Every year, I take the opportunity to reflect on one particular aspect of being an educator today. Martin Luther King day is a day set aside to pay respect for a great man with a tremendous vision. There is certainly an ongoing debate about the progress that has been made towards equality since his passing, especially in light of the recent tragedies between police and the Black community. However, as an educator, there is one part of his dream that stands out more than others, a part that really hits home around this time every year.
As part of his "I Have a Dream Speech", King made a point of stating that he hoped for a world where Black boys and girls could hold hands and play with White boys and girls. In short, he envisioned a world where seeing kids of different races playing together, coexisting together, would not be a big deal at all. As we look at the reality of our current educational system, it's impossible to conclude anything other than the fact that we have failed to achieve his vision.
Schools today are getting more and more segregated, and are often no better than they were before Brown v. Board. Whether it's charter schools (often the most blatant offenders) or regular public schools, teachers looking out at their classes are likely to see very little integration. Coming from a Boston perspective, we saw first hand what happens when this system is challenged, as the busing crisis of the 70s left wounds on everyone involved, and its effects can still be felt at times. Boston has decided to move back to a system that aims to create more neighborhood schools, which sounds great, unless you realize that Boston is a segregated city, and neighborhood schools will ensure that the schools follow suit.
This is not a piece aimed at suggesting a solution, because it's not clear there is one at this time. But I can't help thinking about this reality every year around this time, as I try to come to grips with the disconnect between a great man's hopes and dreams and how as a society we have managed to let him down in such incredible fashion.
Cross posted at donatidaily.com