Migrants walk along the U.S.-Mexico border after crossing the Rio Grande into Texas | Photo by John Moore | Getty Images
Conservative politicians in Oklahoma, Tennessee, Massachusetts and Texas are advocating against the children of immigrants having access to public education. This decision has become a topic of discussion as people consider the morality of this decision.
Supreme court
In 1982, the Supreme Court ruled on the case of Plyer vs. Doe, in which the justices ruled it is unconstitutional for the children of illegal immigrants to be denied education.
A school system in Saugus, Massachusetts is trying to go against this ruling. They have started a new policy asking families to provide proof of their residency and provide occupancy and identity documents.
Associated Press Reporters Michael Casey and Jocelyn Gecker wrote an article outlining the proposed policy and the opinions forming around it.
“Civil rights attorneys say the requirements are onerous and violate federal law by disproportionately harming students from immigrant families, who may lack many of the required documents, regardless of whether they’re living in the country legally,” Casey and Gecker said.
This policy has received lots of pushback from people claiming it is unconstitutional. There has been controversy among politicians if this will join Roe vs. Wade in being overturned, but there are many people who do not agree with this policy.
Wright State opinions
Edward Fitzgerald, a professor of political science at Wright State University, shared some issues that have taken place with Ohio education.
“Ohio has established a minimum level of funds that must be spent on each pupil in the state. If the district is too poor to meet the minimum, the state will provide a subsidy,” Fitzgerald said.
Ohio used to put more money into wealthier schools. This did not sit well with parents in poorer districts. They took the issue to the Ohio Supreme Court, which led to the subsidy.
The same issue is happening in other states of schools discriminating against kids in certain schools.
Grant Miller, a WSU student majoring in elementary education, shared his opinions on the proposed policy.
“Hearing about the politicians who are trying to stop children from going to school is extremely disheartening. I think that every child has the right to an equal and fair education no matter what. I do not agree with what these politicians are doing to these children that just want to learn and be a part of society like everyone else,” Miller said.
Plyer vs. Doe cannot be overturned in the state of Ohio because it goes against the Ohio Constitution which requires proper education for all children. However, this does not mean all other states are safe.
