Here is a question for parents everywhere: Suppose a genie popped out of a lamp and offered to make your world colorblind and perfectly racially integrated on one condition \u201d\u201d that you relinquish all control over where your children go to school. Would you take that offer?<\/p>\n
Having followed school desegregation efforts for nearly two decades as an education reporter, I can vouch that the overwhelming majority of parents would tell that genie to buzz off. Most want their children in the best schools possible, to gain an edge that will help them get into a good college and land a good job. As a result, our ideal of public schools as “the great equalizer” is constantly undermined by parents who will do whatever it takes to ensure that their own children’s education will be superior.<\/p>\n