OPINION & EDITORIAL
Public schools, property taxes spur lack of diversity
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Also by Bassey Etim:
- Religion: Does it benefit society? (November 29, 2007)
- Do Democrats take minority votes for granted? (November 15, 2007)
- It's the media, stupid: Political coverage misleads (November 8, 2007)
Related Stories:
- No place for race (January 18, 2007)
- UW's lack of diversity result of poor public schools (March 15, 2007)
- Summer preview: Affirmative-action ruling (May 8, 2003)
- We need a second opinion (February 13, 2007)
- The race for System diversity (September 4, 2006)
by Bassey Etim
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
The Board of Regents seems poised to extend UW-Madison’s “holistic” approach to admission, which considers race, to all UW System schools. While I believe in the goals of affirmative action, the board should consider this advice before changing system policy: There are politically expedient solutions to UW’s diversity problem.
Affirmative action is a misunderstood but tangible step toward offering equal opportunity in education. After centuries of government-sanctioned oppression, it is unreasonable to expect any community to have recovered economically in such a short time. Rather than dole out reparations, affirmative action is a uniquely American way to tackle this problem. It breeds leaders who can return to and improve local communities.
Nonetheless, plenty of intelligent dissent exists on this issue. Many minority students see it as an insult and loathe the implication that they need handouts. Others say it places a cloud of suspicion over minority groups on campus that a more deserving student was pushed aside for the sake of their presence. Despite this, none of these perceptions are a valid reason to end admissions policies in which race is a factor.
The only reason affirmative action should end is that a backlash against this policy might ruin the goal of fostering equity in our educational system. An objective that is this vital must be shielded from politics. A true holistic admissions policy would create diversity by comparing the challenges every student has faced and his or her accomplishments given the resources available. To shield such a plan from politics, it should be reviewed in its first three years by a board of professionals to ensure the plan achieves its objectives.
So, anti-affirmative action activist Ward Connerly is correct in his assertion that the time has come to form a viable long-term solution to the race problem in higher education. However, his obsession with ending affirmative action actually hurts his long-term goals. By advocating so forcefully, without providing other avenues to achieve equality, he creates a rift between each side. Subsequently, activists see the debate as either a battle for educational access or the elimination of racism.
Of course, there is only one real solution to UW’s diversity problems: Fixing Milwaukee Public Schools. The most obvious problem with Wisconsin’s high school system is the way we structure our public school funding. While the state provides two-thirds of all revenue, schools in property tax-rich areas still have more resources. Many public officials probably see this fundamental problem, but ironically, suggesting that districts share revenue is a political non-starter. High-income schools have fought hard to keep their money, as detailed in a “Dateline” special several years ago about conflict between Nicolet High and inner-city Rufus King I.B. High School. Partially due to this disparity, non-race-based approaches to admission still usually favor poor white students.
The property tax dilemma could be solved politically by framing it in broader terms. Increased police funding and tough sentencing will not improve inner cities, but will only keep them stable. We are living with the consequences of our priorities. We feel more secure with increased storage for our society’s failures and neglect avenues in which the cycle of poverty and violence can be slowed.
The same philosophy prevails in our drug policy. We divert too many of our resources to a war on drugs that is fueled by stalemate — it too is a cycle we feed by allowing the unfair governmental practices of the past to spin out of control. Unless we address the property tax question, UW is going to need admissions and recruitment aimed at minority communities for the foreseeable future.
To preserve the viability of diversity initiatives, the regents must realize that what is fundamentally right is not always the correct course of action. Our government created these inequities and for the strength of our nation, should strive to fix them. The philosophy of promoting diversity cannot be left exposed to reasonable political attack.
Bassey Etim (betim@badgerherald.com) is a junior majoring in political science and journalism.
Anonymous (January 23, 2007 @ 8:08am):
Bassey, our government doesn't have to fix anything. Personal responsibility, hard work, and determination is all you need; a government hand-out is state sanctioned weakness.
In 20 years, we are going to see the success or failure of the Latino immigrant children. I believe the 2nd generation Latino children will put the African-American community to shame, and they'll still claim the "man" is holding them down.
