What's missing in this discussion is the fact that we accept that there exists "high poverty" or "lower class" areas of the city like it's a given and that is how it is supposed to be. In fact, that is absolutely how it isn't supposed to be. Federal, State and local laws all support that.
In the 70's when Mpls. was wrestling with how to desegregate the schools the solution should have been found by opening up traditionally closed communities so more lower income families and families of color could move into them. Further, opportunities for relocating lower income families should have been developed and we should have desegregated neighborhoods suburbs and rural communities not just the schools. It is this balance that will equalize learning opportunities and access to education. For years we bused kids from neighborhoods like mine to schools all over the city completely destroying any and all semblance of community and it's importance on a stable education and making it difficult for low income parents to be engaged in their children's education. Now, under the guise of saving money on transportation we have returned to community schools. Oops, we forgot to desegregate the neighborhoods, suburbs and rural areas. So, that is how we end up with inner-city schools having such a high % of students of color and those who qualify for free lunch. To suggest that people segregate by choice is only partially true. The reality is that most low income people and especially people of color have been limited in their ability to choose neighborhoods, suburbs or rural communities to live in by institutional racism for years. They still are to a large degree. Local zoning codes and banking institutional red-lining have created walls that have not yet been penetrated. Some inner and outer ring suburbs have created some affordable housing opportunities. But, they are limited in number. As a percentage of their total population it is negligible. That is why housing developments in the so-called "better" areas of town have long waiting lists. Yet, when I point out to people that these communities are in effect "gated" they are quick to tell me that there is an apartment building on such and such street that poor people live in like now the community has somehow done its share. David is right and Whittier is a prime example. A beautiful top of the line, state of the art facility, higher than average per student contributions and still at the bottom of the heap in test scores. So, the old adage of "throw more money at it" doesn't work here. We threw $13M in for the facility and somewhere around $8K per student per year. In reality, imagine being a 5th grade teacher with 23 kids in your class. 7 are Mexican/Latino and speak limited English, 3 of those cannot read or write in Spanish or English. Another 7 are Somali and speak or read limited English. Another 5 kids speak English but not "correctly" and 3 of them are reading at a 3rd grade level. Of the class total of 23, 5 of them are acting out on a daily basis because they either have some emotional or behavioral disorder or are from families that are struggling and where education lacks priority. In the spring they will all take the mandatory 5th grade tests written in perfect English.........how many do you think will pass? It would be interesting to see the minority % and % of kids on the free lunch programs from other metro area schools like Edina, Eden Prairie, Woodbury, Roseville, St. Louis Park, Golden Valley, etc. etc. etc. Compare the stats from those schools to the ones I listed yesterday. So, once again the question becomes, 50 years after the decision from the Brown v.s. the Board of Education, just how well is Minneapolis really doing? Barb Lickness Whittier ===== "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." -- Margaret Mead REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
