Jersey City's McNair School May Have to Change Its Ways
The most recent decision by the Supreme Court striking down buss-ing and affirmative action-type desegregation techniques by Public Schools is a very complex topic.
It seems that McNair High School in Jersey City (#27 in the nation according to Newsweek), who turns away 5 out 6 applicants, and strives to have a student body made up of a 25% Black / 25% Asian / 25% Hispanic ratio, will have to change its ways.
It might help me even clear up my thoughts on this subject if I try to simplify it.
1) Diversity is great.
The world is a diverse place, and our schools should reflect that diversity so that children can grow up interacting with people of all races. This is a part of the process of educating that should not be ignored.
2) America should be a meritocracy.
One of the founding ideals of this country is that if you try hard, and put your nose to the grindstone, you can pull yourself up by your bootstraps. Cliches aside, we like to believe that qualified people get ahead.
Of course, the question is if #2 is really true. If it is true, then #1 should happen as a by product of all the racially diverse people that work hard.
But is #2 true anymore? I went to a prepschool, and thank god they were allowed to invite people to their school based on racial and ethnic backgrounds. We had a wonderfully diverse campus with incredibly intelligent people of all race.
However, I also saw the bad side. There were plenty of dunces that were there because of legacy. When going to the next level, plenty of undeserving cats made it to great schools because of their family's recent contributions to the endowments, or grandpa's summa cum laude degree.
Personally, I think our president is in place because of nepotism, and that's the highest reach of power. Really, what merit lies in his political history? What state/organization has he run so well that people would say, "Huh, that guy should be president." That seems to be a question that lies outside of the current partisan political debate, but I understand my leftist leanings probably blind me to the incredible job he did in Texas. How he revamped their schools and all. Sure.
Anyway, things will have to change. And somehow, I'd rather be focusing on #1, and letting the #2 flow from that. Because I'm cynical, and don't believe we currently live in an entirely efficient meritocracy. Am I crazy?
Diversity Educates
It seems that McNair High School in Jersey City (#27 in the nation according to Newsweek), who turns away 5 out 6 applicants, and strives to have a student body made up of a 25% Black / 25% Asian / 25% Hispanic ratio, will have to change its ways.
It might help me even clear up my thoughts on this subject if I try to simplify it.
1) Diversity is great.
The world is a diverse place, and our schools should reflect that diversity so that children can grow up interacting with people of all races. This is a part of the process of educating that should not be ignored.
2) America should be a meritocracy.
One of the founding ideals of this country is that if you try hard, and put your nose to the grindstone, you can pull yourself up by your bootstraps. Cliches aside, we like to believe that qualified people get ahead.
Of course, the question is if #2 is really true. If it is true, then #1 should happen as a by product of all the racially diverse people that work hard.
But is #2 true anymore? I went to a prepschool, and thank god they were allowed to invite people to their school based on racial and ethnic backgrounds. We had a wonderfully diverse campus with incredibly intelligent people of all race.
However, I also saw the bad side. There were plenty of dunces that were there because of legacy. When going to the next level, plenty of undeserving cats made it to great schools because of their family's recent contributions to the endowments, or grandpa's summa cum laude degree.
Personally, I think our president is in place because of nepotism, and that's the highest reach of power. Really, what merit lies in his political history? What state/organization has he run so well that people would say, "Huh, that guy should be president." That seems to be a question that lies outside of the current partisan political debate, but I understand my leftist leanings probably blind me to the incredible job he did in Texas. How he revamped their schools and all. Sure.
Anyway, things will have to change. And somehow, I'd rather be focusing on #1, and letting the #2 flow from that. Because I'm cynical, and don't believe we currently live in an entirely efficient meritocracy. Am I crazy?
Diversity Educates
posted by eno at 9:20 AM
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