Plessy v. Ferguson was an influential Supreme Court case in 1896 that ruled segregation in public facilities constitutionally sound under the principle of “separate but equal”.

Over 100 years have passed….but have the schools in Charleston County become not only separate, but unequal as well?

Unfortunately, this issue is seldom brought to light and discussed in a meaningful manner because we are too afraid to engage in this type of difficult dialogue. It is time for this mentality to change, it is time for us to change, and it is time for us to make a change.

Minority students are far too often found in low performing schools and poor neighborhoods, while their Caucasian counterparts are often afforded the opportunity to attend high performing schools and take more rigorous classes. It is a trend, that if not acknowledged will not bode well for our future.

Over 100 years have passed…are our schools “Separate but UNequal”?

In the year 2015, there is no excuse for such a disparity in public education.  We cannot turn a blind eye to the fact that not every child is receiving a well-rounded and complete education.  This is nothing less than a civil rights issue.

True education is not just about getting students prepared to make a perfect score on their ACT. It is about preparing them for success in life, and ensuring children have every opportunity to succeed both academically and socially. Isolating students into interactions with their own race, class, and perspective is not the path toward a genuine education. A student from Charleston County School of the Arts, Alexandra Hepburn, stated that, “Diversity moves us from merely recognizing and tolerating our differences, to respecting and embracing them.”  AMHS Senior, Rachel Clyburn adds that “without diversity, one isn’t able to truly learn in an environment that is reflective of the real world”. We must work to ensure that our classrooms are diverse and that every child is given an equal opportunity to succeed.

Many recent reports and articles such as the Post and Courier’s “Left Behind” series have highlighted the educational disparities and “De facto Segregation” in Charleston when comparing schools like North Charleston High School and schools like Academic Magnet.

The conversation about this issue, however, needs to begin at a student level if anything is going to change. Students, who are affected by ever-decreasing diversity need to use their voices and make it known that change is welcome.

Ultimately, it is impossible to complete a puzzle with just one piece. Education is like a puzzle and each of us adds our own piece. In order to complete the full puzzle, we must all be able to come together, work together, and share our perspectives, as one.

Are we being educated in a system that is both “Separate and UNequal”?

If so, what are we doing about it?