education: one city figured it out

raleigh got worried that its efforts to racially integrate it schools wouldn't cut it if someone complained to the federal courts. so they looked at the research and came up with a solution...instead of sending kids to schools based on race, integrate them based on class. they are trying to get every school in the county at no higher than 40% low-income students. so far they are doing a pretty damn good job of it too.

and, imagine this...everyone's test scores are going up. (although i cannot stand standardized testing and i think it is crap and horrible method of testing learning and such...if you are stuck with it, use it to your advantage...and in this case i do think it is indicative of what is going right in raleigh). blacks and hispanics have seen the test scores of their children close the gap significantly during the economic integration. and, low and behold, the wealthy white folks are beginning to learn that their children are enriched by attending schools diverse in race and class.

it seems as though it should be obvious...especially to anyone who has ever attended a school at any level that is diverse...that integration provides for an educational experience far more fulfilling as well as beneficial. still, i dont have much hope that raleigh's blueprint will be followed across the country. having grown up in middle-class suburbs of chicago i am well aware that when people move outside the city to go to better schools...they really dont want to share any money with the schools and children in most dire need. it is a shame really. maybe if there were some way we could integrate cities, and do it without kicking the poor out...who knows. i just wish it could be done.

sail away with me.