lune30.2010____________________________ ibe JJnrtlanb
QDbsertier
B A C K T O H A U N T US
Pase 15
. better to the (3cditor
Schools Decision Needed
As a parent o f a 7th Grader, I need the Portland School Board and
Superintendent to decide w hat it fiscally needs to do, and then do
it!
School Diversity under Siege
Separate still
isn't equal
by
M arian W right
E delman
The South has m ade m ore
progress in providing children the
opportunity to attend desegregated
schools. Now, sadly, it’s also the
region where re-segregation is grow­
ing fastest.
When the Supreme Court issued
its pivotal Brown v. Board o f Educa­
tion ruling in 1954, the percentage of
black children in the South attend­
ing majority-white schools was just
0.001 percent, or one in 100,000. Six
years later, that number had grown
to one in 1,000. Integration contin­
ued to grow until at its apex, 43.5
percent o f African-American kids
attended majority-white schools in
1988. Since then the number has
steadily fallen. It was down to 27
percent by 2005.
This isn’t just happening in the
South. In June 2007, when the Su­
preme Court assaulted both the spirit
and intent o f Brown v. Board by
ruling that desegregation plans that
assign students to schools on the
basis o f race are unconstitutional,
the lead case in that decision in­
volved opponents o f a program in
Seattle. Resistance to program s
designed to provide more integrated
schools—even in “p rogressive”
communities that had voluntarily
desegregated-is mounting in ev­
ery section o f the country.
Consider w hat’s happening to
the Tinsley Voluntary Transfer Pro­
gram in California.
That Bay Area program came about
as a result of a lawsuit brought by a
group o f parents, including Margaret
Tinsley—who lived in the high-mi-
j nority, low-performing repeatedly found that integration is
Ravenswood City school valuable for all students, as the 2007
district and wanted bet­ Supreme Court decision affirmed.
ter educational opportu­
A recent report by scholars from
nities for their children. the Poverty and Race Research
Separate is still not equal Action Council and the University
in many school districts. In 1986, a o f North Carolina at Charlotte notes
court order was issued permitting a students who attend desegregated
set number of children to transfer schools are more likely to live in
each year from Ravenswood to integrated neighborhoods and make
schools in seven nearby districts, cross-ethnic friendships as adults.
including the Menlo Park City dis­ It also points out that integrated
trict. The program has been very schools prepare students “for com­
popular both with parents and stu­ plex social situations and multiethnic
dents in the Ravenswood district and workplaces where the capacities to
with many families in the receiving engage effectively, problem solve,
districts. But recently the Menlo Park plan, and collaborate with people
City superintendent raised the ques­ different from oneself are at a pre­
tion of whether Menlo Park could mium.” Children need more oppor­
continue participating in the program, tunities like this, not fewer.
citing a budget crunch and the
Until our neighborhoods are all
district’s growing number o f chil­ racially and socioeconomically di-
dren.
verse-a manifestation o f Dr. Martin
Menlo Park parents who value Luther King Jr.’s “beloved commu­
the diversity the transfer program nity” that is very, very far from com­
has brought to their schools found ing to pass—children will not have the
themselves clashing with neighbors opportunity to experience racial and
who wanted the program eliminated. socioeconomic diversity in their
A strong debate took place before neighborhood schools. Instead, too
the school board agreed not to sus­ many children are still being isolated
pend the program—for now.
in high-minority, high-poverty, high-
W hat’s at stake in these choices? failure schools, where they aren’t
Menlo Park and the other districts receiving an equal education or an
that receive students through the equal chance to succeed in life.
Tinsley program have been caring
That struggle was too hard-
communities helping children move fought by too many people to con­
tow ards successful passage to tinue the erosion o f inclusion on our
adulthood—many o f whom might watch. Decisions on whether or not
otherwise have become trapped in to insist on making these opportu­
the “cradle-to-prison pipeline” that nities reality for all children have
funnels vulnerable children down deep implications for our values as
life paths marked by school failure, a n atio n , o u r c o m m itm en t to
dropping out, and incarceration. At progress, and the true education we
the same time, they also are giving want all our children to receive and
all their students valuable exposure that all children deserve.
and educational opportunities and
We can’t let them down.
a broader education than they may
Marian Wright Edelman is presi­
have had otherwise. Studies have dent o f the Children's Defense Fund.
This two year process and speculation on the high schools
redesign have been so confusing to our students and us parents.
We cannot m ake plans or get our kids excited about their future
plans. The threats o f changes are m aking folks bail from the PPS
D istrict or not attend the schools in consideration for change.
Our kids are resilient and will make (with our help) the school that
they are assigned work. We cannot get a thought o f what our
choices are though! All o f these ideas and changes have damaged
the schools in the discussions (M arshall, Benson, Jefferson and
Roosevelt) already.
Decide w hat schools you can afford to run at their best and we
will react as needed for our student. If we need to move to another
area, netw ork with other students to go where we go, or get
involved with the school early by canvassing for grants or busi­
ness partnerships for the school, the parents can help.
We cannot be in a holding pattern any longer. It's not fair to staff,
com m unity, fam ilies and m ost o f all students.
All o f the pride and support is being sucked away from this
labored process! If my fam ily needs to get rid o f a car to m eet our
budget, we don't ask the neighbors. Y ou've asked and asked and
asked the neighbors, please now ju st do what you need to do.
Leave us strongly funded, sharply staffed and sm artly taught
schools when you're done. Load them with sports, activities and
arts along with a great curriculum and our kids will succeed! Then
the com m unity will thank you and won't that be refreshing.
Paula Sylvester
Boise Eliot Parent
__—
-riday August 6th, 2010: Place to be announced
Saturday August 7th, 2010: Embassy Suites Portland Airport Hotel
(rooms available for only $109 + tax)
Cost for reunion: Classmates $65 spouse or companion $35
Please R.S.V.P. as soon as possible to
E-mail to: leilablakely@gmail.com (preferable)
Voice mail: Carol Erdmann 503-982-3051
Snail mail: JHS Class of 70 / PO Box 19905 / Portland, Oregon 97280