December 26, 1979

Washington

New studies of inner city public schools are challenging widespread view--rooted in '66 Coleman report and other well-known social science research--that urban schools can do little to overcome negative effects of poverty; new research suggests that if schools in slum areas are properly run, virtually all students, no matter how disadvantaged, can be taught to read, write and calculate at level sufficient to function in American society; findings detailed; portraits of social scientist Dr James S Coleman and Bernard R Gifford, former NYC Deputy School chancellor (L)

Final preparations go forward for cease-fire scheduled to go into effect at midnight Dec 28; last of American military planes that assisted Britain in pre-cease-fire airlift is scheduled to leave, carrying away Americans who acted as ground crew during 5-day operation; American airlift moved 5,300 tons of equipment to Rhodesia to be used by 1,300-man Commonwealth truce-monitoring force; Lord Soames tours camp where several hundred Commonwealth soldiers, mainly Britons, are awaiting deployment to monitoring sites; military headquarters reports continued fighting but gives no details to add to communique that reported 26 new deaths in conflict (M)

Article examines facilities at Olympic village and controversy over plans to convert facilities into Federal prison for youthful offenders; Fed, state and local officials and Lake Placid residents comment; illus (M)

Article on herring notes finest herring is from northernmost waters and NYC is undisputed herring capital in country; drawing (M)

Another round of gasoline price increases in NYC is predicted by representatives of petroleum industry, gasoline retailers and consumer advocates, just as prices reach average of $1.20 a gallon (S)

Article on how Toni and Virgil Sickmann of Krakow, Mo, parents of hostage in Iran, spent Christmas Day; illus (S)

Article on ambitious information programs undertaken by utilities, reactor manufacturers and engineering companies committed to expanding use of nuclear energy following accident at 3 Mile Island; spending set by Edison Electric Institute, Atomic Industrial Forum, Committee for Energy Awareness and individual utilities noted; pronuclear forces complain that TV stations will not sell them ad time (M)

Article on US Repr Elizabeth Holtzman notes her persistence on issues, notably apprehension and prosecution of Nazi war criminals living in US; illus (M)

Illus of youngster on Christmas morning

IAM passionately fond of New Year's Eve. I love that night like a warm blanket, a roaring log fire and an extra dry martini. It is the only festival at the year's end about which I am sentimental. It is a time of abandon and forgetfulness, good will, good wine and good food. In times past, when I have been bearably poor, I have on that one night felt colossally rich, the grandest of pashas, the epicure's epicure.

Article examines operations of private investigators; illus of investigator Jack La Rue (M)