Why the Department of Education Finally Needs to Accept That Education Is a Civil Right

Nov 2, 2018 12:00:00 AM

by Karlton A. Laster

As a 5-year old kindergartner, I was threatened with my first suspension for being talkative and “disruptive” in class by my almost 70-year-old White teacher. Luckily, my grandmother and our Black principal knew how to handle kids coming from nursery school into a new classroom setting. Instead of being suspended, I was transferred into a class with a Black teacher where I did just fine. In middle school, I was in a gifted and talented program doing well academically, but struggling with self-confidence and bullying. I recall during an English class play recital, I was being teased for being nerdy and overweight and I screamed out loud that “I wish I could have killed myself.” That was the first time I remember dealing with mental health and trauma. In high school, I was one of only two Black students in any AP course, and despite being in the National Honor Society, I, along with other classmates of color, was encouraged to apply to local colleges. None of this should come as a surprise. I was, after all, a Black boy in America journeying through a flawed education system without the necessary academic, behavioral and mental health supports needed to comprehensively thrive. [pullquote]To suspend a 5-year old child in 1995 was controversial, but today it is sadly commonplace.[/pullquote] Minority students are disproportionately punished at early ages, which contributes to systemic behavioral and disciplinary issues in school and into adulthood. In addition, we have seen school districts denied funding to meet the mental health supports and wraparound social services needed to allow minority students succeed. And in the small funding that has been provided to schools, a portion, some have suggested, should be used towards the arming of teachers to address school shootings. Betsy DeVos and the Trump administration continue to move steadily towards a rollback on civil rights protections, despite the mission of the Department of Education to “promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.” Part of this rollback has included the reduction of compliance reviews and expediting of cases under review. In response, earlier this summer, the NAACP sued the Department for its handling of civil rights investigations. In order to execute its mission, the Department, and the country as a whole, must finally accept that education is in fact a civil right. By continuing to investigate cases of systemic and implicit bias, the Department can create a framework for how schools should respond to civil rights infringements of protected students. This could also serve to educate administrators, teachers, parents and communities on how to prepare students for a multicultural, interconnected world and the consequences of sustaining old behaviors and habits. If we were to do that, we might actually be on the path of truly making America great.

Karlton A. Laster

Karlton A. Laster is the former Assistant Director of Government & Community Relations for Case Western Reserve University. A native Clevelander, Karlton has a B.A. English and M.A. public policy and administration from The Ohio State University and Northwestern University, respectively. Previously, Karlton served as Special Assistant for Regional Collaboration for Cuyahoga County, where he led the County’s intergovernmental outreach as well as fostering engagement with vital private community partners. Karlton is a proud member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated and the Alliance for the Great Lakes Young Professional Council.

The Feed

Explainers

  • What's an IEP and How to Ensure Your Child's Needs Are Met?

    Ed Post Staff

    If you have a child with disabilities, you’re not alone: According to the latest data, over 7 million American schoolchildren — 14% of all students ages 3-21 — are classified as eligible for special...

  • Seeking Justice for Black and Brown Children? Focus on the Social Determinants of Health

    Laura Waters

    The fight for educational equity has never been just about schools. The real North Star for this work is providing opportunities for each child to thrive into adulthood. This means that our advocacy...

  • Why Math Identity Matters

    Lane Wright

    The story you tell yourself about your own math ability tends to become true. This isn’t some Oprah aphorism about attracting what you want from the universe. Well, I guess it kind of is, but...