essential questions

The following questions address the major themes and thinking points of this podcast. You can use the questions to help you journal, take notes, or think about what you hear in this podcast.

1. If integrating schools solves the problem of failing schools, why don’t communities embrace it?

2. Is it okay for the quality of your education to depend on the zip code you live in? Why? Why not?

3. How can it be the case that 1 in 2 Black students in the St. Louis area goes to a failing school, vs. only 1 in 25 White students?

4. What connection do you see between the state of Ferguson’s schools and the shooting of Michael Brown?

5. If you had to choose between going to a failing school in the community you live in, or going to a good school in a community that didn’t want you, what would you do? Why?

episode summary

This episode tells the story of what happens when the state of Missouri shuts down the worst school district in Missouri—Normandy School District, the district in which Michael Brown went to high school—and gives Normandy’s nearly all-Black students the choice to go to a nearly all-White school district.

even more!

If you liked this episode, and want to read or listen to more about the topics addressed, check out these resources.

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