By Linda Haushalter

Decisions That Have Shaped U.S. Education Educating African American Children: Credibility at a Crossroads The Evils of Public Schools Can Every Child Learn? School Vouchers Showdown Meeting the Challenges of the Urban High School

Decisions That Have Shaped U.S. Education Equality in Education Freedom of Expression Student Discipline and School Safety The Role of Religion in U.S. Education

Equality in Education –Desegregation- Brown Vs. Board of Education (1854) –Per-pupil Expenditure- San Antonio Independent School District Vs. Rodriguez (1973) –Students with Limited English Proficiency- Lau Vs. Nichols (1974) –Special Education- Board of Education Vs. Rowley (1982) –Accommodating Disabilities- School Board Vs. Arline (1987)

Freedom of Expression Saluting the Flag –Education Vs. Barnette (1943) Student Speech –Tinker Vs. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969) Censorship –Hazelwood School District Vs. Kuhlmeier (1988) Teachers’ Speech –Mt. Healthy City School District Vs. Doyle (1977) School Libraries –Board of Education, Island Trees Union Free School District No. 26 Vs. Pico (1982)

Student Discipline and School Safety Student Suspensions and Expulsions – Goss Vs. Lopez (1975) Corporal Punishment –Ingraham Vs. Wright (1977) Searches of Students –New Jersey Vs. T.L.O. (1985) Random Drug Tests –Vernonia School District 47J Vs. Acton (1995) Sexual Harassment –Franklin Vs. Gwinnett County Public Schools (1992) –Gebser Vs. Lago Vista Independent School District (1998) / Davis Vs. Monroe County Road of Education (1999) Disruptive Students in Special Education –Honig Vs. Doe (1988)

The Role of Religion in US Education Government Aid to Religious Schools –Lemon Vs. Kurtzman (1971) Prayer at School Events – Lee Vs. Weisman (1992)

Educating African American Children: Credibility at a Crossroads The overwhelming majority of teachers in America are white. (Kailin 1999) There is a disproportionate numbers of African American children having difficulty in school. (Johnson 1996)

The profession of color- blindness, though possibly well intended, is problematic and presents a huge blind spot in orientation when educating African American children. (McIntosh 1989) “Why do Black youths, in particular, think about themselves in terms of Race?” (Tatum 1997) African American children view collective growth and achievement above and beyond individual success.

The Evils of Public Schools “He who Passively Accepts evil (is) as much involved in it as he who helps perpetuate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.” -Martin Luther King

Can Every Child Learn? Yes, most (but not all). If children are abused, scared, sick, hungry or without love and security… forget about it!

School Vouchers Showdown Do they improve students’ educational performance? Do they hurt Public Schools? Do they unconstitutionally subsidize religious schools?

Meeting the Challenges of the Urban High School Remember it takes a village to raise a child… Engage Parents!