TECHNIQUES FOR ACHIEVING RACIALLY DESEGREGATED, SUPERIOR QUALITY EDUCATION IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

THIS PAPER OUTLINES 12 TECHNIQUES FOR INTEGRATING THE SCHOOLS IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, OVER A 2-YEAR PERIOD. FIRST, TO USE SCHOOL SPACE MORE EQUITABLY, THERE SHOULD BE MANDATORY TRANSFER ASSIGNMENTS FOR BETTER RACIAL BALANCE, AND TRANSPORTATION SHOULD BE PAID FOR BY THE SCHOOL BOARD. SUCH A TRANSFER PLAN WOULD RELIEVE OVERCROWDING AND UNDERUTILIZATION AND IMPROVE THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES OF NEGRO STUDENTS. REDISTRICTING AND PAIRINGS ARE CONSIDERED TRANSITIONAL STEPS WHICH WOULD ELIMINATE ABOUT 35 PERCENT OF ALL SEGREGATED SCHOOLS, BUT THEY MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY SHIFTING ALREADY PLANNED NEW SCHOOLS TO SITES OFFERING BETTER POSSIBILITIES FOR INTEGRATION. THREE PREDOMINANTLY ALL-NEGRO VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS SHOULD BE CLOSED, WITH STUDENTS REASSIGNED TO GENERAL HIGH SCHOOLS, AND TWO OTHERS SHOULD BE CONVERTED INTO TRADE SCHOOLS. THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM AT WASHBURN HIGH SCHOOL SHOULD EITHER BECOME NONDISCRIMINATORY OR BE ELIMINATED. THE EXISTING 89 INTEGRATED SCHOOLS SHOULD BECOME A MODEL ADMINISTRATIVE UNIT. EXPERIENCED PRINCIPALS SHOULD BE PLACED IN THE "MOST DIFFICULT" SCHOOLS AND NEGRO PRINCIPALS ASSIGNED TO WHITE SCHOOLS. ALL SCHOOLS MUST HAVE THE FULL ALLOTMENT OF TENURED TEACHERS. FEDERAL FUNDS SHOULD BE USED TO CUT CLASS SIZE, HIRE TEACHER AIDES, AND PLAN COOPERATIVE PROGRAMS. THERE SHOULD ALSO BE PARENT PARTICIPATION, WITH GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES WORKED OUT FOR DISPUTES. THIS PAPER WAS PREPARED FOR THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON EQUAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY IN AMERICA'S CITIES, SPONSORED BY THE U.S. COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS, WASHINGTON, D.C., NOVEMBER 16-18, 1967. (NH)