The Facts:
The Wake County Board of Education voted to move away from busing during the next 15 months in Wake County schools.
Our Opinion:
Politics aside, busing makes sense. The school system is where children learn about diversity; taking that experience away from them does the county’s children a disservice.
The Wake County School Board’s historic vote March 23 to work toward the end of busing in county schools has raised the ire of many parents and Democrat politicians.
The policy change, which would effectively bring an end to the 40-year-old busing policy, has become a public spectacle after the school board’s decision, with the arrests of protesters at school board meetings and angry calls of political gamesmanship by both parties.
The North Carolina Democratic Party Chairman David Young has gone as far as to say the change to the diversity policy could cause the county to lose millions of dollars in federal support.
Politicizing aside, what is the benefit for Wake County students?
There isn’t one. Diversity in schools provides for a more well-rounded education and “levels the playground.”
Prior to the changes, Wake County buses students such that schools do not have more than 40-percent of students on free- or reduced-priced lunches.
This socioeconomic criterion is certainly not the only one, but it’s a pretty good benchmark for diversity in schools.
It’s a logical solution to gaining some level of parity in schools, especially as the American family weakens and lower-income students become less likely to have adequate support structures. Regrettably, the school system is burdened with supporting that framework.
Undeniably, schools have become part of the American family patchwork and discounting the role they play in diversity education — in all its forms — is a huge mistake.
Students who aren’t already knowledgeable on the issue must inform themselves, especially considering the change’s impact on the local community and the students who plan to join the ranks of the thousands of Wake County teachers.
The informed must make their voices heard when the board’s seats come up for election and to their current elected officials — including the members of the board who have been embroiled in controversy as a result of their actions. It’s certainly cliche, but the situation will never change unless students affect it.
