NEA Applauds Supreme Court's Decision on Affirmative Action; Court Rules Diversity Is an Important Educational Tool

6/23/2003

From: Michael Pons, 202-822-7595, e-mail: mpons@nea.org, Melinda Anderson, 202-822-7230, e-mail: manderson@nea.org, both of the National Education Association

WASHINGTON, June 23 -- Reg Weaver, president of the 2.7 million-member National Education Association, hailed today's U.S. Supreme Court decisions as a victory for affirmative action.

"The Court recognizes the importance of diversity in education and of expanding access to educational opportunities," Weaver said. "While clearly schools must be balanced in expanding opportunities, the Court acknowledged the value in allowing schools to have policies and procedures that promote diversity."

Weaver said those who consider affirmative action an issue only for women and minorities miss an essential point. "Affirmative action benefits our whole society, and now the Court has ruled that schools may continue to explore effective ways to promote diversity," he said.

The Court ruled 5-4 upholding the University of Michigan's use of race as a factor in law school admissions, but said a point system that factored race in undergraduate admissions was unconstitutional.

"Diversity has clear educational, social, and economic benefits," Weaver said. "If affirmative action is to be in place anywhere, it should be integral to schools at all levels."

The amicus brief NEA filed in the pair of affirmative action cases focused on research showing racial diversity in classrooms helps all students gain skills that are useful in the workplace and in life, such as skills in problem-solving, critical thinking, and in understanding different points of view.

Weaver said the Court's ruling was consistent with the concepts set forth by Justice Lewis Powell that "leaders are trained through wide exposure to the ideas and mores of students as diverse as this Nation of many peoples."

The National Education Association is the largest professional employee organization in the nation, representing 2.7 million elementary and secondary teachers, college faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, and students preparing to become teachers.