Book Summary: “Educating Milwaukee”
“Educating Milwaukee: How One City’s History of Segregation and Struggle Shaped Its Schools”
by James K. Nelsen
2015 — Wisconsin Historical Society Press — 288 pages
Other school districts can learn from Milwaukee’s experience.
In “Educating Milwaukee: How One City’s History of Segregation and Struggle Shaped Its Schools” by James Nelson, the author traces the evolution of Milwaukee’s educational policies across three periods: the eras of no choice, forced choice, and school choice. Beginning with the civil rights movement in the 1960s and the magnet school movement in the 1970s and 1980s, the book explores attempts to achieve racially integrated schools. The era of forced choice, from 1976 to 1987, involved a complicated busing plan to integrate schools. Howard Fuller emerged as a key figure advocating for the end of busing and increased choice. The era of school choice, starting in 1987, expanded options to include charter schools, vouchers, open enrollment, and small high schools. However, despite the proliferation of choices, Milwaukee’s academic progress remained stagnant, with evidence suggesting that competition did not significantly improve education. The book also addresses the historical context of racial segregation in Milwaukee and the challenges faced in implementing desegregation efforts.
Five Highlights:
1. Forced Choice Era (1976–1987): The book highlights the era of forced choice, during which Milwaukee implemented a complex and expensive busing plan to integrate schools. Despite the intention to offer a wide array of choices, students were forced to attend schools outside their neighborhoods, leading to challenges and opposition.
2. Howard Fuller’s Advocacy: Howard Fuller emerges as a central figure advocating for the end of busing and increased educational choice. Serving as MPS superintendent from 1987 to 1995, Fuller played a crucial role in shaping Milwaukee’s educational policies during the era of school choice.
3. Stagnant Academic Progress: Despite the proliferation of educational choices in the era of school choice, the book presents evidence that Milwaukee’s academic progress remained stagnant. Competition, as envisioned by proponents of school choice, did not lead to the anticipated improvement in the quality of education.
4. Racial Segregation’s Impact: The book explores the historical context of racial segregation in Milwaukee, revealing how residential patterns directly influenced the city’s segregated school system. The struggle to integrate schools was compounded by resistance and challenges faced by the African American community
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5. Challenges in Desegregation Efforts: The author discusses the challenges faced during desegregation efforts, highlighting the difficulties in implementing initiatives like magnet schools.
The complexities of busing and the resistance from both black and white communities posed significant obstacles to reform.
The most important lesson from “Educating Milwaukee” is the examination of the assumption that increasing educational choices and fostering competition will automatically lead to improved academic outcomes. Despite Milwaukee offering an extensive array of choices, including charter schools, vouchers, and open enrollment, the book suggests that these options did not significantly enhance educational quality. This challenges the prevailing belief that a free-market approach to education, emphasizing competition, is a panacea for addressing educational challenges. The book prompts readers to reconsider the impact of choice in education and encourages a more nuanced understanding of the factors influencing educational success and reform.
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