The Inequalities in American Public Education

Instead of becoming a professor, Harvard graduate and Rhodes Scholar Jonathan Kozol deviated from the elite, middle-class trajectory to devote his life to the children of the inner city schools.

Author of Savage Inequalities, this year's summer reading for incoming Duke freshmen, Kozol spoke to more than 200 people in the Griffith Film Theater Wednesday night, saying that class differences found in American education had profound effects on society.

"All our children are of equal value in the eyes of God," Kozol said. But, he added, there is no equality when it comes to education. In terms of expenditure per student per year, some are labeled underprivileged "$8,000 Wal mart babies" while others are "$180,000 suburban babies."

Kozol's first job in education was as a teacher in Boston. After he was fired for reading an "incendiary" poem by Langston Hughes to his students, Kozol left to teach in a suburban neighborhood. The shocking transition from one of the poorest to one of the wealthiest public schools was the catalyst for Kozol's activism in speaking out against educational inequality.

Written in 1989, Savage Inequalities was based on Kozol's visits to rich and poor schools in more than 30 communities. What he found was that differences in educational environments robbed many children of opportunity and hope.

The list of problems facing poor schools is long, Kozol said: leaking roofs, polluted environments, large class sizes topping 40 students and a revolving door of substitute teachers. These issues are all related to the tight budgets poor systems face, a result of the American tradition of funding public schools through property taxes. This ensures unequal distribution of resources between rich and poor neighborhoods, he said.

Duke students at the talk said Kozol was a provocative speaker.

"[The speech] made it clear to me that I want to spend my life addressing these problems," said junior Adam Bonneau, who is planning on going into politics. "It was an affirmation."

"It is important to discuss such issues at Duke University because most students came from schools in the other [more affluent] spectrum," said freshman Jimmy Soni.

After reading the book, Soni said he wanted to know how he could change the situation. He said the lecture added a human touch to the issues mentioned in the book and it inspired him to find opportunities for him to volunteer in schools.

Written by Huang Chia Lun