Good on Paper
Did Busing Turn Kids Into Democrats?
Apr 8, 2025
Ethan Kaplan, an economist from the University of Maryland whose research focuses on the impacts of policy interventions like school desegregation, discusses a groundbreaking study on school busing in Louisville. He reveals how busing changed the political identities of students, making them more likely to align with the Democratic Party and support unions. Kaplan also explores the complex relationship between educational policies, personal growth through discomfort, and long-term political attitudes shaped by formative experiences in diverse settings.
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Quick takeaways
- Busing in the 1970s significantly shaped the political identities of students, leading to increased support for the Democratic Party and unions.
- Parental opposition to busing was often driven by fears of racial integration and its perceived disruption to children's education.
Deep dives
The State of School Integration in America
In recent years, school integration has remained a contentious issue, with data highlighting ongoing racial and ethnic segregation in schools. During the 2020-2021 school year, over a third of American students attended racially homogenous schools, revealing little progress since the 1980s. Research indicates that the percentage of Black students in majority-white schools has significantly decreased, emphasizing the challenges associated with school desegregation. This situation underscores the need for effective policies and discussions surrounding the historical context and current implications of school integration efforts.
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