Integration turned out to be successful, but was it he best plan for equality in schools? At Central High School, there was an excessive amount of violence. A huge angry mob formed around the entire school, threatening the lives of The Little Rock Nine. A neutral school would have been a much better option for both races.
Arkansas should have created a voluntary integration program for white people and black students at a neutral site- a NEW school.
This neutral school would have been funded more than Dunbar and Central High. These extra funds would come from the Federal Government throughout the order of President Eisenhower. On page 89 of Warriors Don’t Cry, President Eisenhower states “I will use the full power of the United States…to prevent any obstruction of the law and to carry out the orders of the Federal Court.” This funding will provide the school with top notch facilities and high quality teachers to attract students from both races.
The teachers would volunteer to teach. The volunteers would come from both Central High and Dunbar. If they come, they will get paid more money. They will get a 10% bonus for year one. The students will also volunteer. “A girl smiled at me today, another gave me directions, still another boy whispered the peg I should turn to in our textbook.” (Page 117) “When my teacher asked if anyone who lived within the Central High School district wanted to attend school with white people, I raised my hand.” Any student volunteering would receive a pamphlet giving information about the school. There wouldn’t be to much worry about bullies and racism because the teachers and faculty would go to any means neccasary to keep all of the kids safe.
I like the idea of a new school, and your post is very well done with evidence from the book and supporting facts but, Where are you going to build this school? What will it be called. There are already two other schools in the area and a new school will take a while to build, so this wont even be possible for another couple of years. If there aren’t any Central kids that want to go to this new Highschool, they can’t be integrating, because it will be an all black school. Who is going to be the board for this new highschools? Are they going to be selected from other counties that aren’t racist and do they even want to be at the new school that they don’t know. Good Post but, more additions needed to make the plan better.
Will 8-1
Having the new school is a good idea. A flaw that I noticed was that you would be funding the new school more than both Dunbar and Central. By doing this, you put those who don’t want to go or cant go to the new school, for whatever reason, in a bad situation, especially those African American students at Dunbar who already have low funding.
-Matt S 8-2
I believe that your plan is very thought out and provides the reader with a great deal of evidence, leading him to agree with your plan. You implemented an incentive system which will help you get many more volunteers and the bullying will be very low. Since the students actually volunteered to go to school with the opposite race, they are obviously not racist and bullying will not be a big problem. The fact that it will be at a new school also makes it much more equals for everybody. The whites will get an amazing learning environment, and the blacks will also receive a great learning environment. Since the African-Amicans are coming form Dunbar, a run-down, unsatisfactory school, they will have a bump in moral and there grades will increase sufficiently. Overall, your plan was very well thought out and would have definitely improved integration in the late 1950s
Nirmal 8-1
I like your article a lot. It is well-organized and concise. I think it is very important that you mentioned the funding would come from the federal government because the local school board was broke. Will the teachers’ bonuses come from this budget as well? I think that your idea of having an incentive for the teachers was smart, but you dot had one for the students. What makes you think they will come to this new school?
–Chris Avila 8-1
Overall, I like your ideas of making a new school, and I think if they win, they could be effective. After reading this though, I have a couple of concerns. You stated that it would be voluntary for integration. What if a great students from both races, blacks and whites, come to the new school? Whether it is from family influence, or they do not want to go? Also, besides the pamphlet, how are you going to convince that there will be no racism or violence? I think that these suggestions could help benefit your plan. Great job again guys?
- Conor McAvinue 8-1
I enjoyed your reply for the most part, but wouldn’t it be hard to gurantee no racism and violence what if the volunteers were just Poe try to hurt African Americans. This would give them a clear oppurtunity to go out and cause harm. Otherwise it was terrific and I loved all the evidence that you provided.
I meant to say “Just going to hurt.” Sorry autocorrect
I think that it was well thought out and you did a good job with citeing
Dean 8-1
I liked how well thought out this was and it was well put together. I think that that if your plan is elected overall it will be a successful plan.
Mike D.