The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • Page 286

Found: A Better Way to Grow BY MARY BARBER Timet. Stall wnur In 1948 mental health was a suspicious concept, Freud a questionable name to bring up in some company, and psychological theories were linked to craziness. During this period a mental health center for children was so castigated by the West Los Angeles community that it had to fight for its life, and nearly lost. Nationwide, thatwasnotanunusual story. At the same time the same concepts were being applied to a child care and study program in Montebello and it not only flourished it was the backbone of the Rio Hondo Mental Health which became Montebello Guidance Center, both innovative institutions at the beginning.

Virginia Kei Yamamoto, to whom credit is given, still doesn't know how it happened that the then-far-out application of psychoanalytic theory to the rearing of normal children was accepted so unquestioningly in the small town of Montebello. It could be that few people in positions of authority were aware of what she was doing. But that wouldn't explain her successful energetic push to develop the other mental health institutions that some communities couldn't establish until 20 years later. In a 28-year leap, we find Virginia Yamamoto in the same place, and her favored theories so long and well accepted that there's a whole generation that doesn't know there was human life on earth before mental health concepts and education. There is general knowledge now of the sources of hostility and outlets for it, of the effects of trauma on human development, of the need for accepting environments, of inner drives toward creativity and self-fulfillment But there still isn't enough knowledge of these and many more aspects of mentalemotional growth, Mrs.

Yamamoto acknowledges. She still hears parents say things like, "I wish I had had this information earlier," "If I only had known this before I had children," and "I wish my husband knew this." There's still a lot of educating to do and Mrs. Yamamoto goes about her part with a background of almost 30 years of proof in the effectiveness of child and parent education. One of the greatest rewards is a second generation of Child Study Class participants parents who were once toddlers in the school and now bringing their own little ones. The program comes under adult education in Montebello Unified School District.

Headquarters is the Farmer Jones Schoool, a remodeled old house adjoining Montbcllo High School campus on Wilcox Ave. There are six separate locations for the classes in other district schools, with Mrs. Yamamoto now officially retired and serving part-time as consultant Please Turn to Page 6, Col, INNOVATOR Virginia Yamomoto, who introduced a child studies program in Montebello 28 years ago, holds Miriam Morales, 4, and helps her read a story. She now serves as consultant. Times photo bv Steve Rice Compton Police Chief Revamps Department 64th ASSEMBLY Squeaker Seen in Gonsalves, Stirling Contest BY LARRY LANE Times Stall Writer Dave Stirling and Jim Gonsalvcs may be the last two guys to go to bed in the Southeast area on Nov.

2. Their scramble for the open seat in the 64th Assembly District has been the area's closest in terms of candidate philosophy and partisan registration, and will probably be the closest at the polls. Gonsalvcs. 32. is a moderate Democrat Stirling.

35, is a moderate Republican. Democrats hold a slim registration edge (49 to 47) in the district, but Republicans have traditionally turned out a higher percentage of party loyalists. Who will win? It depends, each candidate says, on who the voters want to represent the district in Sacramento. Says Stirling, a Whittier attorney: "Jim and I arc not miles apart on the issues, but the problem is, as I see it, that Jim's party has control of the Legislature. Those in control of the Democratic caucus do not represent the views of the people of the district, nor do they represent Jim's views.

He'll be forced to play their game, to liberalize his views. "If I go up there. I have no strings. I'm not locked into the controlling party. I can check their balance much like the incumbent.

(Assemblyman Bill) Campbell (R-Hacienda Heights), has done." Says Gonsalves an aide to County Supervisor Pete Schabarum: "I think our philosophies arc fairly similar, but I don't think Dave can go to Sacramento as a maverick Republican and be completely effective. "A politician should begin with the strength in his own party and then be willing to cross party lines and work with others to develop the most comprehensive legislation possible. "I think I will be able to gain bipartisan support for legislation which I feel will benefit the district." The candidates agree that property tax reform will be the biggest issue to confront the Legislature during its next session. "I believe the slate should change assessment laws on homes, for one thing," says Gonsalvcs. "I believe that property should be taxed on the price it is purchased for until it is resold.

Please Turn to Page 4, Col. 1 Whittier Uptown Miniparks Urged 1 1 ji'WRi? fttSSiwi A Copter Use Scrapped in Favor of Three Top Division Heads BY TOM GORMAN Timet Staff Writer COMPTON The city has scrapped plans to lease a helicopter for aerial police surveillance, opting instead to restructure the management of the Police Department. New Police Chief Joseph Rouzan has won unanimous City Council approval to establish three police commander posts, a move that is expected to strengthen the department's administration. The action taken Saturday is seen by some at City Hall as a response to a report earlier this year by the county's Commission on Human Relations, which noted that sergeants were wielding too much control of the department That report noted that sergeants were, at the time, "running the department and disregarding the policies and directives from the chief of police." Chief then was Thomas W. Cochee, who resigned five days after the report was published in The Times.

