March 1982: Wake County Superintendent Dr. Walter Marks proposes a Schools of Choice program of educational options designed to achieve racial balance and efficient utilization of schools. The magnet program begins August 1982. (News and Observer).
May 10th, 1982: I am born.
In 2nd grade my parents chose to send me and my sister to Washington Elementary. A magnet school in downtown Raleigh across the street from the projects.
In 2nd grade a white mid to upperclass girl knew the name of those projects, Walnut Terrace.
In 2nd grade, I had my 8 year old party. I remember two things distinctly. One, my friend asking me " you are friends with black people." I had one black friend there. Two, a different friend telling me she wanted to come to my party, but didn't know if she could buy me a present. She lived right by the school and rode the green bus, not the pink bus.Speaking of buses, my sister and I rode the bus everyday. We loved our 45 minute bus ride.
She "found" me a present, a pair of hoop earrings. I have a picture with me and those earrings. I loved those earrings. In college, in my class Teaching Diverse populations, when I was asked to remember my first experience of diversity, I remembered these memories.
Last night, Wake County voted to end the diversity policy that has been in effect for a long time. Schools will go into neighborhood schools. Each school zone will have a magnet, year round and traditional option. My husband went to neighborhood schools and he turned out fine. He went to school with all of his friends in the neighborhood. In second grade, I was friends with all my neighborhood kids as well as kids in north Raleigh, regular Raleigh, downtown, and other parts of Cary.
I don't even live in Raleigh and it breaks my heart. I don't even have children and it still makes me cry. This policy is a little about racism, a little about new people not understanding, but mostly about the future, and me understanding a little more the people that walk into my office everyday straight from the projects of downtown Norfolk, and me understanding a little more the importance of Washington Elementary, and the old school policy.
That's really sad Wake Count voted to do that. I'm glad you had that opportunity and can pass that knowledge along to your kids some day!
ReplyDeleteI agree Wendy, it is pretty sad. I can understand about parents not wanting their children to ride 45 minutes to school every day, but I think losing some sleep is definitely worth those children getting to experience diversity and different people outside the sphere that is Cary...
ReplyDelete