Reply #16: No, I'm not saying that bussing wasn't good then

[TallahasseeGrannie]

but I don't think it is possible now because of fuel prices. Our school district has considered closing on Fridays because of gas. We are a huge, far-flung district. If we bus on racial lines, it would probably mean closing schools and heavily overcrowded classrooms, and as a teacher I don't want to see that.

I also think that there is no longer support in the African American community here, at least, for bussing kids long distances for racial equity. And I am absolutely certain there is no support in the predominantly white neighborhoods. Those kids would just end up in private schools or home schooled. You can't force bussing on the population anymore, I don't believe. Nobody wants to see their kids on a bus for an hour every day.

I think the solution is as someone mentioned here, going for the long term, which is keeping the neighborhoods more balanced.

Oh, and I forgot to mention that in this district if you are a majority race at your school and desire to attend a school where you would be a minority, you have carte blanche to do so, but have to get your own transportation. And magnet schools are also helping balance things out. Times have changed and we need to find unique solutions.