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EDWARDS ON PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I've criticized John Edwards for talking a lot about inequality and poverty without mentioning public schools. This week, Edwards is reversing that trend, articulating a three-point plan for integrating schools in the wake of the Supreme Court decision declaring Seatle's race-based integration model unconstitutional:
1. Give bonuses to schools in affluent communities enrolling low-income students.I like these proposals because they hit directly (though incrementally) at the major reason why the schools poor kids go to are so bad: They are funded by the much lower property taxes of poor neighborhoods and cities. Edwards suggests increasing funding to schools serving poor kids while helping poor families move to more economically diverse areas likely to have better public schools. So he gets the central fact that geographical segregation is responsible for inequality in education.It's disappointing to see that the conservative and libertarian line on the proposal is to reduce it to "out-of-touch" Edwards supporting "busing." By giving extra federal dollars to suburban schools who serve poor kids as well as urban magnet schools that attract suburban kids, Edwards attempts to equally distribute the burden of busing between the rich and poor. That's fair. The knee-jerk negative reaction to busing is inexcusable. I took a bus every single day until high school, and that's because my town bused everybody in order to racially integrate. The bus allowed my parents to leave for work in the morning without the added stress of getting me safely to school. The bus is wonderful for families with two working parents. Now, I understand that excessive school commutes are no fun for kids or their families, and take away from play and homework time. That's why, when possible, neighboring communities with different socioeconomic make-ups should work in tandem to create integrated schools. In cities where the whole system is failing, Edwards' instinct to flush in federal dollars is exactly right, barring of course, the more radical step of pooling all educational funding at the state or national level.--Dana Goldstein2. Create magnet schools dedicated to economic integration by doubling current federal magnet schools funding to $200 million a year, and dedicating the increase to schools that draw students from across district lines and pledge to maintain economically diverse schools.
3. Create a million housing vouchers over five years to help low-income families move to better neighborhoods.
