As the new school year begins I am reminded of what just took place on June 28. The Supreme Court ruled that voluntary plans to create racial balance in schools should stop. When I first heard the news I was upset, believing that this was a major reversal of one of the cornerstones of civil rights legislation.

 

Upon reflection, however, I realized that the Supreme Court decision was an indictment against a system of forced, racial integration process that is not truly serving the current needs of the average kid. What is needed today is not a Supreme Court ruling but a positive plan to urgently change the structure of education. Kids of all races are in academic danger. Black and Hispanic children are especially vulnerable.

 

The National Center for Education statistics tell us that the majority of white kids go to schools that are predominately white and large numbers of black kids go to predominately black schools. Today racial separation in various neighborhoods is not by government fiat or prejudice - it is by choice.

In 1951, forced, racial segregation in public schools was the order of the day. Black schools had very few resources, equipment, and books; their teachers were under paid. Constitutionally, these schools were supposed to be equal. Unfortunately, most black schools lagged far behind their white counterparts.

 

Against that backdrop, third grade Linda walked a mile to school everyday through a dangerous railroad switchyard. Her father, Oliver Brown, repeatedly attempted to get her enrolled in a white school just a few blocks away from her home. Desegregation of Topeka’s public schools was necessary so she could achieve her goals.

An expert witness in the Brown case made the following statement:

 

"...if the colored children are denied the experience in school of associating with white children, who represent 90% of our national society in which these colored children must live, then the colored child's curriculum is being greatly curtailed."

 

On May 17, 1954, Chief Justice Earl Warren announced the decision of the unanimous Court:

“We conclude that in the field of public education the doctrine of 'separate but equal' has no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal. Therefore, we hold that the plaintiffs …are, by reason of the segregation complained of, deprived of the equal protection of the laws guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment.”

 

What a timely victory! The Brown decision was a historic step forward - a great beginning. Unfortunately, our nation cannot rest on her laurels. We must zero in on the needs of the hour. Public schools are local – they serve the people in their community. Somehow during the last fifty years, school integration has separated children from their neighborhoods. Most minority kids today live in suburban versus urban areas. What was missing in the Brown decision was the ability to transfer the intangible element of personal mission and community involvement which creates an atmosphere of excellence and success. Even during the days of segregation, schools like Dunbar High School, in Washington, D.C. developed some of America’s outstanding black scholars, because of the commitment and skill of a dedicated staff. 

 

In contrast, Secretary Spellings of the Department of Education underscores the urgent needs of children of color today. She cites the fact that 50% of black males do not graduate from high school on time – making school relevance and efficiency a major issue.

 

We need professional development that informs classroom effectiveness. In addition, we need to equip educators to build relational bridges with families in order to advance their child’s learning experiences. It is not enough to know the material; teachers must know the culture. They must be translators of intangible educational goals into concrete steps of action for urban minorities who often think that learning “is not cool.”

 

Imagine an America in which teachers know how to deal with discipline problems, understand the culture, and help kids master basic skills of reading, writing, and arithmetic. These are the changes that America needs. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court cannot give these things to us. We must seize them.