Regarding school desegregation, a ruling of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in 1987 found that school desegregation had been successful. they based this decision on three factors: that the number of single-race schools had decreased; that good faith had been exercised in the attempts by the School Board to desegregate; and that desegregation had been implemented to the greatest extent possible. On the third point, the court remarked, "Little in the record […] suggests that implementation beyond what presently exists is likely to be obtained." On the basis of the court's observation, we can conclude that desegregation was successful.
The second point is dependent on the first; i.e., successful school desegregation by its very nature guarantees that there will be equal educational opportunity for minority students. While metrics for equal opportunity are difficult to quantify, two statistics offered in the textbook provide some substantiation. First, the dropout rate among Boston high school students decreased to below the national average; second, the college graduation rate among alumni of Boston high schools tripled over the same period. These data provide sound proof of an improved educational situation. If the lack of segregation can be considered proof of equal opportunity, then opportunity not only was extended but actually improved.[1]
Finally, racial healing and an improved racial climate did in fact emerge after school desegregation in Boston. Here, the political career of Mayor Ray Flynn is instructive. As noted in the text, Flynn was able to secure a successful citizen referendum on replacement of the elected school board, which had been the locus of resistance to desegregation during the busing crisis. That voters would approve such a measure is indicative that the worst of bad feelings had passed. Although there are occasional outbursts of racism as there sadly are in most areas of the United States, these incidents are less common, and racial violence has virtually disappeared.
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[1] Morgan v. Nucci, 831 F.2d 313 (1st Cir. 1987), accessed February 6, 2017, http://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F2/831/313/398470/
Between the ages of 0-9 years old I lived all over the world as my father was in the Military. When I was 10 years old I attended Mather's School, which is the first public school in the United States of America. When I was 12 years old I attended Martin Luther King, Jr. High School in Boston, the first year of Busing Students in 1975. Two years after that I lived in the suburbs where I attended and graduated high school the only Black Male Student in my class.
ReplyDeleteI recently just remembered that while I was attending Mather's School in 1973-75, the teaching staff abused the Black Students. I realize now there was a system in place to neutralize the Boston Black Community up until Busing in Boston was instituted. I can recall some specific events that point to why the Boston White Community Leaders new they had to change how terrible they treated their fellow communities.
knew
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