Civics

Era 14: Contemporary United States: Domestic Policies (1970–Today) - Article

School Desegregation and School Funding in New Jersey

Summary: A series of interactive lessons enables students to describe the difference between de jure and de facto discrimination and explain why de facto discrimination might be harder to eliminate. Students will also connect the Hedgepeth-Williams v. Trenton Board of Education decision to fight to end segregation in NJ schools and explain how that decision contributed to Brown v. Board of Education. Finally, students will explain how school funding works in New Jersey, how school consolidation might reduce school segregation, and determine whether the primary issue is school desegregation or equal funding for schools.
As an extension activity, teacher’s may engage students in the EconEDLink lesson, What is the Most Ethical Way to Fund Public Schools? In this lesson, students analyze a variety of public-school funding formulas and documents, create a school-funding graphic organizer, and write an email to their state representative with their plan to fund schools in the most ethical way based on their researched opinion.

Overarching questions:

  • CIVICS: How have the concepts of liberty, justice and/or equality changed during the time period? If so, how and what has been the impact?
  • CIVICS: Have individuals and groups influenced public policy during this time period? If so, how and what has been the impact?
  • NEW JERSEY: How have changes in New Jersey during thai time period influenced U.S. history?

NJ Student Learning Standards for Social Studies:

  • 6.1.12.CivicsPI.13.a: Craft an argument as to the effectiveness of the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, New Jersey Supreme Court decisions (i.e., Hedgepeth and Williams v. Trenton Board of Education), and New Jersey’s laws in eliminating segregation and discrimination.
  • 6.1.12.CivicsDP.13.a: Analyze the effectiveness of national legislation, policies, and Supreme Court decisions in promoting civil liberties and equal opportunities (i.e., the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act, the Equal Rights Amendment, Title VII, Title IX, Affirmative Action, Brown v. Board of Education, and Roe v. Wade).

Link to lesson: School Desegregation and School Funding in New Jersey

Supplemental Link: EconEdLink - NEW! What is the Most Ethical Way to Fund Public Schools?