Based on the reading in Chapter 3 of the text, what factors do you think most contributed to the Supreme Court's decision in Brown v. Board of Education (1954)? How does this decision continue to impact education today?
I say the Civil rights. I say this movement but I am not sure if that could be one and I am not sure how to write the rest of the answer...
#2) Read the opening scenario on pp. 91-92 of the text. How would you resolve this situation? What strategies would you use to incorporate tolerance and sensitivity toward the ethnic values in Ms. Williams' classroom?
Denise Williams had become increasingly aware of the racial tension in
the high school in which she teaches, but she did not expect the hostility
that erupted between some black and white students that Friday. In
the week that followed, the faculty decided they had to do more to develop positive
interethnic and interracial relations among students. They established a committee
to identify consultants and other resources to guide them in this effort.
Ms. Williams, however, thought that neither she nor her students could wait for
months to receive a report and recommendations from the committee. She was ready
to introduce the civil rights movement in her social studies class. It seemed a perfect
time to promote better cross-cultural communications. She decided that she would let
students talk about their feelings.
She soon learned that this topic was not an easy one to handle. African American
students expressed their anger at the discriminatory practices in the school and the
community. Most white students did not believe that there was any discrimination.
They believed there were no valid reasons for the anger of the African American and
Latino students and that if they just followed the rules and worked harder, they
would not have their perceived problems. She thought the class was getting
nowhere. In fact, sometimes the anger on both sides was so intense that she worried
a physical fight would erupt. She was frustrated that the class discussions and activities were not helping students understand their stereotypes and prejudices. At times, she thought students were just becoming more polarized in their beliefs. She
wondered whether she could do anything in her class to improve understanding,
empathy, and communications across groups.
I think that the first thing I would do to resolve the situation is to....
I am stuck there
In 1954, the civil rights movement was just getting started. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, of course, was instrumental in the desegregation of schools with this Brown decision. The NAACP championed this and other civil rights legal challenges. And I remember that ordinary citizens had a wake-up call considering this small child who had to go a considerable distance to school when there was a school much closer to her home. Another factor was World War II in which many African-Americans served in the armed forces. Finally, schools were segregated only in some states; most states did not have legally segregated schools. It was obvious to many people that "separate but equal" was not working and was unfair.
Since the class discussion wasn't accomplishing the teacher's goals, she could assign a paper in which each student wrote about his/her own personal experiences with racism or other forms of discrimination. Then, she could read some or all of the papers aloud to the class, without divulging the authors of these papers.
The next assignment could be to assign each student to an interracial group of 4 to 6 students. Have each group discuss the racial hostility situation and propose a solution to the problem. They could present their solution with a panel discussion, posters, or some more creative method.
A final note. The teacher should emphasize that each student would be graded on the group work by his/her cooperation with the group plus the quality of its presentation.
Dawn, I have no idea what your text chapter three says, but my thinking on the factors involved in the change of legal attitude was world war II, and the racism existing in Germany (killing many other races), and the US segregation in the armed forces which was ended by President Truman in 1948. This caused some thinking in the United States about what the Equal clause really meant, and was the Plessy decision really right.
For the first question about the Supreme Court's decision in Brown v. Board of Education (1954), the factors that most contributed to the decision were mainly related to civil rights and equality. To write the answer, you can start by explaining that the decision was a result of a legal challenge to segregated schools, where African American students were being denied equal educational opportunities. You can then mention that the Court considered factors such as the unequal conditions in segregated schools, psychological impacts on students, and the violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. These factors led the Court to rule that separate educational facilities were inherently unequal and therefore unconstitutional.
For the second question about resolving the situation in Ms. Williams' classroom, you can start by mentioning the importance of creating a safe and inclusive environment for all students. Strategies to incorporate tolerance and sensitivity towards ethnic values could include:
1. Facilitating open and respectful discussions: Encourage students to share their perspectives and emotions in a structured and respectful manner. Ensure that each student's viewpoint is acknowledged and listened to.
2. Teaching empathy and perspective-taking: Engage students in activities that promote understanding and empathy towards different cultural backgrounds. Encourage them to put themselves in each other's shoes to gain a deeper understanding of their experiences and challenges.
3. Exploring diverse cultural perspectives: Incorporate curriculum content that highlights the contributions and experiences of various ethnic groups. This can foster a sense of appreciation and respect for different cultures.
4. Promoting collaborative projects: Encourage students from different backgrounds to work together on projects or assignments. This can help build relationships, break down stereotypes, and enhance cross-cultural understanding.
5. Engaging parents and the wider community: Extend the conversation about tolerance and sensitivity beyond the classroom by involving parents, community members, or cultural organizations. This can provide additional support and reinforce the importance of these values.
Remember to elaborate on each strategy and provide examples of how they can be implemented to create a more inclusive and understanding classroom environment.