Desegregation Policy

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32032, 5 July 1969, Page 13

Desegregation Policy

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copy right) WASHINGTON, July 4. The United States Government lias dropped the idea of deadlines for the desegregation of American schools, but has declared that it is still unequivocally committed to ending racial discrimination in accordance with the law.

The Nixon Administration’s policy is set out in a joint statement by the Attorney-General (Mr John Mitchell) and the Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare (Mr Robert Finch). Their statement embraces what is described as “new, co-ordinated procedures” for school desegregation. “It is not our purpose here to lay down a single arbitrary date by which the de-

segregation process should be completed in all districts, or to lay down a single, arbitrary system by which it should be achieved,” the statement says. “Such a deadline for all school districts is too rigid to be either workable or equitable. Our policy in this area will be defined in the latest Supreme Court and Circuit Court decisions. “That school districts not now in compliance (with desegregation and civil rights laws) are required to complete the process of desegregation at the earliest practicable date.” That the time for mere “deliberate speed” has run out.

That “the burden on a school board today is to come forward with a plan that promises realistically to work, and promises realistically to work now.” The Supreme Court, in its landmark school desegregation opinion in the Brown

versus Topeka (Kansas) Board of Education in 1954, urged that racial balance in schools should be attained “with all deliberate speed.” Deadlines bn desegregation were first set at one year after passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act; but these were continually extended as each target date was missed, “This Administration is unequivocally committed to the goal of finally ending

racial discrimination in all schools steadily and speedily, in accordance with the law of the land,” Mr Finch and Mr Mitchell say in their statement.

“The time has come to face the facts involving this difficult problem, and to strip away the confusion which has too often characterised discussion of this issue. Setting, breaking and resetting unrealistic deadlines may give the appearance of great Federal activity, but in too many cases it has actually impeded progress.”