The report also recommended that "transfers be initiated at the administrative level to achieve effective management and organization of the department" Under Rouzan's new organizational plan, the commanders, who will report directly to the chief, will oversee three areas administrative services (records, communications, court liaison, the jail, property, special services (narcotics, vice, intelligence, personnel, training, etc.) and community services (patrol, gang, robbery, traffic, The commanders, not vet hired, will be paid between S30.216 a year. None will have civil service protection. Rouzan also won City Council approval to reallocate city funds to rehire six clerical persons positions that were removed during budget hearings and reallocate federal funds to hire three records supervisors and five communications officers. Rouzan easily persuaded the council to agree with the moves, an indication that council members meant what they said when they promised Rouzan their full cooperation for-his plans to rebuild the department Please Turn to Page 2, Col. 4 Southeast Loans Program Started COMMERCE Home improvement loans at 39f interest rate are being offered to property owners by the Commerce Redevelopment Agency.

With a repayment period of 20 years, the low interest rate loans program is designed to encourage residents to renovate and rehabilitate their property to meet current property rehabilitation standards. The CRA has budgeted $170,000 for the first year of the program. Commerce Backs Prop. 2 COMMERCE The City Council has endorsed the passage of Prop. 2.

the Nejedly-Hart State, Urban and Coastal Park Bond Act of 1976. The November ballot measure would provide $280 million for parklands. Hospital PR Appointed WHITTIER Rick Clark has been appointed public relations director of Whittier Hospital. Clark is a graduate of La Habra High School and Fuller-ton Community College and will complete his BA in interdisciplinary studies at Cal State Fullerton in June, 1977. The new director has worked as llos Angeles VLimtti Edition Part VII THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1976 Work Experience Is Questioned by Cerritos Trustee BY LARRY LANE Times Staff Writer Cerritos College Trustee Lou Banas said Tuesday that the college's work experience program has failed in many cases to place jobless students in training programs.

Instead. Banas said, the college is giving classroom credit to several students already employed, with many participants receiving not only a salary but veterans' benefits as well. The board member, however, did not succeed in his attempt to forestall the hiring of job development consultants pending "a complete and thorough investigation" into the program. Over Banas' objection, the board authorized up to $18,000 this school year for what it termed "job bounty" payments to individuals who find training jobs for college students. Banas he had conducted a month-long investigation into the program, checking the records of 20 student participants.

He said he found several "flaws" in the operation, including poor campus-employer communications, a failure of employers to place employed students "in a position to upgrade their skills." and lackluster efforts to place uncm-Plcasc Turn (o Page 2, Col. I News Notes a teacher at the East Whittier Development Center for the Handicapped. He holds a teaching permit in special education. Cerritos Fills Campus Post Donald Hunt, 42, park superintendent in Simi Valley for the past five years, was hired by Cerritos College trustees this week as director of maintenance, operations and transportation. He replaces John (Bud) Zimmerman who retired in July.

Hunt served the college as operations supervisor from 1959 to 1971. He will be paid $19,560 year. Channel to Be Enclosed COMPTON An $82,000 project to construct a concrete enclosure over Compton Creek between Grcenlcaf Blvd. and Artesia Blvd. has been awarded by the City Council to Daniel, Mann.

Johnson and Mendenhall in Los Angeles. The area, near Alameda St. and the Artesia Freeway, is being developed as an automobile retail sales center and is bisected by the flood control channel. The city hopes to und the project through the federal Public Works Act of 1976. Southeas PARTISANS Contributing to the campaigns of candidates of the two major parties are workers in campaign headquarters located in the Southeast area.

Above, Helen Geir, front, and Irene L. Nuffer make precinct calls from Republican headquarters at 1 1544 E. Rosecrans Norwalk. At right are posters and literature promoting local candidates, including Assemblyman Robert McLennan of Downey, Rep. Del Clawson, Downey, and William Campbell, candidate in 33rd State Senate District.

In addition, the office is pushing for the election of S.I. Hayakawa to the U.S. Senate and the Ford-Dole national ticket. The office is open 2 to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays as well as each Saturday.

BRUCE YOUNG I'm Inn TUNNEY ess ill. I Ml If BY KEITH TAKAHASHI Tlmei Stall Writer WHITTIER The construction of street miniparks. perhaps incorporating a Quaker town theme, could serve as an immediate sign of the revitaliza-tion of the Whittier Uptown, according to business leaders. Miniparks were included among a wide range of topics discussed by directors of the Whittier Uptown Assn. this week, which centered on redevelopment of the central business district.

To be located on the left hand side of one-way streets where they intersect other streets, the miniparks would extend up to pedestrian crosswalks, explained Harold Kinnaman, Uptown Assn. president. "It can be done immediately," Kinnaman said. The minipark, or minirest areas, arc a part of Bakersfield's redevelopment area, he added. Enclosed by low brick walls, the areas have benches and plantings.

Please Turn to Page 3, Col. 1 FOCAL POINT Meanwhile, in Downey, the Democrats are working for their slate of candidates in headquarters at 11026 Downey where volunteer worker Judy Alexander mans a telephone in front of area precinct maps. Posters in the office windows, left, leave no doubt of the partisan activities inside. In addition to the candidates named on the signs, the headquarters is working for the Carter-Mondale ticket and supporting two candidates in nonpartisan judicial contests. Interesting to note is the fact that both parties have located headquarters in areas dominated by other's party.

Times photos by Steve Rice ArBetty i.