The New York Times
Schools Ordered To Desegregate In Philadelphia
By MICHAEL deCOURCY HINDS
Published: February 05, 1994.
In a suit that had been in court for more than two decades, a state judge ruled today that the Philadelphia school district had not done enough to desegregate its schools.
Judge Doris A. Smith of the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, which has jurisdiction over litigation involving state agencies, said she would appoint a master or team of education experts to develop a desegregation plan and impose it on the district, a task that the school district argues is impossible because 75 percent of its 191,000 students are black or of Hispanic descent.
William H. Brown 3d, a lawyer for the school district, said tonight that he planned to appeal the decision to the State Supreme Court, which could review the case or let Judge Smith's decision stand.
"Our position is that if we don't involve the suburban school districts, we will never be able to bring about desegregation in Philadelphia," Mr. Brown said. "If the judge is not willing to make a metropolitan school district, I question how much can be achieved." 'Continuing the Struggle'
Mr. Brown has argued that Judge Smith has the authority to force suburban districts to join a metropolitan school district. Suburban school officials have publicly opposed the idea.
"There is no support for busing in either the black or the white communities here," said Alan L. Butkovitz, a Democratic state representative from the northeast section of the city.
Judge Smith ruled in favor of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, a state agency that had been trying to desegregate Philadelphia's schools since 1968. The commission and the school district have been fighting this case in court since 1973.
Michael Hardiman, an assistant chief counsel for the human relations commission, said, "We are continuing the struggle to desegregate the schools in Philadelphia and hopefully, this decision will advance the cause."
In her decision, Judge Smith wrote: "The record amply demonstrates that the school district has not provided to black and Hispanic students equal access to, among other things, the best qualified teachers and most experienced teachers, equal facilities and plants, equal access to advanced or special admissions academic course offerings, equal allocation of resources, or a commitment to eliminating racial imbalances in the schools to the extent feasible.
"Consequently, the commission's petition to enforce the law is granted."
Schools Ordered To Desegregate In Philadelphia
By MICHAEL deCOURCY HINDS
Published: February 05, 1994.
In a suit that had been in court for more than two decades, a state judge ruled today that the Philadelphia school district had not done enough to desegregate its schools.
Judge Doris A. Smith of the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, which has jurisdiction over litigation involving state agencies, said she would appoint a master or team of education experts to develop a desegregation plan and impose it on the district, a task that the school district argues is impossible because 75 percent of its 191,000 students are black or of Hispanic descent.
William H. Brown 3d, a lawyer for the school district, said tonight that he planned to appeal the decision to the State Supreme Court, which could review the case or let Judge Smith's decision stand.
"Our position is that if we don't involve the suburban school districts, we will never be able to bring about desegregation in Philadelphia," Mr. Brown said. "If the judge is not willing to make a metropolitan school district, I question how much can be achieved." 'Continuing the Struggle'
Mr. Brown has argued that Judge Smith has the authority to force suburban districts to join a metropolitan school district. Suburban school officials have publicly opposed the idea.
"There is no support for busing in either the black or the white communities here," said Alan L. Butkovitz, a Democratic state representative from the northeast section of the city.
Judge Smith ruled in favor of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, a state agency that had been trying to desegregate Philadelphia's schools since 1968. The commission and the school district have been fighting this case in court since 1973.
Michael Hardiman, an assistant chief counsel for the human relations commission, said, "We are continuing the struggle to desegregate the schools in Philadelphia and hopefully, this decision will advance the cause."
In her decision, Judge Smith wrote: "The record amply demonstrates that the school district has not provided to black and Hispanic students equal access to, among other things, the best qualified teachers and most experienced teachers, equal facilities and plants, equal access to advanced or special admissions academic course offerings, equal allocation of resources, or a commitment to eliminating racial imbalances in the schools to the extent feasible.
"Consequently, the commission's petition to enforce the law is granted."