Sociology Final.pptx - Savage Inequalities Jonathan Kozol By Alyssa Goplen Part One About the Book Author Jonathan Kozol went out in 1988 to observe the

Savage Inequalities Jonathan Kozol By: Alyssa Goplen

Part One: About the Book Author, Jonathan Kozol went out in 1988 to observe the children in the American public education system. Over the course of two years he traveled across country to states like, Missouri, Illinois, New York, New jersey and Washington D.C. He spoke with teachers, superintendents and children, and came to the conclusion that his results are devastating. The opportunity for education between the rich and the poor is blatantly unequal. Some urban schools he visited were understaffed, overcrowded and missing fundamental materials for learning like books, desks and even classrooms. Kozol questions the reality of equal opportunity among the education system in america.

About the Author Kozol was born in Boston massachusetts and lived in a traditional middle class home. He graduated from Noble and Greenough School in 1954 and went on to study English literature at Harvard University. He graduated from the university four years later (Jonathan Kozol Biography). Later he moved to paris to study the art of writing fiction and nonfiction writing. After returning from Paris he taught in the Boston public school systems. After being fired for encouraging innovation he became very involved in the human rights movement and started writing his books. He also has Founded the non profit organizations ‘Cambridge Institute for Public Education’ and ‘Education Action!’ devoting his life in equalizing the opportunity of education. “Pick battles big enough to matter, small enough to win.” -Jonathan Kozol

Treating a school like a business What I found insightful was that Kozol claimed the people he spoke to found public funding for private schools is what will decrease the achievement gap among public schools by using competition and Kozol stated “Many of those who argue for vouchers say that they simply want to use competition to improve public education. I don't think it works that way, and I've been watching this for a long time” (Jonathan Kozol). Funding schools like a business won't be giving the students the equal opportunity to public education. A business uses competition to lower costs and drive out smaller businesses and if private schools are doing this to public schools it's not giving the less fortunate students a chance. America is a country of business but should our schooling be to? Photo by Douglas Combs circa 1990 “Lincoln Sr. High School tigers and tigerettes” Public School in East St. Louis Illinois

Segregation in Public Education What I found most interesting about Savage Inequalities is how terrible the conditions are in public schools with the majority of minority groups. Kozol states that students were missing the essential supplies in furthering their education, creativity and performance. Bob Shannon the football coach of East St. Louis High states that “the ceiling is in danger of collapsing, the team must wear their coats in the weightroom do to the lack of a heater and it smells like water rot throughout the halls” (Kozol 32). In