Week 3 Assignment 2 Court Decisions, and Legislation Affecting Language Minority Children in American Public Education

Many minority groups have been negatively affected by U.S. policy that have affected them being educated.  Minority groups that have been affected are Puerto Ricans, American Indians, Mexican-Americans and African Americans.  Since the 1800’s- until about the 1930’s, the laws negatively affected them by not considering them citizens of the United States, which prevented them from obtaining an education.

    Many of the policies denied them learning in their native language which would have helped them learn and comprehend the English language. In the 1930’s even though the case could not be used as a precedent, the Independent School District v. Salvatierra ruled that Mexican- American students were not Indians.  It was a partial victory, because the Judge still ruled that it was okay to desegregate Mexican-Americans based on language. In the 1940’s there was a migration of Puerto Ricans to NYC. Although some Puerto Ricans were qualified to teach, they were only given aside jobs because of their accents. In the early 1960’s policies began to shift, as one group would fight to be educated equally, the other groups would benefit as well. When Brown v. Bd of Education, stated that it was unconstitutional to segregate and it was a violation of the 14th amendment, this helped the other minority groups use the case as a precedent for other cases.

    As policies changed states continued to contest and push for more time before desegregating and educating everyone equally.  In 1969, the case Alexander v. Bd of Education, overturned the state of Mississippi request for more time and was ordered to desegregate at once.  In 1970, Mexican-Americans were finally identified as a minority group and was afforded the same rights as African Americans. Throughout the 80’s and 90’s and presently, states continue to battle courts on the rights of minority groups, especially undocumented individuals. Until everyone realizes that it doesn’t matter where you come from, we are all humans and deserve to have the opportunity for the same education.