WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	Judge Sides with State in Sheff vs O'Neill Case (Hartford-WTNH) _ A major defeat for the plaintiffs in the much-talked about Sheff vs O'Neill school desegregation case. A judge ruled Wednesday the state is doing enough to make Connecticut schools equal. But plaintiff Elizabeth Horton Sheff says she is disappointed, and that more should be done in order for children to get a better education. News Channel 8's Ned Berkowitz reports. The end of the school day at Hartford's Noah Webster School, more ethnically diverse than most schools perhaps, but still overwhelmingly African-American. Parents say they are disappointed by today's decision. Nicole Gore, Parent: "The kids are not going to grow up in a world where there is only blacks or only whites. They're gonna grow up in a world where there's a mixture of all people. So they need to be exposed to it at a young age." Ned: "You think your daughter is not going to get the same opportunities as other kids?" Tommie Johnson, Parent: "That's correct, and I mean that from the bottom of my heart." "How does that make you feel?" "Not too good." In today's decision, the court said the Sheff plaintiffs "failed to wait a reasonable time" and that their return to court was "premature", and that they returned to court "well before any reasonable efforts could possibly have had any discernable effects". Plaintiffs say they are disappointed. Elizabeth Horton Sheff, Plaintiff's Mother: "There's been a sentence placed on the children of Hartford to continue in racially segregated, inferior schools." Attorney general Richard Blumenthal, who argued the case for the state, says voluntary efforts must be given a chance. Richard Blumenthal, Attorney General: "It is a vote of confidence, but it recognizes that these are urgent problems that can't be solved instantaneously." Plaintiffs say their fight is not over. John Brittain, Plaintiff's Attorney: "The plaintiffs vow to go back to court again, and again, until the schools are equal and integrated." Sheff: "Nothing's changed. It's still the same." Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

Judge Sides with State in Sheff vs O'Neill Case
(Hartford-WTNH) _ A major defeat for the plaintiffs in the much-talked about Sheff vs O'Neill school desegregation case. A judge ruled Wednesday the state is doing enough to make Connecticut schools equal. But plaintiff Elizabeth Horton Sheff says she is disappointed, and that more should be done in order for children to get a better education.
News Channel 8's Ned Berkowitz reports.

The end of the school day at Hartford's Noah Webster School, more ethnically diverse than most schools perhaps, but still overwhelmingly African-American. Parents say they are disappointed by today's decision.

Nicole Gore, Parent: "The kids are not going to grow up in a world where there is only blacks or only whites. They're gonna grow up in a world where there's a mixture of all people. So they need to be exposed to it at a young age."

Ned: "You think your daughter is not going to get the same opportunities as other kids?"
Tommie Johnson, Parent: "That's correct, and I mean that from the bottom of my heart."
"How does that make you feel?"
"Not too good."

Sheff In today's decision, the court said the Sheff plaintiffs "failed to wait a reasonable time" and that their return to court was "premature", and that they returned to court "well before any reasonable efforts could possibly have had any discernable effects". Plaintiffs say they are disappointed.

Elizabeth Horton Sheff, Plaintiff's Mother: "There's been a sentence placed on the children of Hartford to continue in racially segregated, inferior schools."

Attorney general Richard Blumenthal, who argued the case for the state, says voluntary efforts must be given a chance.

Richard Blumenthal, Attorney General: "It is a vote of confidence, but it recognizes that these are urgent problems that can't be solved instantaneously."

Plaintiffs say their fight is not over.

John Brittain, Plaintiff's Attorney: "The plaintiffs vow to go back to court again, and again, until the schools are equal and integrated."
Sheff: "Nothing's changed. It's still the same."

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