When Public Schools Aren't Color-Blind

[jolinar of malkshor]

Louisville's racial guidelines keep its schools from having too many or too few black students. Most parents like the policy. Will the Supreme Court strike it down?

Sounds like an interesting idea. Looks good at first glance. Ensures that schools aren't segragated into colours.

What do you guys think?

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/ar...562980,00.html

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Ah, yes. The old affirmative action debate.

I note that these issues are usually brought to a head by a parent who complains:

The system, which has been in place for a decade, has made Jefferson County one of the most integrated school districts in the country. But if Crystal Meredith, a single mom who was told her son could not transfer to another elementary school because he is white, has her way, the whole thing will be dismantled.

I'm not sure what my opinion on policies like this is... On the one hand, more segregated school disctricts magnifies socioeconomic differences between ethnic groups. On the other hand, the socioeconomic differences in a way came first--the segregation is an effect of them. If the alternative is to do nothing to encourage integration, then I guess I'd be in favour of continuing a program of this kind. But it seems to me that there must be some way of addressing the root causes of racial disparity--and in the long run that should have the same effect, no?

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by Iowa_Flames_Fan

Ah, yes. The old affirmative action debate.

I note that these issues are usually brought to a head by a parent who complains:


I'm not sure what my opinion on policies like this is... On the one hand, more segregated school disctricts magnifies socioeconomic differences between ethnic groups. On the other hand, the socioeconomic differences in a way came first--the segregation is an effect of them. If the alternative is to do nothing to encourage integration, then I guess I'd be in favour of continuing a program of this kind. But it seems to me that there must be some way of addressing the root causes of racial disparity--and in the long run that should have the same effect, no?

True.

I abig problem is the develpoment of housing in cities. They need to distribute housing developments evenly around the city. Much like Calgary....a large portion of immigrants live in the NE because 1) it is cheaper and 2) that is where a lot of the same people live....so they want to be around what they know. It would be pretty hard to tell people where they are allowed to live in the city.

[Agamemnon]

Interesting... forced racial integration is good, forced racial segregation is bad. I'd certainly like to see what the Supreme Court will decide here... seems like quite the contentious issue.