Michael Jackson was talking to the man in the mirror, and maybe "the community" needs to do the same.
Anonymous (January 23, 2007 @ 9:46am):
How much is a degree worth when it is given out of pity?
Anonymous (January 23, 2007 @ 11:56am):
Excellent article. People forget to view this issue as a larger societal problem instead of an individual one.
Anonymous (January 23, 2007 @ 1:16pm):
"Personal responsibility, hard work, and determination"
Why bother when you can play the victim and live off the dole?
Anonymous (January 23, 2007 @ 1:51pm):
"Personal responsibility, hard work, and determination is all you need"
That is the most ignorant damn thing I have ever read.
If you're okay with the current disparities in public school financing, and the inherent unfairness that comes with it, fine, be a selfish prick.
But please don't be so arrogant and clueless as to suggest that the kids at Nicolet and the kids at Rufus have the same opportunities, but only some of them have "personal responsibility". It's obviously not true, and it makes you sound like a stupid, sheltered talk radio host.
Anonymous (January 23, 2007 @ 2:54pm):
"kids at Nicolet and the kids at Rufus have the same opportunities"
The teachers at these schools occupy their time acting as foster parents and baby sitters rather than teachers. Perhaps if the children were more disciplined and inclined to being educated, they could get the most out of their education.
The teachers at these schools have the same qualifications that the rich suburb teachers have, so what's the problem? Oh, the teachers at Rufus have to worry about getting shanked.
Moreover, the disparities in public school financing is a load of bull. I haven't heard Rufus King canceling their sports programs because education comes first. Boohoo... basketballs, but no books.
Anonymous (January 23, 2007 @ 6:56pm):
"Perhaps if the children were more disciplined and inclined to being educated, they could get the most out of their education."
Perhaps if they had the same facilities and resources they could. Why don't you just say that white kids are just smarter and hard-working than black kids, because that's what you're implying.
"The teachers at these schools have the same qualifications that the rich suburb teachers have"
While I don't doubt the qualifications at Rufus, Nicolet's in a better position to hire good teachers, and many would rather work at a well-funded school where they can teach to their abilities. Second point, many white schools are fortunate enough to have at least one Ph.D. teaching at them. Poorer schools are more likely to receive TFA volunteers.
"I haven't heard Rufus King canceling their sports programs because education comes first."
That's because extra-curriculars are important too. True, books should be more important, but Rufus has to contend with losing kids to the streets. Basketball and other sports in many cases are the only way out for students, providing at the least a college scholarship or enhancing one's application.
Clearly the ethnic studies requirement here isn't stamping out the bigotry and racism. Wait for the hellstorm of Bell Curve fanatics to follow...
Anonymous (January 23, 2007 @ 9:14pm):
Discrimination is a human instinct. And it happens all the time. Fat people, ugly people, poor people, short people, etc., get discriminated against systematically. But, the great thing about the US, historically, is that personal responsibility and curiosity can take you anywhere. Ben Franklin was a nobody, but through self-education he became the leading ambassador to France.
The more we try to 'manage' and shape our society to an impossible ideal, the more harm we cause to individual growth and maturity.
Anonymous (January 23, 2007 @ 9:24pm):
"Perhaps if they had the same facilities and resources they could."
Maybe if their parents gave a damn it would be different. Maybe if the "baby-daddies" did more than hit and run it would be different.
Too bad you don't have to take a pill to have a baby instead of it being so easy.
Anonymous (January 23, 2007 @ 10:08pm):
"Bassey, our government doesn't have to fix anything. Personal responsibility, hard work, and determination is all you need; a government hand-out is state sanctioned weakness."
Spoken like a true well-to-do Republican. Kid, funding for education has decreased dramatically while tuition has increased exponentially. A high school dropout could understand the math. You, on the other hand, don't have a clue, and you probably never will until the day you finally have to pay your own way.
Anonymous (January 23, 2007 @ 10:46pm):
For those of you morons who are bashing Rufus King, take a look at Newsweek's list of the top 1000 high schools in the nation and see which school from Wisconsin is ranked the highest.
Ha.
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