Plyler vs. Doe

Paper Summary:

This article discusses a class action suit that was filed on behalf of school-aged children of illegal Mexican immigrants residing in Smith County, Texas who were allegedly denied the right to an education. At the time of the suit, the school year in Tyler was just beginning for its students; however, the children of the Mexican farmers were not included, due to an existing Texas law which only allowed or permitted children to enroll in a public school if they were legal residents of Texas, or could pay full tuition. Unfortunately, many of the Mexican children did not meet these qualifications, and as a result, the parents of these children filed a class action suit. In this paper the writer looks at the court decision and court rationale. The paper also discusses the case's impact on public education.

From the Paper:

"However, the Tyler School District as the defendant claimed that they desired to see these children removed from the State of Texas, due to the financial and educational impact on the state and its budget and the problems that would be created as a result of the growing population of Mexican immigrants in the U.S. Conversely, the U.S. Supreme Court realized that the exclusion of these illegal alien children from the public schools of Texas would eventually affect the state's financial status at some level. Thus, the state of Texas believed that banning these children would help to save money, yet the court added that even though a negative effect would result, the quality of education in the public schools would not be affected."

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