In Chicago, 54 public schools are set to close. In Philadelphia, officials voted to close 23 public schools. In Detroit, the Emergency Financial Manager announced plans to shut down 28 Detroit Public Schools.
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And even though Washington D.C. comes in at the bottom, with only 15 public schools closing before the 2014 school year, another statistic puts this “education reform” initiative in perspective.
Only two of the 2,700 students that will be displaced by the closings are white. That statistic alone makes it clear: these “reforms” are disproportionally affecting low-income neighborhoods of color. The “racist nature,” as one author calls it, is so rampant, that communities around the country, including Chicago, Philadelphia, New York, Washington, Detroit and Newark, have filed civil rights complaints with the federal government.
“In Chicago, African American students account for 9 out of 10 of those affected by school closings despite making up only 41.7 percent of the overall public school student population,” Rhania Kalek writes.
She continues, pointing out each city and the business interests and disparities in communities that led to each plan to shut down a significant number of schools in African American and Hispanic communities.
Check out her research below:
Philadelphia
An analysis of city data carried out by the Notebook found that black students comprise 79 percent of those who will be impacted by the closings despite accounting for just 55 percent of the overall student population. And three-fourths of the 43 schools initially slated for closure are 80 percent or more African American.
Detroit
DPS officials say the closings are due to under-enrollment. Teachers and parents disagree and say that majority black and brown schools are being targeted for privatization.
DETAILS: SMFH! Chicago Set To Close 54 Schools Next Year
Chicago
This is not simply a right-wing fantasy come true; Democrats have proven themselves to be staunch supporters of the privatization agenda. In fact, “The stated goal of the [Obama] administration’s education agenda is to shut down failing schools and promote the expansion of publicly funded, privately run charter schools,” notes NPR.
Washington D.C.
The 15 school closings come on top of the 28 schools closed by Rhee in 2008. In both instances, low-income neighborhoods of color are bearing the brunt. In fact, some students whose schools were shut down in 2008 are pushed out again.
“The city has failed to evaluate Mayoral control, despite the enacting legislation calling for annual review,” says Empower DC. “The 2008 closures caused 4,000 students to leave DCPS, and others were moved to schools which now face closure.”
What will come of the students who are now displaced and without a school? They’ll most likely be moved to new schools that will be closed within a few years. So what needs to be done to stop the epidemic?
According to Khalek:
Perhaps it’s time our leaders stop looking to unelected business interests for answers to our education woes and instead turn to educators, parents and students for insight into how public education can be improved. I’m talking to you, Rahm.
Well said!
SOURCE: Dispatches From The Underclass
