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As someone who lived through school desegregation in the South I hate the idea of neighborhood schools that by default become nearly all white schools or all minority schools.
The argument for neighborhood schools has to do with access and convenience, not race. Educators seem to be brainwashed into thinking that mixing socioeconomic classes will magically pull up the kids from the lower income areas. It doesn't. But, it does make them feel better about themselves.
The county needs to build more schools to meet demand. If they are incapable of accomplishing this basic public need, then municipalities should break away from the county system and form their own district. Taxes will increase for that municipality and citizens will have the option to stay or leave.
That's not true in my experience, theS5, nor is it the whole picture. I think there is value in kids getting to know a diverse population. Again, in my experience, the folks I know who are my age and went through desegregation in the South in the 70s, and went to school with minority kids valued that experience and want that for their kids. I know my spouse went to high school across town in Charlotte to the "black" high school and had a great experience. I, too, had lower income black friends in my schools (who did excel and go on to successful careers) that I probably wouldn't have met if we all went to "neighborhood schools".
I was really appalled back when Tedesco and that crew came in and wrecked the socio-economic diversity model for school assignment in Wake County that had been held up as a national model. I do think that folks who come from areas where there are township type schools and not a lot of racial diversity may not understand what we went through in the South to achieve school desegregation.
That's not true in my experience, theS5, nor is it the whole picture. I think there is value in kids getting to know a diverse population. Again, in my experience, the folks I know who are my age and went through desegregation in the South in the 70s, and went to school with minority kids valued that experience and want that for their kids. I know my spouse went to high school across town in Charlotte to the "black" high school and had a great experience. I, too, had lower income black friends in my schools (who did excel and go on to successful careers) that I probably wouldn't have met if we all went to "neighborhood schools".
I was really appalled back when Tedesco and that crew came in and wrecked the socio-economic diversity model for school assignment in Wake County that had been held up as a national model. I do think that folks who come from areas where there are township type schools and not a lot of racial diversity may not understand what we went through in the South to achieve school desegregation.
I would not minimize your experience, but it is anecdotal. There is very little evidence that the model works for the kids being integrated.
FWIW, in my anecdotal experience, the township model is/can be racially diverse. If, for example, a township model, not unlike Chapel Hill/Carrboro, was instated in Cary, it would be diverse by anyone's standards.
I don't mind township/city schools instead of county schools as long as the town is reasonably diverse. That's what I grew up with and I was bussed away from my neighborhood school. As I mentioned our neighborhood does not go to the closest school. There are 2 or 3 that are a little closer. CHCCS is very much in favor of socio-economic diversity across the schools.
One objective of the magnet program as per wcpss.net is to"Reduce high concentrations of poverty and support diverse populations". WCPSS:*Magnet Schools
It seems to me the magnet program is not growing with the district. It certainly could be expanded and improved and used as a means to promote socio-economic diversity.
The argument for neighborhood schools has to do with access and convenience, not race. Educators seem to be brainwashed into thinking that mixing socioeconomic classes will magically pull up the kids from the lower income areas. It doesn't. But, it does make them feel better about themselves.
The county needs to build more schools to meet demand. If they are incapable of accomplishing this basic public need, then municipalities should break away from the county system and form their own district. Taxes will increase for that municipality and citizens will have the option to stay or leave.
Aren't those high tax municipalities the reason that so many people move here in the first place? You know... to get away from them?
Ahh... recreating them seems... not wise.
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I would not minimize your experience, but it is anecdotal. There is very little evidence that the model works for the kids being integrated.
FWIW, in my anecdotal experience, the township model is/can be racially diverse. If, for example, a township model, not unlike Chapel Hill/Carrboro, was instated in Cary, it would be diverse by anyone's standards.
I grew up here, too. I went to WCPSS. We never had any issue with the socioeconomic diversity model.
I never even heard large numbers of people attacking it until the Margiotta/Tedesco thing popped up in the news and Margiotta seemed to want to create an "exclusive" school system in Cary.
Cary may be somewhat diverse from an ethnic standpoint (better include Morrisville in there, just to be sure), but it's hardly a highly diverse area from a socioeconomic standpoint.
__________________
When in doubt, check it out: FAQ
One objective of the magnet program as per wcpss.net is to"Reduce high concentrations of poverty and support diverse populations". WCPSS:*Magnet Schools
It seems to me the magnet program is not growing with the district. It certainly could be expanded and improved and used as a means to promote socio-economic diversity.
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