Speaking of public school problems made worse by federal intrusion, Cleveland is feeling that sting this week.
A federal judge ruled (last) Friday that the city must merge its two middle schools and two high schools. One middle school and one high school are nearly completely black, and the others have a mix of black and white students.
“The delay in desegregation has deprived generations of students of the constitutionally guaranteed right of an integrated education,” U.S. District Judge Debra Brown wrote. “Although no court order can right these wrongs, it is the duty of the district to ensure that not one more student suffers under this burden.”
How ironic that Brown says the Cleveland schools have delayed desegregation when they are the only district in the Delta with anything close to integrated public schools. Furthermore, her decision will have a predictable effect: Pushing many white students to private schools, with Indianola Academy being a major beneficiary.
In a perfect world, white parents would feel comfortable sending their children to majority-black schools in black neighborhoods. But as history has shown, that’s not the case. Rather than taking the time to change those attitudes within a community, federal education policy has only caused them to become more entrenched.
• The Enterprise-Tocsin, Indianola.
