United States v. Texas, otherwise known as Civil Order 5281 deals with Texas violating civil rights laws in regards to segregation within its public schools. In Nov. of 1970, the U.S. district court for the Eastern District of Texas ordered TEA to take responsibility for the desegregation of Texas public schools.
The case was brought to light after investigations completed by the United States Dept. of Health, Education, and Welfare proved that there were numerous infractions regarding discriminatory practices in a number of small town schools. Texas was required by the U.S. to develop and submit a plan of action to eliminate segregation within the schools. Once Texas filed their plan, the U. S. objected and set their own guidelines in what must be done. Texas received specific orders in regards to transfers of students. Transfers of students that lent itself to look like segregation was stopped. Justice William Wayne ordered consolidation of all black districts with the connecting white districts. TEA was ordered to prohibit the assignment of schools based on race, discrimination in regards to extracurricular activities, personnel practices, and segregated bus routes. If the ruling was not followed districts could lose their accreditation with the state.
Texas has always marched to the beat of its own drum and tends to lend itself to the rebellious side. I typically don't mind this, however I believe in fairness and equality of all men. I am in complete agreement with the outcome of this case. Texas was in complete defiance of the 14th amendment and of the civil rights laws. A slap on the hand would not be enough in this matter. I believe that the U.S. had a right to get involved and enforce orders upon Texas in order to stop segregation.
The whole case applies to Domain 1.3 of our student learning outcomes. As educators, we need to be aware of what may or may not be happening in our district or the districts surrounding us, when it comes to dealing with student transfers and school assignments. Although, we don't see as much of segregation in schools, I am sure there are cases in which a student has been sent to another campus for reasons other than those deemed legally okay.
posted by doglover
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
10 comments:
cdedad:
I'll agree with the court and the blogger like I have done on most occasions. I can see the point about Texas wanting to do things their own way, because as a state, Texas has always kind of ben that way. Other states probably had some of the same issues, but they maybe never reached the supreme court level. There were probably states doing the same thing Texas was, but it was not addressed or some of the smaller states changed their policies after they saw what happened to Texas. Since the people at TEA who were supposed to be monitoring the original desegregation might have believed that what the schools were doing was okay, that is why it was necessary for the court to step in.
I agree with the courts on this one. Texas was violating civil rights laws. It was not only happening in small Texas towns, but also fairly large Texas towns as well.
I was in elementary school during this time and can remember when bussing began. It was a very big deal. Parents, teachers, and students(on both sides)were upset. However, it was the law and I believe that it was justified. Everyone deserves access to the same education, regardless of the color of their skill.
Although this issue has been addressed by the courts, I feel sure that there are still some small Texas schools that still have some of these issues; though it may be more of a community issue than a school issue.
~Tiffany~
The courts did recognize a problem here. I wonder how many times these issues are never brought to anyones attention. I have had numerous discussions with people who are still as prejudice as their parents and their parents parents. They place their children in private schools to avoid contact with those of other ethnic backgrounds and they have no problem telling you all about it. I suspect as a principal we will have a number of these types of discussions with parents in all of our communities.
RumRunner
Leave it to Texas to think they are different than everyone else and that they don't need to follow the laws. It is difficult to imagine how vehemently the people in this era refused to desegregate. What I mean is that I find it hard to wrap my head around the fact that anyone could look at a child and deny them entrance to a school just because of the color of his skin. However, I am glad that the courts stepped in, and I do think it was absolutely necessary. It is very unfortunate that we will still have to deal with these issues as administrators. I hope that we, as future administrators, can continue the work of teaching not tolerance but true acceptance.
Posted by Kiska
Texas definitely takes the concept of "with all deliberate speed" to heart doesn't it? 16 years after the Brown decision and they still weren't enforcing desegregation. I agree with The Court and the blogger here. Something definitely needed to be done. In order to ensure 14th amendment rights were being upheld desegregation had to be enforced. Since TX was unable to come up with an effective plan on their own, the federal govt. was right to create their own set of guidelines for Texas to follow. I do find it interesting thought that it as long as it did for the issue to be forced. If you look at other Souther states, ie. Arkansas(Little Rock Nine,1957),& Mississippi (James Merideth 1961), etc., the government forced the issue much more quickly than they did in TX. It makes me wonder why no one in TX made desegregation this big of an issue until 1970.
last blog was posted by 1995frog
Wow! Another one of these cases that is pretty cut and dry. I agree with the court’s ruling and the bloggers remarks. I find it hard to believe that there was desegregation problems in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s I grew up in a Texas county that only had one school during these times and all races went to that school. There was no other choice, it was the norm. I believe the Federal government not only had a right but a moral obligation to set forth standards for the state to follow. Texas is a large state and does have its own way of doing things, right or wrong. This state is a leader in lots of the education processes and standards that are set throughout our nation, it should then develop the correct methods for creating a system of integration in all schools in the state.
Fort Worth Cohort
jagem
guilo10:
Who wouldn't agree with the state here. I agree with the blogger. I don't remember a time when schools were separated. The kindergarten building was the old black school in Crane, Texas. I also agree that the state had to step in and get involved in order for everyone to change their policies.
Segregation existed here until the 1970's, it is hard to believe. There must be another darker level in our culture that I just don't see. Civil Order 5281 was able to lower the incidence of segregation in our state. If this hostility toward minorities still exists who is to say that without constant vigilince, resegregation might not occur again. I would have liked to have thought that we were over it.
fnb84
by: kido5150
I agree that the court had to step in and do something. The blogger was righ twhen they said 'a slap on the hand' wouldn't have been enough for Texas. Something that RUMRUNNER said - that we were going to have to deal with prejudiced children, parents, grandparents, etc. I find that it is true at my school. I can't believe it sometimes, but it is very much there and spoken about (without much thought to who is around)if the topic comes up. Another cold, hard reality for those of us that are all sunshine and smiles :)
Post a Comment