The Supreme Court's decision to ban affirmative action in college admissions sparked outrage from the left. However, this anger is misdirected. The true issue lies within the failing inner-city public schools that consistently graduate generations of Black and Brown students ill-equipped for college or life success.
If every child in America received a quality education, affirmative action wouldn't be necessary. Justice Sotomayor's dissent argues that the ruling hinders diversity in leadership. However, the problem begins long before college. It stems from inadequate public schools where many Black and Brown children struggle with basic literacy and math. The resistance to reform from teachers' unions and the neglect of Democrat politicians exacerbate this issue, trapping these young people in a cycle of disadvantage.
Representative Jamaal Bowman criticized the ruling, yet his own district faces severe educational challenges. In Wakefield, a significant portion of Black and Brown students are not performing at grade level. This isn't an isolated case; the situation is even worse statewide. Instead of addressing these shortcomings, some Democrat-led states are attempting to mask the problem by eliminating testing and lowering graduation standards.
Furthermore, these officials often obstruct the expansion of charter schools, which have a proven track record of success with minority students. The left's claim that standardized testing is racist is refuted by the achievements of Success Academy charter schools, where a predominantly low-income minority student body significantly outperformed public high school students on Regents exams. A College Board study reveals that a large percentage of New York high school graduates are unprepared for college, further highlighting the need for effective educational reform.
Bowman, a self-proclaimed education advocate, promotes opting out of standardized testing. This stance raises concerns about accountability and transparency in education. While Bowman claims his movement doesn't accept corporate money, records show substantial contributions from teachers' unions. These unions wield significant political influence through campaign funding and voter mobilization efforts.
Bowman also founded Cornerstone Academy for Social Action, a school he claims is one of the city's best. However, the school's performance on state exams falls far below city averages. This disparity perhaps explains Bowman's support for affirmative action, as students from his school would likely struggle to gain college admission without it. Bowman's case exemplifies a broader problem within the Democratic party: a disregard for the failing public school system and its detrimental impact on minority children. The financial support from teachers' unions often overshadows the urgent need for educational reform.
Instead of criticizing the Supreme Court, the focus should be on ensuring all children, regardless of race, receive the education they need to succeed. It's time to abandon the bigotry of low expectations and implement meaningful changes in our schools, empowering all students to learn and compete on their own merits.
