In an article published by The GW Hatchet on April 10, 2025, staff writer Elijah Edwards reports on a panel discussion hosted by GSEHD in collaboration with the Milton S. Eisenhower Foundation. The event, "Education Policy and Political Will in Our Multiracial Democracy: Kerner 56 Years Later," focused on the evolution of education policy and equity in the United States.
The panel featured notable figures including Alan Curtis, president and CEO of the Eisenhower Foundation; Ray Suarez, journalist and author; Michael Feuer, dean of GSEHD; and Professors Dwayne Wright and Susan Swayze. The discussion centered around the 1968 Kerner Commission report, which attributed racial unrest in American cities to systemic discrimination and segregation. The panelists reflected on the report's unfulfilled recommendations and their relevance in today's educational landscape.
Curtis emphasized the original report's call for policies aimed at reducing racial inequality, such as improving schools in low-income areas and promoting national racial integration. The panel also discussed the 2024 book Creating Justice in a Multiracial Democracy, edited by Curtis, with contributions from Feuer, Wright, and Suarez. The book serves as a contemporary extension of the Kerner Commission's vision, advocating for systemic reforms to address educational disparities.
Edwards' article captures the panelists' consensus on the need for renewed commitment to educational equity and the importance of revisiting past recommendations to inform future policies. The discussion underscores the ongoing challenges in achieving a just and equitable education system in America.