Annie
Diamond Member
- Nov 22, 2003
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- #81
Umm, actually this is a blow to racial diversity in schools. So saying that isn't a "dishonest ploy" its actually the truth. And it hasn't overturned Brown v. Board of Ed, but it certainly went against the spirit of it.
Nothing is as simple as it appears. The intent of 'forcing school integration' was well meaning, but the results were not what would be hoped. Today we have many areas where the public schools are not capable of educating most of their students; many on the right and considerable numbers of economically disadvantaged parents, say give 'choice' a chance; many others say that 'choice' would lead to a further breakdown in the public schools, ignoring the fact that 'further breakdown' might mean closing failing schools.
Part, not all of the problems may be laid at the feet of busing, under consent decrees or voluntary. Why? Many parents truly were prejudiced and didn't want their children being forced to interact with minorities. A much greater number though, didn't want their children being bused long distances or attending schools that they perceived would not provide the type of education that they wanted their children to have available-through their choices of where to live and sacrifice to do so, (read property taxes).
So even when the demographics of a community may not change in fact, the demographics of the public schools in that community may have. Parents opted to remove their children and put them in private schools. Losinging the children of bigots may not have been a bad thing. Losing the children of those that had education as their first priority would be a bad thing. Children of parents that care about education are likely to be exposed to enrichment activities that they share in class, including those that are not exposed to such. They are likely to be the students that excel in school and their enthusiasm, especially in the younger grades can be infectious with their peers.
Go into schools in areas where there is integration and good public schools and what do you find? For the most part the children are either 'gifted' or there is no forced integration. Why? Regardless of race or other 'minority factors' the families share more of a common view of morals, aspirations, and expectations for their children. It is a community. Force seldom works out according to the expectations of the one making the 'demand', whether it's a parent that sets up a power struggle over eating 'every single thing on your plate' or system of government that tries to force people working for the greater good and denying 'God' or picking a god for them. Choice and its consequences not only work more often, those choosing learn more quickly from their mistakes.