Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010

Diversity 'won't be forced'

Supporters of the diversity policy are focusing on how Wake County school board chairman Ron Margiotta answered questions about diversity on Thursday at the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce conference.

Margiotta faced several questions about including diversity in the new student assignment plan after having slammed the diversity policy in his speech. One person asked if there was a way for the community to embrace the values of choice and diversity in the assignment plan.

"I don't see how that could be done," Margiotta initially said.

Margiotta next added that, within the structure of magnets, there is and more likely will continue to be some diversity incorporated into magnet schools. That diversity incorporation won't include using F&R in the selection process, something the new board majority scrapped this year.

Jim Beck, chairman of the chamber's education committee, then said that there is a major portion of the community that values diversity. He asked Margiotta "how can we honor that and honor your values as well?"

"There is a need for change," Beck added. "None of us is happy with the situation. But if we're going to come together, we need to acknowledge all our values."

Margiotta responded that diversity will be part of the assignment plan through parental choice. He said diversity won't "be forced by the school system."

"Diversity will be part of the plan but it will be the natural result of choice in schools," Margiotta said.

Critics of the board majority have focused on the first part of Margiotta's answer that choice and diversity can't both be embraced. They're discounting his other comments.