The Dynamics Of School Integration

This multilevel approach to school integration includes a case study of Community X --a middle-sized Midwest city noted for its typicalness; it is considered to be an excellent city to study de facto segregation. The account of the attempts by Community X to achieve a high quality integrated education is held to be of urgent interest. It is argued that a segregated learning situation is unreal, and does serious harm both to whites and blacks. Some of the reasons why Community X saw and actively confronted this problem are analyzed. Citizen reaction and effectiveness of various proposals are described. All of the elements of the problem are treated --the school administration, the committee, teachers, parents, and children. A discussion held to be especially important shows how slum school education affects the self concept of black students. Concrete suggestions are given for approaches to teaching that will overcome the great gap between the lower class child and the white middle class education system.