The Supreme Court in Session: Hears School Segregation Arguments

In the past few weeks, the United States Supreme Court has been hearing arguments which challenge the legality of affirmative action programs in public school systems. As America continues to become one of the most racially diverse countries in the world, the realization that public school classrooms in America continue to stay segregated 52 years after the landmark case Brown v. Board of Education has finally begun to sink in.

Those in support of affirmative action believe that such programs in the public school system are necessary for maintaining racial balance and fighting off effects of segregated housing and poverty. Those against such "racial quotas" argue that the Constitution of the United States mandates a colorblind approach to race, or, that programs granting special privileges because of race are just as illegal as those withholding privileges on the same grounds.

The current cases before the Supreme Court regarding race in public schools come from Seattle and Louisville, KY. Programs in both school districts aim to produce racial integration for educational benefits for all students. The programs in both school districts are under fire for being unconstitutional. The Bush administration has come out against such programs, and these cases represent what's left of Brown v. Board of Education.

The issue of race in schools as related to the growing divide between the rich and the poor (or, the white and the black) in America is emotional and heated. Most people would agree that preventing a child from attending a certain school based on their race is wrong, which is exactly what the Supreme Court found during Brown v. Board of Education. Then, the court ruled that admission to public school must be decided on a non-racial basis.

It is for these reasons that the Supreme Court must also rule against these programs in Seattle and Louisville. While I support the goals of these programs, which are to achieve diversity in public school classrooms, giving children "special treatment" based on race goes against exactly what was ruled in Brown v. Board of Education. I adamantly believe that diversity in a classroom is integral to a child's education. In fact, the importance of diversity stretches to the college classroom as well. I attend Park University in Parkville, Mo., and the student body represents over 100 of the world's countries. I would not have been privy to the diversity of opinions I have encountered during my education had I not attended a school with a wide variety of races, religions and colors.

In addition, I do recognize the impact of racially segregated schools on poverty in America. However, I see the relationship as being inverted. Rather, I believe that if the prejudiced housing system in America would make it possible for people of color to live in the same neighborhoods as their white classmates and colleagues, the public school classroom would automatically become integrated because children of different races would be living in the same districts and attending the same schools. There would be no need for special programs. An integrated housing system and integrated public school classroom could have positive effects on the issue of poverty in America as attributed to race.

I believe in civil liberties and equality for all Americans. However, I also believe in the law, which is why the Supreme Court must strike down the programs in Seattle and Louisville based on the ruling in Brown v. Board of Education. They must uphold the Court's previous interpretation of the Constitution and find another way to address the issue of race and poverty in America, which could begin by overhauling the prejudiced housing system.