KANSAS

The Baugh family trip to the Sunflower State was a profound dive into political and constitutional history. Of course, we explored the magnificent State Capitol in Topeka, but the trip's highlight was a visit to the Monroe Elementary School, a landmark tied to the Brown v. Board of Education (1954) Supreme Court decision. This groundbreaking ruling overturned the Plessy v. Ferguson decision (1896), deeming the separate but equal doctrine (Jim Crow laws) unconstitutional. It was a violation of both the 5th Amendment (due process) and the 14th Amendment (equal protection under the law). As we walked through the school, Jackson noticed the segregation of students and asked, “Why would they do that?” A poignant moment that sparked conversations about our nation's journey toward equality.