The Supreme Court turns back the clock on desegregation. That's the opinion from University of Wisconsin professor emeritus Mary Heywood Metz. "It ( Thursday's 5-4 ruling by the high court) takes 21st century districts back to before Brown ," said Metz. Metz believes the decision, that race cannot be used to determine were students attend school, could mean a lot of litigation. "It only takes one parent with a lawyer . . . to mount a lawsuit," she said. "Districts really don't like to be sued, it's expensive and time consuming. So they may change their policies for fear someone will be sued." Metz, who among a group of 550 academics who signed a brief in support of the Seattle and Louisville school districts, said she's disturbed by the decision. "There is an enormous educational benefit to diversity, that the court simpy ignored" she said, adding that the decision could have implications for Wisconsin school districts, including Milwaukee and Madison.
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