A Bad Plan For Desegregation In Boston Schools...But A Good Plan For A Harvard Link With Roxbury High

STILL, THE ANNOUNCEMENT of an as yet undefined relationship between Harvard and Roxbury High School, made in the masters' plan, is a positive step for the University and the community. Harvard will assist the community in bringing about its own social reform by advising and working with Roxbury to improve the quality of education in its high school.

The Harvard-Roxbury tie should symbolize a trend, characterized by the University's increasing concern with aiding people and communities that seek social improvements. At the same time, Harvard should become less involved with war related and big corporate contracts, the latter exemplified by the recent agreement with the Monsanto Corporation.

While the exact terms of the relationship await negotiations between the University and the high school, Harvard will probably provide the same kinds of services as the Graduate School of Education did in the late sixties. At that time, the University advised on curriculum and school structure, and trained student teachers who came from the Ed School to work in Roxbury schools; that Harvard-Roxbury tie weakened mainly because of the Nixon administration's withdrawal of federal funds for projects in black areas.

Federal money will probably be available to finance the Boston desegregation plan--funding will probably not be Harvard's problem. But the exact definition of any relationship will be crucial. If Harvard is to overcome the image of an estranged academy entering a community merely to study it--as many Roxbury residents fear--then the Harvard Roxbury relationship must be subject to community control.

The initial announcement of the plan should encourage all those who want Harvard to aid social change. However, Harvard's participation must be decided and limited by Roxbury's need as the students of Roxbury define those needs.