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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 16, 2000

Statement

Statement Of Bob Chase, President, National Education Association On The Anniversary Of Brown Vs. The Board Of Education

Forty-six years ago, Brown vs. the Board of Education outlawed racial segregation in public schools, ruling that separate public education could never be made equal. Today, as we commemorate that pivotal Supreme Court ruling, we also recognize that millions of students of color are still segregated into run-down schools, with overcrowded classrooms, less experienced teachers, outdated textbooks, and outmoded technology. Separate is still not equal, race still correlates with high poverty rates, and poor children still suffer from discrimination that limits their access to the American dream.

Instead of correcting historical school finance inequities over the past 46 years, regressive political forces have designed new schemes to divert even more public money away from public schools. Instead of applying research that shows all students benefit from racially diverse schools, many of the more than 500 court-ordered and voluntary school desegregation plans have been eliminated in less than a decade.

The wise words of the Supreme Court are even more true in this Information Age than they were in 1954: "It is doubtful that any child may reasonably be expected to succeed in life if he is denied the opportunity of an education." We must make real the promise of Brown vs. the Board of Education -- that all children - Black, White, Hispanic, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian, and others -- receive a quality education. To do this, we must address the connection between race and poverty in the nation's segregated neighborhoods and schools. If we cannot integrate our schools, what can we expect for our nation's multicultural future?

We know what children need to achieve their full potential: small classes that allow individualized attention, with caring, competent teachers, in safe, modern facilities offering quality, up-to-date books and equipment. On this occasion, the NEA reaffirms its commitment to make these the right of every child, in every community, without exception.

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The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing more than 2.7 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support personnel, school administrators, retired educators, and students preparing to become teachers.