Posted on 05/26/2004 5:55:45 AM PDT by Theodore R.
That Brown Decision
I listened to all the palaver about the 1954 Supreme Court decision that ended racial segregation mandated by law. All of the talkers seem to have forgotten one important point: providing a sound education to the children.
Let's note at the outset that the decision was good. It upset a system based on a lie. That lie was that "separate but equal" met the constitutional requirement of equal rights. It was a lie because the facilities were separate but almost never equal.
In my entire career, I have never written a word criticizing busing children, even when it was a hot topic. I never have because it would be dishonorable to do so. I grew up in the segregated South. To this day, I have no idea where the once-all-black schools are located in my hometown. That's because they are out in the woods somewhere. When black children were bused here and yon to maintain separate schools, I never heard any complaint about busing. Therefore, it would be hypocritical to complain when white children are bused.
That being said, at this point in time, we had better worry more about the education being offered than what the racial mix is in the classroom. There is still de facto segregation, mainly because housing remains largely segregated as a result of inequality of incomes. But that is a separate problem. The problem we should concentrate on is what kind of education is available to the child in the school — any child in any school.
It seems to me it is not so good. Having turned education into a profitable industry, nobody in the business seems able to define just what it is that ought to be taught.
Allen Tate, an American poet, had a good definition. He said at a college once: "The purpose of education is not happiness; it is not social integration. Its purpose is at once the discipline of the mind for its own sake; these ends are to be achieved through the mastery of fundamental subjects which cluster around language and number, the two chief instruments by which man knows himself and understands his relation to the world."
There are two things that should be recognized in designing a public-education curriculum. One, about 80 percent of the students, black or white, are not college material if the universities maintain high standards. And there is no point in wasting the expense of going to a college that has dumbed down its courses so much it is barely the equivalent of a 1930s high school.
Most children — say, after the eighth grade — should go into commercial art, music, carpentry or some other vocation with which they can make a living. Better that than struggling with calculus, algebra and physics, which they will never need or use. There is nothing dishonorable about learning a trade or a craft or a marketable skill.
The second thing that should be recognized is that the federal law that requires children with emotional and physical disabilities to be taught in a normal school setting has done monstrous damage to public education. Forcing teachers to try to teach normal children while also coping with mentally and emotionally disturbed children is just stupid. Those children should be segregated and taught by specialists. If their parents object, tough beans. This country will collapse if we don't find the backbone to do the right thing, even when it's not popular.
As for the racial mix, I have always thought it insulting to argue that a black child cannot learn unless there are white children in the room. We should just return to the neighborhood-school concept and make sure that every school in every neighborhood is equal in terms of facilities and faculty. That is not the case in many school districts, and making it so is work enough for all of us.
We have dumped so many social problems onto the school system that we have forgotten its purpose, which is to discipline the mind by the mastery of language and numbers. If all children receive a quality education in the classic sense, racial problems will take care of themselves.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- © 2004 by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
That column makes so much sense, I am surprised that newspapers are even printing it. I used to read Charley Reese when he was on the Orlando Sentinel. Now that he is retired the Sentinel isn't much fun to read anymore. Good to see that he is still writing.
Separate but equal was a lie... and still is.
Today's policy of separation has a new name..multiculturalism.
I have never written a word criticizing busing children, even when it was a hot topic. I never have because it would be dishonorable to do so.
Bull donkey!
Unfortunately many others felt the same way and the destructive policy of forced busing initiated the beginnings of the demise of the publik skrewell systum.
Unless they want to be engineers, scientists, bankers, investment brokers, doctors, etc.
And from someone who has built a few houses, the logic needed for calculus, algebra and physics is the same logic that is needed for carpentry, plumbing, electric work, etc.
If I had a dime for every time I argued this exact point to anyone who would listen!
Inequality of incomes? Indeed there is a discrepancy in income levels but can that be attributed to an "inequality"? How about a lack of effort to get ahead, hard work and initiative on the part of those who sit in their own poverty expecting hand outs from the government as a reason for that so called 'inequality'.
