Racial Patterns Are Found in Recent School Budget Elections.

[elleng]

Voters in most school districts in New York State passed proposed budgets this year, but in some of the places where the budgets failed or where they were narrowly approved, a revealing correlation emerged.

Budgets tended to fare worse in districts with a large number of white voters and a large number of nonwhite students. And in the four districts in the state where the majority of registered voters are white and nonwhite students make up the majority of the school population, the budgets were defeated. . .


Still, sociologists say the outcome suggests the possibility of a growing demographic divide over public policy — school spending, in particular — that has been identified elsewhere in the country between an older, white electorate and a population of voters who are younger and members of minority groups.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/25/nyregion/25districts.html

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. Not the least bit surprising

The voters in my district with a majority minority student population have not approved a tax increase to support the schools since 1969.

[mia]

2. It's the elephant in the room

that nobody sees.

[SharonAnn]

3. I think there's just a terrible disconnect in general. In my white county

there's a section that desperately wants (and needs) a new school. So they voted overwhelmingly (more than any other precinct) for the county mayor candidate that doesn't want them to have a new school built. And these people are still talking about how they need their new school and the county administration is wrong in not approving it for them.

Yet they voted for the very people who are denying them the school. And they didn't vote for the people who really understand the county education issues and how important that new school is.

They just don't get it! They vote for Republicans and want Democratic solutions.

Definition of insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

[mia]

4. As far as the winning voters are concerned, what's the point of throwing

more money at schools when the drive of the students remains the same? Something needs to be done to boost the effort of students. I believe that all babies are created equal. What is happening at home that discourages studying and doing your homework? I've been a teacher for over 30 years. I've seen it all.