A Sheep in Wolves Clothing?

Mitt Romney's call for public school "open enrollment", meaning any student could enroll in any school, no matter where he or she resides is, as James Ryan points out in his blog post, a bold possibility.

Too bad emphasis is placed on the possibility part instead of the bold part.

Here's what Ryan had to say about that:

"Romney’s "proposal would target the real source of educational inequality in this country: school district boundaries, which wall off good school systems from failing ones. The grossest inequalities in educational opportunity today exist between school districts, not inside them."

He then goes on to point out Romney's use of the word "capacity", meaning for example, suburban schools would only have accept urban students if they had the capacity. Or in other words, a way to wiggle out of it.

Although I'm all for choice, whether on behalf of individuals or institutions, I can't help but think this is one issue that needs a good, firm hand, at least to start off with. Face it, most people (and thus, organizations) resist change. For some, having to change makes them physically ill.

But this doesn't mean a good idea isn't still a good idea. And large-scale open enrollment policies will open a whole lot of doors for a whole lot of kids.

Breaking down district barriers provides opportunities for learning within a more diverse culture, expands the influence of teachers and programs to neighboring communities, and just might reinvigorate our communities in new ways.

Obviously, there are opposing views on the matter. Transportation issues, budgetary concerns, claims of wealth re-distribution and more, are serious enough to warrant a thorough vetting of the issue.

One concern that I find baseless though is the fear that hordes of urban students will somehow overrun smaller suburban high schools. In their zeal to "attend a good school", these city kids will overwhelm the system, disrupt the learning for others, and suck up limited social services, the thinking goes.

Frankly, I think the opposite will happen.

Certainly not a thorough argument one way or the other here. Just some food for thought.