"...nobody in the business seems able to define just what it is that ought to be taught.
No, the purpose of governemnt schooling is two-fold. To produce a citizen that knows how to vote; to produce a citizen that is productive in its society.
Box, I think that's a "whole 'nother problem"-but you are right to the extent that it "infects" education.
What Charley says about making schools equal-regardless of location-makes a lot of sense,but I suspect part of the problem is KEEPING them equal after they've been built.
I don't agree that most 'children'(at the high school level aren't they young adults?) can't learn calculus, algebra and physics. Dumbing down of colleges is not the problem but rather the dumbing down of public schooling. This author is suggesting that high schoolers can't cut it and we should collectively make it easier on all of them so the poor kiddos don't have to 'struggle'. Nonsense! I see it's a new game plan. Let's blame the kids and let's not have them stuggle to get their minds to THINK!
There are, no doubt, many stories about late-bloomers, who struggled until "a light came on." Furthermore, there is benefit in education beyond acquiring the skills to make a living. Even the garbageman should have a good understanding of government, some background in history and the sciences...heck,even an appreciation of art and music.
There is plenty of room for argument as to whether our public school system is best enabled to deliver basic skills or "luxury" knowledge (my term for non-money-making knowledge).
Charley is crazy and hates Israel and Bush alike. Since he retired his logical and sensible editorials have been few and far between. He is a Kerry supporter.
You know, life's not fair. What stinks is that people actually think it is. People want to be treated fairly and perfectly in an imperfect world. The answer is not to settle for less like I think this author is suggesting.
And we have gotten neither, therefore, public education is a failure.
Correct!! The decision SHOULD have been to support neighborhood schools, with the child attending the school geographically nearest them. That simple ruling, along with a second ruling outlawing "black zoning", would have fixed the problem without all the negative consequences we still see today.
Unless you want to count the leftist-liberal teachers out there pushing their multi-culuralism, enviromentalism, gay/lesbianism liberal agenda on the kids; and all the rest of those "isms". Some are quite successful teaching how to vote liberal.
John Dewey (1859-1952) was an American psychologist, philosopher, educator, social critic and political activist. He was born in Burlington, Vermont, on 20 October 1859. Dewey graduated from the University of Vermont in 1879, and received his PhD from Johns Hopkins University in 1884. He started his career at the University of Michigan, teaching there from 1884 to 1888 and 1889-1894, with a one year term at the University of Minnesota in 1888. In 1894 he became the chairman of the department of philosophy, psychology, and pedagogy at the University of Chicago. In 1899, John Dewey was elected president of the American Psychological Association, and in 1905 he became president of the American Philosophical Association. Dewey taught at Columbia University from 1905 until he retired in 1930, and occasionally taught as professor emeritus until 1939. During his years at Columbia he traveled the world as a philosopher, social and political theorist, and educational consultant. Among his major journeys are his lectures in Japan and China from 1919 to 1921, his visit to Turkey in 1924 to recommend educational policy, and a tour of schools in the USSR in 1928. Of course, Dewey never ignored American social issues. He was outspoken on education, domestic and international politics, and numerous social movements. Among the many concerns that attracted Dewey's support were women's suffrage, progressive education, educator's rights, the Humanistic movement, and world peace. Dewey died in New York City on 1 June 1952.
Ah, but I define "knowing how to vote" as being able to gather facts on issues, and then to make an independent judgement based on those facts---NOT being led around by the nose by a bunch of canned propaganda delivered by authority figures. I consider what you refer to to be brainwashing and propaganda.
Yes, of course. Well stated.
Reese says that he voted for G.W. Bush in 2000 but is for Kerry this year, not because he favors Kerry's policies (he doesn't), but he is so anti-Bush that he cannot think clearly sometimes. He feels betrayed by the failure of Bush to adopt conservative principles as pledged.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.