athletes.For information on any YW activities, stop by at 30 Third Avenue at Atlantic, or call the Program Department. 875-1190t