Schools Decision Feedback

        In the aftermath of the Supreme
Court’s decision on school integration plans in Seattle and Louisville, it seems as though everyone has an opinion. After a slower 4th of July week, here are the articles you might have
missed:

•  Arguing against the ruling, Irene
  Monroe of the Windy City Times reports on the devastating effects of this
  decision: limiting our rights. She warns
  that a decision that declares separate facilities constitutional – 53 years after Brown – limits the rights of not only
  students of color, but also female, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and
  queer students. She cites a high school in New York City designed to offer a supportive environment for LGBTQ students that might be
  considered discriminatory under the latest ruling.
• Describing another deleterious effect, Eric
  Mayes of the Philadelphia Tribune investigates how this ruling may affect
  teacher placement, since the district’s procedures stipulate that the racial
  balance of the schools applies to teachers as well. Therefore, African American and white
  teachers can only work at certain schools.  Many officials, however, see for the ruling as opening the door to end integration policies in their own districts.
• As the Boston Globe reports,
  a new case has been filed to stop the 20-year desegregation policy in the Lynn School district in Massachusetts.   The attorneys in Lynn are following the blueprint Parents Involved in
  Community Schools, the public policy group behind the Seattle case.  For more information on that group, check out this LA Times
  report.
• In the Seattle PI, Sharon Browne, one of the
  lawyers for the Pacific Legal Foundation, explains the reasons why the Seattle decision is
  a net positive for the city.

In addition to the many opinions
against this ruling, another group of writers believe in the constitutionality
of the decision.

• David Brooks argues in The New York Times that integration is counter to human nature. Brooks argues that racial disparities
  in poverty still exist, and that even when income is standardized,
  neighborhoods are still segregated. Brooks ends his analysis by stating that “maybe integration is not in
  the cards.” (Thanks, Prometheus 6, for
  the tip!)
• In the Washington Post, George F. Will explains how the decision takes the country back to the Brown mentality, and how the decision is
  a positive step.

In light of Justice
Kennedy’s discussion of alternative ways to diversify schools, many writers
advocate balancing socioeconomic status rather than race.

• This New York Times article discusses the achievement gap between income levels. Poor neighborhoods often lack the resources
  to provide their children with equal education to neighboring, more affluent
  communities. Ted Shaw, president of the
  NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund Inc., acknowledges that using income
  levels won’t entirely substitute for achieving racial integration, but it’s a
  good start. (Thanks, Racialicious, for
  the tip!)
• The Des Moines Register
  reiterates this idea in this article
  discussing the school districts which already utilize an integration plan that
  uses the socioeconomic status. Writer
  Matthew Schwieger argues that this constitutional way of allocating the
  students to different schools could be the solution to unfair disparities.

However, not all writers agree with this
assessment.

• In the Milwaukee Journal
  Sentinel, School Board member Brian Dey explains that socioeconomic status in
  his district is identical to race, so using family incomes to place students
  still violates the Supreme Court decision.
• Another solution to balancing
  schools comes from the Louisville Courier-Journal: charter schools. Writer Liam Julian
  argues that racial balance in the classroom is not as important as racial
  balance in achievement, and that charter schools give principals the freedom to
  make a truly effective school.

For more commentary on the ruling,
try Joel Achenbach’s
(of the Washington Post) anecdotal
memories of his own district’s integration tactics, or Newsweek’s post-decision
interview
with Justice Kennedy. Also check out our
past coverage here.