Education: Boston: Preparing for the Worst

Would it be the battle of Boston? Last year, the streets echoed to the sounds of jeers and curses, the crash of bottles and bricks and the clatter of hoofbeats as mounted police charged the rioters. Down the hill from South Boston High School, whites had menaced black students in angry confrontation. Would the scene be repeated? That was the fear of officials in Boston as they completed plans for this week's school opening. "This year we intend to be tough," said Boston Police Commissioner Robert di Grazia. "We don't want that one instance...