Savage Inequalities: Children in America's Schools

Savage Inequalities: Children in America's Schools

By: Jonathan Kozol  

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Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Publisher: Harper Perennial

Release Date: 1992-08-03

Customer Review: 4 out of 5
University Review of Savage inequalities - Savage Inequalities: Children in America's Schools, by Jonathan Kozol's is not a pleasure read. While reading this book I found myself at times depressed, angered, and frustrated by its content. The question of why racial segregation still exists today in many of American's schools is boldly and compelling asked by Kozol. The evidence provided in the this book may be from over twenty years ago, but unfortunately the statistics of 1988 are as accurate today, 2010 as it was then, and in some cases things have become worse. Repeatedly Kozol presents us with an example of a school where minorities are forced to attend schools of unimaginable conditions, schools so dilapidated that they have literally been condemned. This book though written a few years ago strikes at the heart of today's controversies in America's school system. Is our system fair? According to Jonathon Kozol it's not even close! The schools described by him in different cities across America are heartbreaking in their bleaknness and terrifying in their hopelessness. Kozol paints a portrait of the new American landscape where people with wealth distance themselves from the problem and insulate their children from poverty. How do we get our schools more equal? Can money save them? Can more federal government control save our school system? This is a great book for people who care about our education system. It does a great job of asking a lot of important questions and backing up these questions with strong evidence, discussing both sides of the major opinions of these questions. The major criticism I have for this book is its lack of solutions for the multitude of problems it brings are focus too. After reading the book I was left with a feeling of hopelessness which the book offered no relief for. This criticism should not deter anyone who cares about this country, its children, and the inequalities of our society from reading this book. Though it never offers a clear answer to the questions it asks it does lead us to the source of what's causing these problems. The flawed way by which this country funds its public schools is at the center of the book, and lies somewhere close to the solution. I couldn't imagine taking part in a discussion of American schools without having been exposed to this book. This book was a real eye-opener, exposing the wretched conditions of inner-city schools in America. I think it should be required reading for every person in this country, because it is an issue that receives little if any attention. I would never have known how bad the system is for some cities without reading this book.

Customer Review: 5 out of 5
Great buy! - This book came way before the promised date and it was in excellent shape for a used book! Definitely purchase items from here!

Customer Review: 5 out of 5
AWESOME - Got book earlier than expected. Was in excellent condition. Would buy from seller again. Very much satisfied.

Customer Review: 4 out of 5
Everyone who values education should read this book. - I had to read this book for a university class, but I am glad I did. It was written in 1991, so it definitely is due updating, but it was heartbreaking to read about how unequal public school funding was in the 1990's. We must do better for our children!

Customer Review: 3 out of 5
Changes since 1950 - Cause And Effect - Since 1950 we have had a sexual revolution, the coeducation of classes, integration of schools, a massive drug abuse rise, a divorce rate seismic shift, the removal of corporal punishment. Arguably all of these things have negatively impacted our schools (integration led to white flight and the destruction of inner city schools). While we can't turn back the clock things we should consider changing are as follows
- implement single sex class rooms, if not schools
- bring back corporal punishment
- bring back uniform codes

While we are at it perhaps we could set up a motivational state lottery system where the bottom 10% of literacy test performers are eligible for a lottery that will draw 100 names who will attend a military style 2 week boot camp. We could do the same for the most disciplinary prone problem kids.

If you really want to motivate troubled kids every state should do a lottery for high school drop outs and select 10 to be forced into the Army or whomever needs them. Talk about motivation to stay in school.

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