Milwaukee's Choice Program

By Tyshawna Jackson

Attending school is very expensive, and it is even more so depending upon the school. Milwaukee’s Choice Program has provided educational alternatives to many students whose parents cannot quite afford to pay for their education.

If the applicant for the Choice Program is approved, the student is able to get a full education that provides everything the student will need. This is extremely helpful to most students especially when school tuitions are around $5,000-$7,000 dollars for one school year which may include lunches and field trips.

Governor Jim Doyle has been known to want to end the Choice Program. This may be a good idea from taxpayers’ viewpoints, but this would greatly affect Messmer students.

Vernet Hale, sophomore, believes: “It is bad to end the Choice Program because it takes away from people that have to pay for more than one child. Even though I pay $2 for lunch, I still feel the pain for the ones that don’t pay and will soon have to.”
There are a number of upsetting reasons that would go with the elimination of Choice funding. Private schools would lose a lot of money, and public schools would soon be filled to the brim with student and probably gain some profits.

Junior, Michael Wright states “Because I have to pay for my education, I really don’t care if they end it or not.” When paying thousands of dollars for school, one may feel like this. They are entitled to their own opinion.

Freshman, Mujjada Ahmad, voices her opinion, “You shouldn’t have to pay for education, which should be free.”

Stressful public school situations may occur if more students are pushed into public schools. Public schools are great for some students, but private schools typically have smaller class sizes and may have more extra curricular activities. Senior Ryan Williams, “For the most part, a lot of people are on the Choice Program, and it would negatively affect them. Most importantly it would affect private schools.”

The opinions of both sides need understanding and should be strongly taken into consideration. The ending of the Choice Program would be a negative, but it may also become a positive thing. Theology teacher, Ms. Donna Eddy, believes both sides would win in a debate. “[The Choice Program] gives people who are not rich an opportunity to make the same choices that rich people do as to where their child or children can get the best education. It also allows for healthy competition which encourages both private and public schools to get better.”

Milwaukee's segregation

Today statistics show that segregation still exists, and our city of Milwaukee is listed number six as one of America's most segregated communities and cities.

This is a startling fact–one which most students and even adults may not be aware of. Junior Bruce Denson claims, "I know segregation exists, but I don't feel affected by it. Thanks to my previous leaders and forefathers I understand that my future is dictated off of choices that I make now, so that one day I can have a chance to fight segregation as they did."

One school survey showed that nearly three-quarters of Messmer students believe segregation can still be defeated.

"A lot has to be done. We're better together than fighting apart, but this can be defeated! If it couldn't then there would be no point in fighting it," claims sophomore Adrian Holt.

The only way segregation can be defeated is if the public is aware of it. Oftentimes it is right in our face, and we do not notice it because it looks like it is "socially acceptable." We may even be taught that it is okay. However, the ones who recognize this division before they are taught to divide are those who will help defeat segregation.

For all who still have not recognized or pinpointed segregation in our community, see if you can readily answer these questions.

Q: What's the main race seen on the south side?
Q: What group of people resides on the north side?
Q: What race primarily lives in Whitefish Bay?

If you have a quick answer to these questions, you can recognize our problem.

Of course some segregation is expected, and necessary, because citizens live where they feel comfortable. This is not uncommon or even wrong. The problem exists when EVERY area of the community is segregated and we fail to want to learn about other cultures.

There are steps that can be taken to eliminate segregation. It starts with the youth because they are the next generation. Junior Martin Childs believes, “Integration should begin with the youth. Sports and academic activities should be instituted in each community to expose the youth to different activities and ideas about one another.”

Let us be the ones to start the change and show our community, state, and country how we can “build each other up.”