August 2004
Volunteer lawyers keep Brown v. Board of Education
legacy alive in the classroom
Nineteen volunteer lawyers and judges visited 70 Dane and Waukesha
county middle and high school classes in May, making 45 presentations in
about the 50th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education.
State Bar Diversity Outreach Committee members Judge Margaret Vergeront,
Madison, and Miguel Salas, Brookfield, led the effort to educate
students about the historic case, including its role in the history of
civil rights and the legal system's importance in the civil rights
struggle.
"While the anniversary of the Brown decision was in May, the
program need not end," says Vergeront. "The committee's lesson plan is
available to all State Bar members. I encourage attorneys and judges to
participate when school resumes this fall. This is a gratifying way to
spend time, reach out to young people, and make an important
contribution to your community."
"The committee's objective was to facilitate a discussion that
explored the significance of Brown v. Board of Education," says
Salas, committee vice chair. "The focus revolved around three discussion
options: Issues of Racial Diversity: Should Schools Serve as
Laboratories for Social Change; What is Equality Under the Law?; and
What Role Should the Law Play in Maintaining or Changing the Status
Quo?"
According to Salas, who made presentations to seven classes, "We
discussed the importance of the Brown decision in terms of the
equal protection clause, integration, and the civil rights movement.
Students were particularly enthusiastic about discussing whether or not
their own education prepared them for meeting, socializing, and working
with other diverse people.
"This was a terrific experience," says Eunice Gibson, former Madison
city attorney, who made five presentations to eighth grade history
classes in Madison. "The students seemed really interested in Linda
Brown and in the experiences of other school children her age in the
1940s and 1950s. It's very important to emphasize the changes that still
need to be made."
The presentation
materials for this and other student-oriented resources are
available. Call Patricia Morgan at (800) 444-9404, ext. 6107, (608)
250-6107, or email pmorgan@wisbar.org.
Inside the Bar
