This brings up an issue that is rarely discussed, but widely practiced: parents exercising residential choice
When purchasing a home, the first thing most families investigate is the school attendance zone. In fact, for some, this is the sole determining factor in making a decision. We want our children to go to a safe school that will offer a quality learning experience. This is a choice that middle class parents exercise regularly. While the politically correct would argue that this is what’s wrong with America and we should all be on an even playing field, the truth is that some traditional public schools ARE better than others and when it comes to their child’s education, parents could care less about being PC. Given a lack of options, this is the way middle class parents work the system.
Wake County, however, with “reassignment” and busing plans has thrown a monkey wrench into the neighborhoods. Parents are suddenly confronted with the fact that they are powerless and have few choices in the current system. What rankles them more is that the school board will blatantly ignore their input and wishes.
Arrogance or Ignorance? I’m not sure, but the school board is making a fatal mistake. Schools cannot survive without parental involvement and support. Listening to families should not be a “favor”, it should be a priority. It is essential to children thriving as learners. When the establishment ignores this, they are undercutting the overall effectiveness of the school.
This controversy places a high beam on the institutional distance of our schools. The time has come for parents to empower themselves and exercise real choice for their children. The argument should not be about the legality of a location, but more about a parent’s right to decide which school best meets their child’s particular academic, physical, and/or spiritual needs.
