District Administration - September 2007 - (Page 20)

BRIEFINGS InsidetheLaw Martin Luther King Jr. understood this when he decided that he had to begin to tackle issues of social class and economic justice, not just race. We cannot fall for the idea that we can only deal with racism as it aﬀects test scores. It can’t all be dumped into the lap of school reform. Cheap NCLB-style reforms are not a substitute for the progressive reforms needed to restore a level playing ﬁeld in America. Schools are important. But schools cannot be the entire civil rights movement of our time. Instead we can use them as one among many opportunities to organize, promote and insist on equity. The achievement gap is a taboo topic in most schools. It’s barely discussed in the rooms where mostly white adults gather to examine gap “data.” But kids know. I try to imagine discussing with kids why year after year headlines proclaim them to be losers based on their race. Shame on us for letting the recent Supreme Court decision happen. It’s not bad luck. The court majority results from our political representatives—both Republicans and Democrats. We can overcome, but once again the ball is in the wrong court. By Gary Stager made clear that when race is not considered as part of a broader spectrum but is “determinative standing alone,” its use is unconstitutional. The court’s decision was informed by two prior decisions: Bakke and Grutter. The Bakke court articulated an understanding of diversity that was not based only on ethnicity, but on other elements like foreign travel, the ability to speak other languages, personal adversity, family hardship, and community service. Applying that reasoning, the Grutter court found compelling student body diversity in the context of higher education. By upholding Grutter, the Supreme Court has provided some insight into the limited way race may be used as one component to further diversity—at least in higher education. Although it would appear that the use of race as a factor rather than the factor may withstand judicial scrutiny at the K12 level, its use opens up educators to claims of unconstitutionality, resultant Achieving Diversity Without Race John R. Munich Partner with Stinson Morrison Hecker, submitted a brief of amicus curiae in the Seattle case on behalf of social scientists concluding that there are no educational beneﬁts resulting from diversity in the classroom The decision in Parents Involved sends a strong message to educators that the use of race comes with much risk. Indeed, while the Supreme Court left open the ability to use race as a factor, the court 20 September 2007 District Administration http://www.solution-tree.com http://www.solution-tree.com

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Cover Contents Editor’s Letter Letters News Update Curriculum Update Inside the Law District Profile Administrator Profile District Buying Power 2007 X-Factor Student Achievement Awards 2007 We've Got Mail Supporting New Teachers How Well Does This Web Site Work? New Products Problem Solution Computer Literature Research Corner Online Edge Supervisor’s Opinion Speaking Out Calendar of Events Understanding the Times

District Administration - September 2007

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