Commentary: The 21st century segregationists

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz
IndyPoltics.Org

As we mark the 60th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education which ended official government-sanctioned segregation in public schools (separate but equal), I am convinced more than ever that the old segregationists have simply been replaced by a new batch known as teachers unions and their enablers.

Abdul Hakim-Shabazz is an attorney and the editor and publisher of IndyPoltics.Org.
Abdul Hakim-Shabazz is an attorney and the editor and publisher of IndyPoltics.Org.
As we look at the debate (local, state and national) over whether students should be allowed to get a quality education, look at the people who fight tooth and nail against any measure that would improve the lot in life for thousands of students.

Commentary button in JPG – no shadowIn Indianapolis the teachers unions fought IPS Superintendent Lewis Ferebee when he wanted to partner with charter schools to get students a better education.

The unions fought against tougher accountability and vouchers in Indiana. And even at the national level, they fought against the Obama administration over higher standards.

Now think about this, who benefits the most from choice and vouchers? Students in schools that aren’t working. Why should only wealthy and affluent families get to have choice and poor parents be stuck in a failing school? Why should a zip code determine how good an education a student will receive? How can you fight poverty without giving families the tools they need, the most important of which is an education?

If Dr. King were alive and walked into a typical urban classroom he would be furious. He would agree that who needs Jim Crow laws, dogs and water hoses, and whips and chains to keep a segment of society in bondage when all you really need to do is give them a poor education and no means to escape and you can keep them intellectually enslaved all you want. The opponents of choice, accountability and reform are the real educational bigots here. If they were serious about the education of Black youth they would embrace change and open the floodgates so reform could sweep through this state and cleanse the educational landscape of the weeds and thickets of mediocrity, complacency and low standards.

I was listening to satellite radio recently where I heard a “public school advocate” argue that the real reason behind school reform was to attack and harm black children. I’m not sure what planet this person was on, but looking at the educational landscape and who has been running the schools, I don’t think the reformers are black children’s problems. The lawmakers and policy makers who look like them tend to be their worst enemies. In fact, with advocates like that, I’ll take enemies any day.

What is it about school choice that frightens these individuals? What is about accountability that makes the collective hairs on their backs stand up? What is so wrong about giving parents the ability to choose an accredited institution of learning that works best for them? We ask these questions and we are accused of hating public education and not caring about children. Well, no offense, but who is the bigger threat to the future? These so-called “advocates” are really nothing more than defenders of the status quo who care more about employing adults than educating children.

I realize the words I’ve written today may seem harsh, but the truth hurts. Deal with it. But you cannot tell me that if the folks who fought against segregation were alive today, they would be satisfied with the status quo in the education of urban youth. I doubt seriously that they would pleased with educational homicide that Black students are being subjected to while being forced to stay in failing urban schools.

And for those of you who think this assessment is over the top, think about this? Which is worse, a 1950s southern white conservative who wants to keep a black child in a failing school or a 21st century progressive who basically wants the same thing by opposing choice and accountability?

Abdul is an attorney and the editor and publisher of IndyPoltics.Org. He is also a frequent contributor to numerous Indiana media outlets. He can be reached at abdul@indypolitics.org.