The sociology of racism, prejudice, and intolerance is complex, but if one wanted to draw an overly broad conclusion it would be that diversity causes conflict; just look back in history and at the world around you. What keeps conflict at bay is a respect for the rights of others, not artificial heterogeneity. The research is clear that integration alone (the "contact hypothesis") does not reduce prejudice. How would racially heterogeneous schools help Minneapolis?
(from Michael Atherton's post) I think that this is a "teachable" moment and that we should pause from the current arguments about how to organize the schools to teach culturally and economic different populations. Michael's statement is absolutely right and many Minnesotans and people from Minneapolis often forget this. We can't legislate to make people change their attitudes, but we can hold people accountable for their behavior. Especially in race and culture. I don't see how the Minneapolis schools can solve the social, economic, and race problems of the wider society. But by trying to implement desegregation and cultural diversity policies, we just create resentment across the board and all groups are unhappy with the education that comes out of the schools. I'm not hopelessly naive. The schools should devise and implement long-term strategic solutions to the problems not just short-term political fixes and fads. My definition of public school planning in Minneapolis is putting out fires between fads. One strategic solution that I advocate is using public money to finance affordable housing in targeted neighborhoods. This policy should be tied to school plans to desegregate the neighborhoods and thus the schools. David Wilson Loring Park _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
