Wednesday, November 26, 2003

Corrections to Butler Story My story yesterday about Butler School received quick responses from Ann Tobin Hart, Bob Barber, and Chick Delano, all of whom live in Springfield and are far more cognizant of local issues than an English professor living in New Jersey. They have all pointed out that my surmise about real estate values and education funds is wrong. Values have not gone down in the Butler district. The school board receives funds from all over District 186 and divides them proportionately among the schools. The problem instead lies with court-ordered busing of children to districts outside their home neighborhoods. That has led to the increase of low-income kids at Butler, and to some families moving their kids elsewhere, either out of town, or to private or magnet schools. The unspoken word in the Journal-Register story is integration. Like most American towns, Springfield has a long history of neighborhoods that divide along economic and racial lines. The schools reflect those divisions, and busing is an attempt to encourage diversity. It often stirs resentments, about the distances children must travel from home and the quality of the educational-social experiences they receive at school. I support diversity as a goal, but I also want neighborhood schools, so I'm conflicted as anyone else on this subject. I wish that children today got a public education as good as the one we got, but many factors suggest they are not, according to an online debate on the topic. You may read the excellent comments by Ann and Bob below, attached to my previous story. Chick gave me his thoughts by telephone. I apologize for my inaccuracies, thank my friends for their corrections, and wish to assure all readers that I have notified the Pulitzer Prize committee to pass me by this year. Happy Thanksgiving! 11:36:57 AM    comment []

© Copyright 2003 William Howarth. Last update: 12/4/03; 6:46:40 AM.