The DREAM, the
VISION, the FUTURE
The DREAM: children of color getting a quality education.
The VISION: integrated
The FUTURE: racial equality.
"Wayland Schools are committed to maintaining a school and work
environment free of harassment based on race. Employees and other
members of the school community (are expected) to conduct themselves
in an appropriate manner" (Wayland School Department's Policy
Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity (METCO) is a voluntary
busing program that transports children of color from Boston and Springfield
to suburban school systems.
The History behind the DREAM
The Civil Rights movement of the '60's drew national attention to racial
inequities in the United States. In Boston, a group of African American
parents, reflecting on their children's inferior education, pointed to
the differences between schools in black neighborhoods and the schools
in white neighborhoods. When the all white Boston School Committee failed
to address these inequities, the parents began their own voluntary desegregation
program called Operation Exodus. Four hundred African American students
were bused to the predominantly white, but under enrolled Faneuil School
in Back Bay. The program's success caused adults to think of ways to
include more students.
In November of 1965, a group called the Massachusetts Federation for
Fair Housing and Equal Rights held a meeting with officials from12 suburban
communities. They discussed the possibility of these towns voluntarily
enrolling Boston students of color in their school systems. METCO was
the result of that meeting. The program became state funded in 1968 with
the passage of the Racial Imbalance Act.
The Facts behind the VISION
Wayland became a METCO community in 1968. There are 37 suburban communities
that participate and approximately 3000 students are bused from Boston
or Springfield to suburban schools. METCO is a part of the school experience
for over 80,000 children and their families.
Wayland is also one of ten METCO communities that participate in EMI
(Empowering Multicultural Initiatives). EMI is a non-profit educational
collaborative that provides teachers with training around issues of race
and racism within the educational setting.
Who believes in the VISION? The Boston parents of color show their belief
in the vision by signing up on an enrollment list that is 10,000 names
long. The suburban communities show their belief in the vision by fundraising
to maintain important programming that is not covered by the state budget.