IMMIGRANT STORY

In 1964, I moved to Evanston, Illinois, just as that city voted to desegregate and racially balance the district’s schools. My first child began kindergarten in 1970. Every classroom he attended mirrored the racial balance of our community which was, at that time, about 22 percent black. All students in all districts were bused to new schools, giving everyone a fresh start. Ineffective teachers were let go, new teaching methods were introduced, better supplies were bought, programs were designed to address different personalities and create learning methods that best suited the individual child. All money earmarked for education went to improve teachers, materials and buildings.

In essence, Evanston made every existing school a kind of charter school. The program was a brilliant idea then and makes as much sense today. I find it angering to see monies drained from existing schools to support charter schools, rather than fix the existing schools.

It can be done. I saw it. My children lived it. Our community was stronger for it.

– Susan Sussman, Aventura

Recently, I attended a Miami Heat basketball game. Seated next to me was a family excitedly attending their first game. The father was from Honduras, the mother from El Salvador, their daughter a Miami Dade College student. What more could we ALEXANDRA VILLOCH PUBLISHER JOHN S. KNIGHT (1894-1981)

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