Their family had very little, but they would go on to create what was a truly elite suburb for wealthy Clevelanders. Van Sweringen were a fascinating pair of brothers. Tell us about these two guys, what they did. And the modern community was really the work of a pair of brothers who had nothing to do with the Shakers, but who bought a lot of the land, I guess, in the early 20th century. You know, it's settled on land that was originally inhabited by the religious sect the Shakers in the 19th century. It's been around a long time, elegant homes. You know, it's known as a beautiful community. LAURA MECKLER: I'm so happy to be with you, Dave.ĭAVIES: Let's talk a little bit about Shaker Heights. Her new book is 'Dream Town: Shaker Heights And The Quest For Racial Equity.' She's earned a host of journalistic honors, including a George Polk Award. Before joining the Washington Post, Laura Meckler reported for the Wall Street Journal and the Associated Press. She grew up in Shaker Heights and attended public schools there from grade school through high school. Meckler brings special interest and insight to the task. Meckler's new book is an intimate look at the experience of Shaker Heights' struggles with racial equity and educational challenges, told through the stories of teachers, students, parents, administrators and community leaders. And its school system has a reputation for excellence, enriching its curriculum with advanced programs and sending large numbers of students to elite universities.īut our guest, Washington Post national education writer Laura Meckler, writes in a new book that, while it's true Shaker Heights' schools are racially balanced, there are large achievement gaps between Black and white students. It's maintained a strong balance of Black and white residents. For decades, Shaker Heights, a suburban community just outside Cleveland, has had a national reputation as a leader of integration. But one city in Ohio implemented a busing plan without a court order. In the 1970s, federal courts ordered school districts around the country to desegregate their schools by busing students from one community to another, generating heated opposition from parents who opposed integration and embraced the idea of neighborhood schools.

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