ContrabandCamp examined how "school choice" laws divert tax dollars away from Black schools to fund "segregation academies," white churches and far-right publishers.
Those maps tell the entire story! Admittedly, I find myself conflicted. I acknowledge that "school choice"/private & charter rising demand and popularity are just modern forms of segregation, but given the environment, I do not want to send my child to the local public school. I recognize that the disparities we see in education stem directly from white bigotry, but I also see the value in the additional resources and opportunities that a child can benefit from by not attending an underfunded school. This creates the public school doom loop with white flight, followed by black upper-middle-class flight, which leads to qualified teacher flight and then creates an environment where the most marginalized children are left to deal with the dismal state of the public school.
I attended an underfunded school in middle school. When a new school was built the county rezoned the districts, which I'm sure was just a coincdence that the Title I school was around 90% black and the brand new school was majority white. I'm sure! I struggled in that environment and my parents decided to send me to what was effectively a segregation academy. Outside of the emotional trauma of being a minority in an environment that doesn't value your community, I benefitted from the change.
Today in the ATL area there are high achieving majority black charter schools that my wife and I are interested in for our kids. We know that charter schools are not a solution and only excaberate the issues that will mostly impact our community, but I do not know what the solution is on the individual level.
You nicely articulate the dilemma people face when trying to navigate a systemic problem with only personal level resources.
The state, federal or local communities need to supplement poor areas with extra funding, creating magnet schools with enriched programs.
I.e., I think the wider community of nation, state and county need to respond with a higher level system funding so that individuals don’t find the problem resting on their shoulders in a depressing catch 22 sense of personal dilemma and responsibility.
I think that your "higher level system funding" is supposed to be the state or federal Department of Education. ;-) The Tr$mp regime is trying to destroy the biggest equalizer of funding, the US DOE: surprise, surprise, surprise!
If I’m correct, your child’s ESA is supported by state education tax funds. You use the ESA savings to send your kid to the school of your choice. If you’re a white parent in a majority black district--where public schools are woefully underfunded--you will naturally use the ESA to send your kid to the all-white private academy.
It isn't THAT complex: putting more resources ($$$, teachers, materials, facilities) improves the education that students receive. If ALL the taxpayer dollars get *invested equitably* into public schools, kids learn better. Any $$$ diverted to charter schools or school vouchers only weakens the education that public school students receive.
Agree on the policy level. But for individual families who only pay their taxes and have limited input on county level resource distribution, it’s complex.
Thank you for this very educational post. I had forgotten that Milton Friedman came up with school vouchers: that's one more reason to disavow his foolish ideas.
I'm saddened to seer the letter from the former school principal, who claimed that discussing racism was "divisive." This is one white guy (73, FYI) who completely agrees with your response.
As a Christian, I'd LOVE to see the rest of the "whitey" commandments. Where are they available? The first three were wonderful!
Elephant in the room...Where's the Black Academies? Maybe I missed 'it' on the maps provided above. Mixing with whites is why this problem exists. I say to you, black educated elites...SANKOFA! Go back and get it. Or shut the fuck up!
Those maps tell the entire story! Admittedly, I find myself conflicted. I acknowledge that "school choice"/private & charter rising demand and popularity are just modern forms of segregation, but given the environment, I do not want to send my child to the local public school. I recognize that the disparities we see in education stem directly from white bigotry, but I also see the value in the additional resources and opportunities that a child can benefit from by not attending an underfunded school. This creates the public school doom loop with white flight, followed by black upper-middle-class flight, which leads to qualified teacher flight and then creates an environment where the most marginalized children are left to deal with the dismal state of the public school.
I attended an underfunded school in middle school. When a new school was built the county rezoned the districts, which I'm sure was just a coincdence that the Title I school was around 90% black and the brand new school was majority white. I'm sure! I struggled in that environment and my parents decided to send me to what was effectively a segregation academy. Outside of the emotional trauma of being a minority in an environment that doesn't value your community, I benefitted from the change.
Today in the ATL area there are high achieving majority black charter schools that my wife and I are interested in for our kids. We know that charter schools are not a solution and only excaberate the issues that will mostly impact our community, but I do not know what the solution is on the individual level.
You nicely articulate the dilemma people face when trying to navigate a systemic problem with only personal level resources.
The state, federal or local communities need to supplement poor areas with extra funding, creating magnet schools with enriched programs.
I.e., I think the wider community of nation, state and county need to respond with a higher level system funding so that individuals don’t find the problem resting on their shoulders in a depressing catch 22 sense of personal dilemma and responsibility.
Thanks for your good example.
I think that your "higher level system funding" is supposed to be the state or federal Department of Education. ;-) The Tr$mp regime is trying to destroy the biggest equalizer of funding, the US DOE: surprise, surprise, surprise!
Deeply interesting. Your account opens this complex issue up.
This is becoming increasingly clear in North Carolina, where the local education defunders have gone so far to steal a state legislature seat.
If I’m correct, your child’s ESA is supported by state education tax funds. You use the ESA savings to send your kid to the school of your choice. If you’re a white parent in a majority black district--where public schools are woefully underfunded--you will naturally use the ESA to send your kid to the all-white private academy.
This is true for white families and any family with means. This discussion is simple on the macro level, but very complex for families.
It isn't THAT complex: putting more resources ($$$, teachers, materials, facilities) improves the education that students receive. If ALL the taxpayer dollars get *invested equitably* into public schools, kids learn better. Any $$$ diverted to charter schools or school vouchers only weakens the education that public school students receive.
Agree on the policy level. But for individual families who only pay their taxes and have limited input on county level resource distribution, it’s complex.
Thank you for this very educational post. I had forgotten that Milton Friedman came up with school vouchers: that's one more reason to disavow his foolish ideas.
I'm saddened to seer the letter from the former school principal, who claimed that discussing racism was "divisive." This is one white guy (73, FYI) who completely agrees with your response.
As a Christian, I'd LOVE to see the rest of the "whitey" commandments. Where are they available? The first three were wonderful!
Elephant in the room...Where's the Black Academies? Maybe I missed 'it' on the maps provided above. Mixing with whites is why this problem exists. I say to you, black educated elites...SANKOFA! Go back and get it. Or shut the fuck up!