Pairing the words hypocrisy and affirmative action… might trigger a defensive emotional response, in some readers.

However, that defensive response might be presumptuous or fall victim to objectivity when analyzed more objectively. So, for those who want to fully understand my perspective on public education, I’ve written a previous article on public school funding and that article can be found here. (Civilians News – Rodriguez vs Texas Schools)

Nevertheless, today and in that previous article, I want to discuss the landmark ruling in, “Texas Public Schools vs Rodriguez (1973),” and that’s because this is a case which I believe still has precedence today and continues to impact how public schools are STILL… un-equally financed throughout America. Whereby, to re-iterate… it was in this landmark decision that America decided decades ago… that regional tax revenues, justified funding different public schools, differently. However, in my opinion… this is one of those Supreme Court decisions that has long plagued this country and become outdated over time, essentially justifying, “systemic class-ism,” from the onset of childhood development in America, since the 1970’s.

And to clarify, public schools in regions with less tax revenue were (and still are) funded less than public schools which reside in wealthier school districts. But also, in retrospect… this decision appears racially biased, whereby, in modern times it feels even more egregious to think of unevenly funded public schools because of the interplay between public schooling and Affirmative Action, programs.

Which is to say, “how does this funding system… inter-play with affirmative action, today?” Or more specifically, how do you send certain kids to an un-evenly funded public school… based upon their regional tax revenue… essentially penalizing their entire community for not paying the same amount in taxes as other communities… but then you turn around and give those same kids priority based on, “systemic racism?” (IE Affirmative Action, which to me seems hypocritical, to say the least — which is the point of this article.)

And how is that not hypocritical to sort children educationally, in this way?

Or rather, how do you punish a weaker school district, for not paying as much in taxes by giving them a weaker public school…. only to reward those same kids, who we’re just penalized with affirmative action?

-William Larsen, Civilians News

PS: And why not fund all public schools evenly? And then end Affirmative Action for good?