Read the passage from the opinion of the court in Brown v. Board of Education, written by Justice
Warren
We come then to the question presented: Does
segregation of children in public schools solely on the
basis of race, even though the physical facilities and
other "tangible" factors may be equal, deprive the
children of the minority group of equal educational
opportunities? We believe that it does.
To separate them from others of similar age and
qualifications solely because of their race generates a
feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community
that may affect their hearts and minds in a way
unlikely ever to be undone
Segregation of white and colored children in public
schools has a detrimental effect upon the colored
children. The impact is greater when it has the
What reason does Warren give for believing that
"separate but equal" does not give minority children
equal educational opportunities?
the findings of the court in Plessy v. Ferguson
regarding equal educational facilities
the reduced effects of segregation when it is
sanctioned by federal regulations
the findings that a sense of inferiority affects the
motivation to learn
the differences in educational and mental
development in public and private schools