Education and Equality in the Courts

First grade class of African American and white school children seated on the floor

Overview

Students analyze primary sources related to equality in education in the United States. In Part I, students analyze two sets of primary sources that illustrate major transformations in American public education following both the Mendez v. Westminster (1947) federal case and the Brown v. Board of Education (1954) Supreme Court case. In Part II, students participate in a moot court activity about expanding equality for undocumented immigrant and legal-resident or citizen students in the historic Supreme Court case of Plyler v. Doe (1982). Students then write their answers to questions about the role of equality in public education.

Related Resources

Grade

Middle School

Subjects

Civics, Social Studies

Length

80-120 minutes

Topics

14th amendment, Brown v. Board of Education, court cases, education, equal rights, equality, Mendez v. Westminster, mexican, plyler v. doe, public education, supreme court, undocumented students

Author

Citizen U CRF

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