Stop trying to racially balance the schools

Wish I'd said that!

[Reprinted from Issues & Views January 27, 2003]

In her editorial for the National Association for Neighborhood Schools News Update (1/27/03), Joyce Haws reflects on the social engineering that still rules the school system. She expresses hope that change might come with the Supreme Court's decision on the University of Michigan discrimination case, although she acknowledges that other court decisions have "stood our Constitution on its head." Here is an excerpt:

Articles have appeared with increasing frequency in major newspapers lamenting the "resegregation" of the nation's schools. We have not found one article, however, that clarified the distinction between purposeful (de jure) segregation and segregation which occurs naturally (de facto).

If purposeful resegregation were recurring, it would be cause for alarm and action. Why? Because racial/ethnic manipulation to deliberately segregate schools is a violation of the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment to our nation's Constitution. There is, however, no cause for alarm and action if children are free to attend a school near their homes or a special school of their choice and the result is that some schools become predominantly black or white or Hispanic or predominantly whatever.

Our alarm and action should be centered upon the assignment of students to a school, or the exclusion of students from a school, because of their race or national origin under the guise of "desegregation" to achieve and maintain a prescribed "diversity" or racial balance. Such practice is also a violation of the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment.

There is no benefit of a prescribed racial/ethnic mix (diversity) that would justify such immoral and unconstitutional treatment of American citizens. As Attorney Larry Kobrovsky (Charleston SC) says, "Unfortunately history shows us that in every generation there are those that think they have the right to judge and weigh other people's ancestry to achieve the 'desirable mix' that they feel comfortable with. The criteria may change, as well as the reasons given, but the arrogance of those who think they have the right to make and enforce those decisions, unfortunately, remains."

For more information on the struggle to control public schools, visit the website of the National Association for Neighborhood Schools. Inquire about membership in NANS to receive the organization's informative hard copy newsletter (e-mail: RHaws@aol.com).

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