Posted on: Wednesday, May 19, 2004
EDITORIAL
'Brown' ruling applies to Island schools today
Fifty years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling that many scholars contend was its most important ruling in the 20th century.
While that might be argued, there is little doubt that Brown v. the Board of Education of Topeka was the most important ruling touching on public education in America.
The ruling, which threw out the concept of "separate but equal" school facilities, is usually measured through the lens of black vs. white America and the evils of segregation.
But there are other lessons in "Brown" that go beyond the usual discussion of race.
The lesson of "Brown" is also that every child deserves, is entitled to, an equal shot at education in our nation's public school system.
That's a lesson that is entirely on point today, in Hawai'i, as we struggle to build a public school system that offers equal advantages and opportunities to all.
The plain fact is that we have yet to achieve that ideal. Our single statewide school system provides a level of equality, at least in funding, that has received national recognition.
But any fair reckoning of our school system would conclude that it does not offer equal advantage, equal opportunity.
Those who struggle with the disadvantages of culture, language or poverty are not able to make full use of what our school system has to offer. We try to offset these disadvantages with extra help, extra money and extra attention.
The Legislature's adoption, this year, of a "weighted" formula for school funding should help. This system will direct money to schools whose students have extra needs.
It is imperative that the weighted formula move forward. One can already sense bureaucratic resistance to the idea, because it is complicated and because it represents a threat to the status quo.
As Hawai'i continues its reforms, it should remember the lesson Brown v. the Board of Education and honor it.
Any public school system that fails to live up to the ideas of equality and equal protection under the laws is unworthy of our support.
