Economic Disparity Assures Public School Segregation

May 17, 2004 marked the fifty year anniversary of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case of Brown v. Board of Education, which established that separate but equal was inappropriate and required the end of segregation in public schools in the United States. Yet, today many schools throughout our nation remain segregated as a result of economic discrimination. It is evident that the more affluent neighborhoods have better schools with superior teachers, programs and resources. This disparity in the school system makes it much more difficult for underprivileged children to succeed; thereby, perpetuating the invisible economic class barrier that results from not having equal opportunities available in education at the primary and secondary level. Once a child is deprived of the essential educational skills in elementary school, junior high and high school, her chance of being admitted into college and succeeding in business and life is greatly reduced. This result is unfair and preventable. As a community we must find ways to promote better educational facilities in underprivileged areas. We need to devote greater resources in these schools and ensure that high quality teachers are willing to teach in underprivileged areas. The cycle must be broken and the time has come to make the change.