Race and education

One of the backbones of any city is its education system, and large cities like St. Louis are no exception. But what do you do when that backbone needs rehabilitated?

St. Louis schools have a long and complex history, one which as a relative newcomer to the city I'm only starting to comprehend. One big issue facing the school system is the subject of race and diversity in schools. The Beacon has been covering this issue since our inception, and it doesn't look to be going away anytime soon.

Recently, we talked to voluntary transfer chief Bruce Ellerman about the desegregation program, its history and its future. We looked at the flip-side of desegregation: racial diversity of teachers. And, we interviewed four men and women from the St. Louis area who took part in the desegregation program, asking about their experiences and the program's effect.

Find more stories we've done about education in the St. Louis region by visiting our Education page.