NAACP protests Wake County board 're-segregation' plan
The Civil Rights Movement of the 50s and 60s is a major part of what students learn during Black History Month.
But all the efforts of integration may be unraveled in Wake County, , in Raleigh.
Feb. 12, thousands of protestors took to the streets of Raleigh with the NAACP and 90 other organizations as a part of the "Historic Thousand on Jones St." campaign. The aim of the campaign is to show their disdain for the proposed plan for students to attend schools in their neighborhood.
For 30 years, the Wake County School Board considered socioeconomic group and race for school assignments. The newly-elected, more conservative school board moved last March to start going back to students attending neighborhood schools.
The school board did a survey last year and 94 percent of parents wanted the system to stay as it is.
"Neighborhood schooling would drastically reduce school diversity and roll back years of progress," said Leila McDowell, vice president of communications for the NAACP.
Clayton Bennett, a sophomore elementary education major from Raleigh attended the protest.
"It is despicable that this is even a consideration," Bennett said. "The proposal doesn't even make sense."
The school board began its attempt to dismantle the nationally acclaimed integration system almost a year ago.
"I have personally benefitted from the way Wake County buses students," Bennett said.
"I don't think I would have graduated high school or gone to college if I went to school with the students from my neighborhood."
The Century Foundation, and many other researchers agree with Bennett. Research says that the best thing you can do for a student from a low-income household is assign them to a middle-class school.
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, which is less than half the size of WCPSS, uses a choice system for school assignment.
"Elementary and middle schools are placed in zones," said Theo Helm, the director of the department of marketing and communications for WSFCS.
"Parents are guaranteed a spot in the resident school but have the option to send their child to one of their top three choices."
High school students are assigned to schools based on where they live.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools were reassigned to neighborhood schools in 2005. Prior to this, parents and students were no longer allowed to choose which school they attended. Instead, students attend neighborhood schools.
No final decisions have been made, but the Wake Education Partnership and the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce presented the school board with a proposal that is a compromise between the board and the people who oppose them.
The proposal would give parents some choice of where their children attend school.
Get Top Stories Delivered Weekly
More thenewsargus News Articles
- Discover your family history for free at O’Kelly Library
- PR director to retire
- Q&A with Provost Brenda Allen
- O’Kelly pioneer closes chapter
Recent thenewsargus News Articles
Discuss This Article
MOST POPULAR THENEWSARGUS
WSSU Rams Head Football Coach Relieved of His Duties By Elijah Richardson
Bennett College Loses Accreditation Despite Raising Sufficient Funds By Elijah Richardson
Smollett Investigation Continues To Be Unsolved and Difficult to Resolve By Elijah Richardson
Lady Rams look to reverse an abysmal 2014-2015 season By Demetrius Dillard
GET TOP STORIES DELIVERED WEEKLY
LATEST THENEWSARGUS
- Black Business
- WSSU Rams Head Football Coach Relieved of His Duties
- Controversial Wake Forest Tweet Sparks Outrage
- Bennett College Loses Accreditation Despite Raising Sufficient Funds
- Smollett Investigation Continues To Be Unsolved and Difficult to Resolve
- UREC Looks To Continue and Improve Student Engagement Through Physical...
- University Recreation To Hold Personal Training Pilot Study
FOLLOW OUR NEWSPAPER
RECENT THENEWSARGUS CLASSIFIEDS
OUTSIDE THE LINES
- Infinity Kings: Final Book In A Favorite Fantasy Series
- What You Need To Know About Keratoconus and the iLink...
- Your Child’s Tomorrow Begins Today
- Choose Beer Grown Here: Anheuser-Busch is First to Adopt...
- Helping Alleviate Children’s Anxiety
- Vitamins and Minerals: Fortifying Against Poor Oral Health
- Do you PHIT? Why A Career in Public Health Informatics...
- Do you PHIT? Why A Career in Public Health Informatics...
- Shining a Spotlight on Kidney Health: Get to Know Your...
- Phony Investment “Opportunities” Can Cost You Big, Say...
FROM AROUND THE WEB
- Ash Carter Exchange Showcases Innovation and National...
- AI Expo for National Competitiveness Announces Key Sponsor
- 2102: PRETENSE, THE PLAY: New Literary Novel Overlays...
- Why It's Important to Talk About Inheriting Wealth
- 100% of Latino Grads Start Trades Careers With Centro...
- Sound Solutions: How Generative AI is Enhancing Business...
- Wow Your Easter Guests With A Very Easy Spring Surprise...
- Tips to savor springtime and reflect on li...
- BookTrib’s Bites: Four Captivating Reads
- Wow Your Easter Guests With Easy Spring Surprise Cake
COLLEGE PRESS RELEASES
- Charles River Associates Opens Second Scholarship Cycle, Expands to the UK
- BLUMHOUSE AND AMC THEATRES LAUNCH FIRST-EVER HALFWAY TO HALLOWEEN FILM FESTIVAL
- THE GEN Z IMPERATIVE: LISTEN TO FEELINGS AND GIVE GEN Z A VOICE
- Shoff Promotions Comic Book & Sports Card Show
- State Department Announces 2023-2024 Fulbright Top Producing Institutions