Kozol

The author Jonathon Kozol argues that America's urban schools are still tragically segregated. A system has been created where it seems that "separate but equal" is the accepted norm. Many Americans who live outside urban areas have no real understanding of the extreme poverty or exactly how segregated these schools are, believing that the desegregation policies of thirty years ago are still in place. Kozol toured inner city schools across America that had strong commitments to diversity on paper but had student bodies devoid of white children. These schools were often overcrowded and run down, filled with overwhelmed administrators who were required to implement highly regimented curricula based on theories of production or behaviorism. Some even referred to students as "managers." The use of these curricula are often considered an appropriate choice for educating a "diverse" population but are rarely used in more affluent communities. Mr. Kozol argues that these curricula are "desperation strategies that come out of the acceptance of inequity." And even with the implementation of programs that even "inexperienced" teachers can use successfully, still in the most urban settings, where these programs are used, less than half of ninth graders graduate in four years. Things do not appear to be working.

Kozol speaks to children who at as early as eight years old already understand that the rest of the world is treated differently - has better things than they do. They wish for clean classrooms and a playground, better materials and nice bathrooms. Because of their place in society, their childhood experiences seem to be of less value to us as a society. By high school, students are acutely aware of the inequalities in their education. With limited course choices and daily assaults on their dignity, they feel that they are being groomed to be the factory workers of tomorrow. "You're ghetto -so you sew" a student named Fontino cynically repeated. Kozol states that while it is reasonable for public education policies to reflect economic labor demands to some extent, we cannot allow it too much influence. We have a moral obligation to treat these children with dignity and must do more to to see that change occurs in our urban communities.