Howard in forefront of racial equality
Howard County for decades has been in the forefront of racial equality.
The Maryland Equity Project of the University of Maryland found that "Howard County is the most integrated school district in the region. . .. Children of different races - especially those who are black and white - are more likely to sit next to each other in Howard than almost anywhere else in the state."
Nonetheless, somehow, members of our community have gotten the wrong impression-as evidenced by comments such as these: "Howard County has the most segregated schools in Maryland. Please stop drawing boundary lines that make this problem worse," and "Please stop segregation in our schools."
Does economic integration provide an advantage for lower-income students?
The introduction of socioeconomic integration is based on an assumption that students who live in poorer neighborhoods can learn and do better in a school with higher income students. Research on this issue is mixed. So, without data supporting an effort of this magnitude, it might behoove us all to listen to the true experts.
Hear from teachers, parents
Teacher: "I have spent 21 years as a teacher in Title One schools. As a minority, I support equity (the quality of being fair and impartial for ALL), but I STRONGLY OPPOSE the part of your redistricting proposal that moves over 7,000 children all over the county, literally swapping children from one school to another without a cause (because it doesn't accomplish your stated goals). . . . As a Title One teacher, I can tell you the impact of your proposed plan will be devastating to the population you claim you most want to help.... It's not about the money the PTA brings in, it's about the expectations and learning that occurs in these buildings that make the difference."
Parents: "Wilde Lake HS is an excellent school that wants kids that look like mine because we are a part of the same community. We don't need to move to River Hill HS to be excellent. Brown kids are excellent and can be excellent in their own communities. If River Hill HS needs a lesson in diversity, they can come to us!"
From an Oakland Mills parent: "....If either of the plans in the feasibility study are enacted, [my daughter] will have to leave OMHS in the middle of her high school career to go to another school where she has not spent nearly a decade becoming a part of the community."
From a Lime Kiln parent who wants her child to go to Reservoir and not River Hill: "River Hill is almost 7 miles away. River Hill is also a much more socio-economically wealthy school with a lack of diversity. I want my children in schools with a more diverse, and realistic, student population with sufficient resources to address needs of ALL students."
From a Wilde Lake parent. ".... Please don't rip apart the existing school community."
"Taking a bunch of Harper's Choice walkers and sending them to River Hill is a recipe for disaster."
In summary, this plan will send 7,396 children to new schools, based in large part on an unproven belief that children from low-income families can learn better if transferred to schools with higher-income kids, where the transferred kids won't have access to their friends, their support groups, or the federal programs designed specifically to help them; and in spite of the proven fact that "changing schools can harm normal child and adolescent development by disrupting relationships with peers and teachers" resulting in "consistent and severe impacts ... on test scores and high school graduation."
And you wonder why parents are mad.
