SCHOOL INTEGRATION

WHEREAS, the maintenance of dual school systems was outlawed by the Supreme Court's ruling in the Brown decision and desegregation has moved forward over the last 20 years; and

WHEREAS, some school systems have deliberately segregated schools through the drawing of district lines, setting up discriminatory zoning patterns and other measures; and

WHEREAS, in spite of desegregation efforts school segregation has increased, often as a result of hous­ing policies which encourage middle class exodus accompanied by tax policies which encourage industrial exodus; and

WHEREAS, teachers and children are often victimized by the violence and hostility surrounding the school busing plans which may result from policy failures in all these areas; and

WHEREAS, teachers have been unnecessarily burdened by the disruption in their working lives and children have unnecessarily suffered from the interruption in their education when narrowly conceived last minute solutions are arrived at; and

WHEREAS, the range of opposition to busing extends from those who are outright racist and wish to avoid integration at all costs to those who sincerely believe in quality integrated education but fear the disruption and hostility that may accompany busing; and

WHEREAS, the AFL-CIO and its president, George Meany, have consistently spoken out in defense of busing when it will improve the educational opportunities of children:

RESOLVED, that the American Federation of Teachers reaffirm its long-standing commitment to quality integrated education; and

RESOLVED, that where new plans for integrating schools are developed teachers must be thoroughly involved in their formulations so as to prevent the misuse of such plans to erode teacher rights and break contracts and to insure the development of educationally sound proposals; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT oppose efforts to legislate prohibitions against busing. The AFT also opposes the idea of a Constitutional amendment to prohibit busing. These approaches can only be viewed as efforts to hamper the courts and undo the progress already made in this area; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT deplore the use of violence in response to court rulings and insist on peaceful compliance; and

RESOLVED, that where courts rule that school organization or practices are unconstitutional, courts, school boards or state legislatures must devise remedies. While such remedies may involve busing, it must not be viewed as an overall panacea for solving the problem of school integra­tion but simply one appropriate remedial tool.  Other approaches might include the use of magnet schools, open enrollment, pairing, rezoning, modified feeder patterns and metropolitan cooperation; and

RESOLVED, that measures to integrate schools must be accompanied by massive infusion of funds, to upgrade programs since no parent from any race or group will want to send a child to an inferior school; and

RESOLVED, that efforts to accomplish school integration by busing alone are inadequate unless other actions are taken and commitments made. The real hope for integration lies in the direction of greater cooperation between cities and their surrounding suburbs. Regional planning, open housing, the creation of equal job opportunities, and urban industrial development are essential components of any comprehensive integration plan.