Final answer:
The lack of a bus for Great Faith School could be due to historical opposition to desegregation, socio-economic disparities, and the challenges and mixed success associated with busing as a method for achieving racial balance in schools.
Step-by-step explanation:
The absence of a bus service at Great Faith School could be attributed to several historical and socio-economic factors. Post the Brown v. Board of Education decision, resistance to desegregation was widespread, and the implementation of policies like busing to achieve racial balance in schools was met with mixed reactions. Evaluating this resistance through the prism of historical events, such as the Mae Mallory-led boycott and white flight leading to predominantly white suburbs, underscores the complexities involved in ensuring equal educational opportunities.
In many cases, socio-economic disparities resulted in inequitable allocation of resources to schools in lower-income neighborhoods as opposed to those in higher-income areas. When busing was suggested as a solution, it highlighted divisions not only along racial lines but also across economic statuses. Some parents viewed busing as a 'privilege', but one fraught with challenges, including their children facing racial prejudice or the burden of significant travel times.
Furthermore, busing was seen as a practical approach to promote integration, creating superficial friendships between different communities. However, long-term effects and community acceptance were varied. The hesitance about busing also captured the sentiment of taxpayers and parents who might have prioritized educational spending elsewhere or had concerns about the effectiveness of busing in promoting long-term racial harmony.