Raise your hands if your were surprised by the Francis Howell School District’s decision not to take Normandy School District students. Hmmm, that’s what I thought. Most observers were not surprised that black students would be stopped at the door if there were no lucrative tuition payments accompanying them.
The Francis Howell decision had a domino effect, as other school districts barred Normandy students once the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education dissolved the Normandy district and reconstituted it as a new entity with no accreditation status that is not governed by the state transfer law regarding unaccredited districts. Of the 928 Normandy students enrolled in other districts, about 560 will no longer qualify for transfers.
Most districts cite reasons from district policy to instructional disruption to financial stress to lowering of academic outcomes. Reading and listening to the rationale of individual school board members of the various districts as they justify their positions was reminiscent of a scenario where the parents of a family of seven have perished and the kids have to be split among other family members.
Uncle Jake and Aunt Betty can take two kids, even though it will be a financial hardship. They already have three children of their own.
Grandma Nel did not hesitate to take one child. She would take more, but she’s getting up in age and on a fixed income.
Cousin Rene and her husband are considering taking two of the children, but it’s causing tension between them. Hubby’s reasons for being opposed to taking the kids in is couched in the fact that they aren’t his kin and he’s looking forward to starting his own family.
Aunt Rae and her partner Candace have the desire and the financial means to take two of the children, but because they are lesbians, some of the family don’t think this is a good idea – even though no one else is stepping up to assume responsibility for raising the children.
And like children who are forced to go into foster care or be split among family members, there’s an emotional and psychological cost to the children’s well being. William F. Tate is chair of the Department of Education at Washington University. He said that the sociological research is clear: the students will face both academic and emotional challenges.
I can only image how Normandy students are feeling as adults express to them that they are unwanted and unwelcome. After a tumultuous two years, adults with decision-making power have not made these students’ lives any more certain and secure. They should not be told their desire to be educated is “disruptive.”
It’s not too late to for all the stakeholders to ratchet up their efforts to hammer out reasonable solutions for faltering districts and child victims of the system. Minimally, it will take patience, commitment and innovation. For sure, shortsighted legislation and half-hearted instructional methods don’t work.
