NPR's Discussion of the DMNews Series (Black Flight from DISD)

Comments

[Bill Betzen]

It is very good that this issue is being addressed. I've lived in Dallas since 1975, and in Dallas County since 1967. As a Dallas social worker for 28 years, and now a decade as a DISD teacher, I have seen many changes in Dallas. While it certainly is sad that children are leaving DISD, it is also something to celebrate that they have alternatives their parents did not have.

In the 1960's, and even past the 1970's, there were too many suburbs wherein African American children would not have felt welcomed. That has changed dramatically. Dallas was the major location for African American families in 1960. That has now changed due to progress in civil rights. The process of equalization is not finished, but we have come a long way! More progress is needed.

Within DISD much more work is also needed, but solid progress is happening to create a more dynamic and ever more child centered school system. The increasing graduation rates are well documented. See the chart at http://www.studentmotivation.org/DallasISD.htm#graph which documents the progress that is happening. This chart does not document the current exceptional progress from the graduation class of 2010. It is reported to be the largest in DISD history, with the highest graduation rate in over 15 years!

We have a long way to go, but we are making very real progress.