Race, Schools, And Sprawl

University of Maryland professor Howell S. Baum explains that we are failing to discuss and address the social causes and effects of sprawl, and that no market-based method will. "As middle-class, largely White families have moved to the suburbs, they have contributed to residential segregation, school segregation, improverishment of the city, deterioration of public services, and reduced participation in and competence for governance and civic affairs. These new urban problems are intrinsic to sprawl, but they are not on the Smart Growth agenda." Baum suggests that saving our urban schools can also save us from sprawl, in part by teaching us to address problems across geopolitical, social, and economic boundaries. [PDF, 364KB, 13 pages]

Thanks to Ratna Amin