School Consolidation And The Politics Of School Closure Across Communities

In his book, Race, Racism, and American Law, Derrick Bell maintains that the American government is only willing to lessen the injustices imposed on African-Americans if it will positively impact the white community--either economically or politically. The chapter, “Neither Separate Schools Nor Mixed Schools: The Chronicle of the Sacrificed Black Schoolchildren,” in Derrick Bell’s book, And We Are Not Saved, demonstrates this point through the fictional disappearance of black schoolchildren while on their way to their school. At first, there was public outrage over such an unexplainable incident occurring, especially in the midst of all the political and cultural progress made by the recent decision to integrate public schools. Then, it is revealed that the main incentives for the school board’s sympathy and distress were because, “state funding of the schools was based on average daily attendance figures, [therefore] the school system faced a serious deficit during the current year,” (And We Are Not Saved, 105).

America’s school system and student population remains segregated, by race and class. The inequalities that exist in schools today result from more than just poorly managed schools; they reflect the racial and socioeconomic inequities of society as a whole. Most of the problems of schools boil down to either racism in and outside the school or financial disparity between wealthy and poor school districts. Because schools receive funding through local property taxes, low-income communities start at an economic disadvantage. Less funding means fewer resources, lower quality instruction and curricula, and little to no community involvement. Even when low-income schools manage to find adequate funding, the money doesn’t solve all the school’s

“…Superintendent James Agostine called to offer an empty school that was a godsend” (Six Months). My thesis relates to this because since they had a plan after this they could get back and rolling with the no academic interruption. The school had many volunteers who helped out to rebuild the community with help from the Red Cross. Without these people helping out and giving food to the victims’ families, the city would have been in chaos with the families being very upset (‘Six Months”). Although people may be mad at the superintendent, it’s not his fault and he wants to help the families and help everyone rebound from this tragic event (Gay). Many parents were furious at the superintendent for not saving their children but he’s in as much pain as they are. Although Sandy Hook shooting was a tragic day in history, society benefitted by better

Mark Biller describes the educational system like a delicate ecosystem, all parts of it need to work together if things are going to last. If the community does not support a school, odds are the school will have to close-down. If the teachers don’t work with parents, then kids will not get the support they need. If parents do not support teachers, students loose an

This demonstrates that if Sam’s school had got more funding then Sam may have received a proper education, and would have learned the intellectual skills that could help him to obtain a high paying job. Unlike many other people in richer parts of America who are able to achieve a lot in life due to their education, Sam’s lack of wealth ruins his future. Another example is one that hits closer to home- in terms of educational funding, the Illinois system is corrupt, and one of the districts that suffers most is that of Chicago Public Schools. In an interview with Ryan Young from CNN and an anonymous Chicago Public School teacher over the recent strike over budget cuts and the overall lack in school funding, the teacher states, “We care about the students. We want funding for our schools so our children can have supplies… gym, art, and PE., just like the kids in the suburbs do.” This is a direct representation of what is occurring in the Chicago Public School system today as a consequence of budget cuts and unequal funding. In general, the lack of school funding gives poorer children disadvantages when it comes to supplies that can help them to thrive. Also, budget cuts weaken the capacity of schools’ to develop the intelligence and creativity of the next generation of workers. In fact,, funding cuts lessen the ability of the schools to help prepare children better for their future, such as improving teacher

It was with wild fanfare that the state’s Republican legislature and Republican Governor enacted their reforms for the state’s public school system. Among the panaceas was charter schools, a ‘90s education fad that gives individual parents the right to send their children to state-approved public charter schools at public expense. Politicians reasoned that less-bureaucratic charter schools would teach students better than traditional public schools because charter schools wouldn’t be subject to the same mandates that the state had heaped upon public schools. Furthermore, traditional schools would be forced to compete with charter schools as they lured thousands

