What the... segregation in Omaha classes??

[Kiless]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/15/us/15omaha.html?_r=1&hp&ex=1145073600&en=5967d6e8f52a9362&ei=5094&partner=homepage&oref=slogin

OMAHA, April 14....
...Ernie Chambers, the only African-American in the Nebraska Legislature, was a major force behind a law enacted this week that calls for dividing the Omaha school district into three districts defined largely by race.
He was also a driving force behind a measure passed by the Legislature on Thursday and signed into law by the governor that calls for dividing the Omaha public schools into three racially identifiable districts, one largely black, one white and one mostly Hispanic.

Huh??

 

[LostAngeles]

It wants registration.

Two questions: Why? and What about mutts like me?

 

[Kiless]

It wants registration.

Two questions: Why? and What about mutts like me?

Good question. They'd be stuffed if they tried it in my neighbourhood. Half the kids are a mix of something or other and we have a big multicultural group at work (you should see the Japanese/Swedish student, she's stunning - pale blonde, Japanese eyes - apparently her parents met on an exchange program and live in Tokyo but they have a real Christmas holiday in the north with grandma every year) and they'd be furious at having to go to another school and miss half their friends. And will there be one school for the lone Eskimo student? Or are they classed as Asian? Or Russian? Or Nordic?

 

[geni]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/15/us/15omaha.html?_r=1&hp&ex=1145073600&en=5967d6e8f52a9362&ei=5094&partner=homepage&oref=slogin

OMAHA, April 14....
...Ernie Chambers, the only African-American in the Nebraska Legislature, was a major force behind a law enacted this week that calls for dividing the Omaha school district into three districts defined largely by race.
He was also a driving force behind a measure passed by the Legislature on Thursday and signed into law by the governor that calls for dividing the Omaha public schools into three racially identifiable districts, one largely black, one white and one mostly Hispanic.

Huh??

Gerrymandering. Nebraska is about 4.0% black. Allows those blacks to spread out and being black ceases to be a useful electrol asset. Keep them in one place and you get one safe consitituency.

 

[JamesDillon]

Gerrymandering. Nebraska is about 4.0% black. Allows those blacks to spread out and being black ceases to be a useful electrol asset. Keep them in one place and you get one safe consitituency.

That doesn't work as an explanation; these are school districts, not voting districts. And no one is forcing any blacks to physically move elsewhere; they're just redrawing the school districts along racial lines.

According to the article, the black legislator in question indicated that this was motivated by "a desire by blacks to control a school district in which their children are a majority."

 

[Godmode]

I can understand that desire. If I had kids, I would certainly like them to be able to attend a school that focused on skeptical education. I don't know if it's a good idea though. Is it going to be a volentary segregation?

 

[geni]

That doesn't work as an explanation; these are school districts, not voting districts. And no one is forcing any blacks to physically move elsewhere; they're just redrawing the school districts along racial lines.

That makes sure a fairly solid black cummunity contines to exist within a defined geographical area.

 

[clarsct]

geni is right.

This is a political move. School boards are elected over here, and the school districts ARE voting districts for that.

I am imagining that the black community feels its needs aren't being addressed, and a few black school board candidates couldn't get elected, with the districts being as they are. It's typical 'Good Ole Boy' politics. He scratches the back of the school board members by having the districts redrawn, and when election time comes, they campaign for the legislator.

Once the school districts are ingrained, you can use them as a reason to redraw the voting district lines....


And so it goes.

 

[Kelly]

I'm from Omaha, and while I don't understand this whole business, this is what I can tell you:

Chambers cannot be re-elected because of term limits.

He is all about blaming the "white people", as he says, for everything.

I suppose, then, his reasoning is that if the blacks have control over their school district, then the "white people" cannot "suppress" them and play favorites with the white students. They will then be in charge of their own destiny.

 

[clarsct]

Hmmmmmmmm.



So...straight up racism is to blame? Wow.

I guess I live too close to Chicago..I'm too cynical and look for the politics behind the obvious.