When we think of school segregation, we tend think of that long, dark period in American history, before the landmark Supreme Court Brown vs. Board of Education decision in 1954, that refuted the notion that “separate but equal” schools were constitutional. For decades following the decision, schools became more integrated, opening their doors to students of color voluntarily and through court ordered busing programs. However, in the last 30 years school across the country have moved towards re-segregation.
Maryland has the third most segregated classrooms in the United States behind New York and Illinois. So, what does that mean for the young people we’re educating?
The Baltimore Sun's series "Bridging the Divide"examines issues of race and education and school segregation. Education reporters Liz Bowie and Erica Green, who has since left the Sun to cover education for the NY Times, spoke with students, families, teachers and school administrators across the state to find out how these issues impact their lives. Liz Bowie joins Tom in the studio along with Taylor Stewart, Baltimore Regional Director of Leadership for Educational Equity.
Dr. Gloria Ladson Billings joins the conversation by phone. She's the Kellner Family Chair in Urban Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She’s the author of several books including “Crossing Over to Canaan: The Journey of New Teachers in Diverse Classrooms.” and “The Dream keepers: Successful Teachers of African American Children” She's also the president-elect of The National Academy of Education.
On Wednesday March, 29 at 6:30pm on the campus of Loyola University-Maryland, there will be a community conversation about the path forward for integration in Maryland’s schools. It will be moderated by Andy Green, the Editorial Page editor of the Baltimore Sun.
The panel will include S. Dallas Dance, the Superintendent of Baltimore County Schools, Karl Alexander, the Executive Director of the Thurgood Marshall Alliance, Marcy Leonard, the principal of Hammond High School, Elizabeth Nix of the University of Baltimore, and Camika Royal of Loyola University-Maryland.