The Chicago Public School system was slow to integrate even after the Brown v. Board of Education ruling of 1954. It took much protesting, federal involvement and public outrage to finally bring about more racial equality for the students of Chicago. While the Brown v. Board of Education ruling is thought of as being the reason any racial equality was brought to schools after such long hardships for the African American students, Chicago had a difficult time bringing the ruling to fruition and federal involvement was needed. The Chicago Public School’s Desegregation Consent Decree of 1980 was the order that changed the public schools for the good. Chicago’s story of integration is different than those of other big cities in the U.S, due to the federal government 's large involvement. Through the years after the Brown vs. Board of Education ruling, the School Superintendents changed and school desegregation was faced in different ways. This essay examines what led to the federal government 's involvement with the Chicago Public School system’s desegregation plan. As well as the effects of desegregation on all students in Chicago.

What is the role of public schools? Who should be governing public schools? This paper will address each side of these educational issues as well as offer a position statement and an action plan.

This interview was conducted with Wes Jensen the current principal of Mountain View Middle School. He has been the principal at his current school for two years, and was vice principal of the Blackfoot High School for two years. Before he became an administrator he was a classroom teacher for seven years, giving him 11 years of experience in education. The school has a very diverse population comprised of many different ethnicities including Native American, Hispanic, and Caucasian. The economic situations range from wealthy to highly impoverished. As the principal of this school he is a very professional man who holds high expectations for his staff.

Efforts to desegregate neighborhoods traces back to the 1954 Supreme Court case of Brown v. Board of Education. In recent times, in an attempt reduce both overcrowding and segregation, the NYC Department of Education presented a plan to rezone the Upper West Side. In a similar display of rage as those opposed to Brown v. Board Education demonstrated, parents threatened to take legal action to stop this plan. Parents from the well off neighborhoods were unwilling to give up the schools that they felt entitled to due to their choice of residence, but this came at the cost of the children from the other neighborhoods that are consistently disadvantaged by disparities in the quality of schools. Efforts to rezone neighborhoods to achieve better

Today—nearly fifty years after the Brown decision—explicit endorsements of school segregation have been erased from all state and federal laws, yet the faces of American schools remain eerily similar to those of the 1950s. Current funding inequalities between poor and wealthy districts perpetuate the same inequalities between the races that state-sponsored segregation once did.

“We believe, that is, you and I, that education is not an expense. We believe it is an investment.” Lyndon B. Johnson was referring to education in The United States when he said these words, but they can also refer to the education of a small town. In fact, Hermiston voters will have the chance to decide whether the city should invest in a $104 million school bond that will allow the Hermiston School District to build new schools as well as make improvements to the others that are already standing. It is vital that Hermiston pass the bond because issues that community members have pointed out like overcrowding and student safety will only get worse without it.

The chapter opens with a case—Robert F. Kennedy High School—depicting the many problems facing David King, the new principal of a deeply troubled urban high school. A school that opened with high hopes only a few years ago now finds itself mired in conflict and dissatisfaction. King’s first meeting with his new administrative staff produces a blow-up in which a male housemaster physically threatens the chair of the English department. By the end of the case, the situation feels overwhelming. Is there hope? The authors follow

The one room, log cabin, private school began by the colonists, who came from Europe, served its purpose in the early 1600’s. As the United States increased in size, so did the education system, from the first district being formed in the mid 1700 to 1800’s. Advance to the early 1900’s and many one room schools dotted the land throughout rural areas. These small districts had to meet the standards set by the educational system. High financial costs were involved in meeting and holding these standards to provide quality educational programs and adequate school facilities. This created a burden on the smaller districts, thus the thought of consolidation; “the combining of schools, districts, or administrative units…to create administrative

Education is an issue that touches everyone’s lives in one way or another. Whether you are a parent, student, teacher, taxpayer, or employee, the effects of education on society can be seen everyday. For this reason, public schools are a top concern among political leaders. Over the past twenty-five years, confidence in the nation’s public school system has dramatically declined. While the public for the most part seems to support their school district, criticism is not lacking. Recent years especially have shown dissipating support. It appears that the prevailing view is that public education, as a whole, is in bad condition and is in need of a renewed effort to fix it. Private schools seem to fare