Weekly Syllabus

Week of Monday, December 7 through Friday, December 11

This week we will study the pivotal school desegregation cases of Brown v. Board of Education (I) and Brown v. Board of Education (II). We will look at the reasoning behind the decisions in the cases, talk about the background of the Justices' deliberations, and try to figure out what the reaction was to these cases.

It is a commonplace to say that Brown "ended" the separate but equal doctrine. While that me be true, it certainly didn't happen overnight. We will also spend time this week looking at the subsequent school desegregation cases of the 1950's, 1960's and 1970's. Since I don't know how fast we will move, I haven't listed specific reading assignments. I will update the syllabus daily to reflect what we are doing in class.

Also, at some point this week we will have a brief writing assigment. In this instance, "brief" refers to both the length and the type of writing.

Monday, December 7, 2009 (40 min)

Topic:  Discussion of the reading.

Homework: Write a "brief" for Brown II. Instructions can be found on the Ning.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009 (45 min)

Topic: Discussion of the reading.

Homework: Read handout, Ch. 3 of The Warren Court and American Politics by Lucas A. Powe, Jr.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009 (30 min)

Topic: Discussion of the reading.

Homework: Begin reading Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg. This is another major case (this time from 1971) involving segregated schools and ways to correct them. The decision is around 15 pages long. I would like you to have read it by Friday's class. Remember to read the footnotes!!

Thursday, December 10, 2009 (45 min)

Topic: Discussion of the reading.

Homework: Finish reading Swann.

 

Friday, December 11, 2009 (45 min)

Topic: Discussion.

Homework: Read "Brown at 50: King's Dream or Plessy's Nightmare?" Be ready to discuss this on Monday. It will be the basis for your next writing assignment.