In my previous articles, I have discussed the plans of two school districts in Kentucky to place students in schools by race, I have talked of the Supreme Court ruling that ruled against the schools, and I have addressed some questions concerning Thursday’s Supreme Court ruling against two Kentucky school districts. In this article I will address even more questions and concerns of the ruling.
Does this Supreme Court ruling compare to previous rulings made by the Court?
This was the first case to discuss diversity and education since 2003. The 2003 case involved college admissions. During that time Justice Sandra Day O’Connor had approved the use of limited race to determine admission. She has now retired and been replaced with Justice Samuel Alito, who voted against the plans of the Kentucky schools.
Does this ruling affect colleges?
This ruling does not affect any college or university admission polices. The decision made in 2003 that concerned college and university use of race in school admission is still in good standing.
Does this ruling affect the decision of Brown v. Board of Education in 1954?
The only black member of the Supreme Court, Justice Clarence Thomas said that he felt what the school districts were doing today to prevent segregation was just as bad as what the schools were doing in 1954 to segregate. Either way, the students were being placed by their race. This he feels is unconstitutional.
I will have to agree with Justice Thomas. I feel that using race to place students to keep diversity is no different than placing students to prevent diversity. When students and their families enroll in a school, they are aware of the school’s student body racial make-up. If a white student wishes to enroll in a school that has a primarily black student body, why should he not? In return if a majority of black students enroll in a particular school, that is their choice.
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