School systems and bussing

Thoughts:

1. Bussing may be part of the answer but it's not *the* answer


2. Pulling a child out of the neighborhood culture can damage the learning process


3. Are there programs in place in schools to help integrate children when they're bussed into unfamiliar areas?


4. Do our schools expect kids to just 'adjust naturally' when they're thrown into classrooms with children from completely unfamiliar backgrounds?


5. If there are grade school programs on intercultural relations do they address the cross cultures within the classroom/school itself?


6. How do schools define cross-culture? Are they interested on in a more international perspective? (ex: Here's what it's like in Africa/Ireland/South America)

This list is incomplete but it's enough to get me started. This came up because of the huge bussing fight that led to the school choice program in CMS. There are two radically different perspectives on bussing and both have valid points. As I see it, however, bussing is only an effect not a cause. Bussing or not bussing doesn't seem to have much of an effect on true desegregation/integration (two vastly different concepts). To me, bussing is an attempt to address the effects of racism and classism (non-whites in lower quality schools, etc) instead of looking at the real problems.

As I've already stated, I view integration and desegregation as two vastly different concepts. Desegregation doesn't imply movement forward but only a movement within an existing situation. Integration implies progress and forward movement - activity and motion. There's a difference between allowing non-whites to enter through the front door and actually welcoming those people into an establishment they helped create.

This is starting to feel as if it could be an interesting project to look at. CR and integration within the school system - working with children and helping integrate them into the learning environment on a personal level. I don't feel I articulated that too clearly but I'll work on developing the idea a bit further. There may already be something in place here so I'll check that out also.