Week 4 CR

Integration Worked. Why have we rejected it? (NY Times) 1. Main issue/topic the article addresses: The main issue addressed in the article is the fact that we have moved away from desegregation of our public schools. Integration of schools proves to better off every child but has been rejected in the United States. 2. Author's Purpose: What was the author’s general intent or what message did the author attempt to convey to readers? The author wanted to convey to the reader that desegregation benefits every student and there have been various attempts in the recent past to integrate and desegregate schools – many of which have been rejected. 3. Main Idea/argument: Provide a statement that conveys the main idea throughout the article or its central argument. The public school system, especially due to a lack of funding and segregation, leaves many students behind the learning curve and ultimately makes it impossible for low- income students to ever achieve any socioeconomic mobility. 4. Questions: What questions did the text seem to raise on the topic? The article raises the question of why has desegregation been widely rejected when it worked so well in the past to cut the achievement gap and income gap. 5. Evidence: What evidence was provided in the article to support its main idea/claim or argument? The article uses studies from both Berkeley and UCLA professors to illustrate that every child is better off when there is integration of races in the classroom. The article also mentions the “No Child Left Behind Act” and provides explanation as to why it was a failure and why the only way to improve the public school system is to go bac to the Brown v. Board rulings and integrate schools. 6. Implications: What possible solutions and/or suggestion for change were offered? The article suggested that the only way to narrow the achievement gap is to reintegrate schools. The article suggests that currently there are many inter-city schools who have pushed for integration but were left to fend for themselves –leaving these children to try and fight for equality I the education that they receive. 7. Your Own Assumption or Point of View *: What prior assumptions about the topic do you, or might you, bring to this article (state at least one)? Having gone to an elementary and middle school in which all of the students were a minority and moving to a charter school where I was surrounded by peers of many different races, I realized early on that there was a difference in the two schools –not only because of the people I was around but also because of the education I received. Despite the fact that the charter school I ended up attending was one of the best academically in the US, being surrounded by peers of many cultures and backgrounds opened up my eyes and ultimately, helped enlighten classroom conversation. It says a lot about our public school system that I had to go to a charter school 30 minutes from my home to experience racial equality in a school but because I have this experience, I understand just how severe segregation in our public school system is. 8. Alternate Assumption or Point of View *: What other possible assumptions may others bring to this topic/issue/problem (state at least one)?