Savage Inequalities

[bwingrave]

Just finished Jon Kozol's book on the shocking disparities in funding (and, as a result, quality) of education between suburban and urban magnet public schools on one hand and all the other urban public schools on the other. Savage Inequalities was chosen as one of the On-the-Same-Page books for Cincinnati this year, so a zillion people around here have read and discussed it. Any locals may be interested to know that the book ends with a look at Cincinnati public schools.

Kozol does an excellent job of pointing out self-serving logical inconsistencies in common arguments for the status quo, including the myth of local control of public schools.

I'm really frustrated about the fact that there seems to be no way to fix this problem. Various solutions have been tried, but courts or voters have rejected them -- or legislators have stripped their value out during implementation.

b

[solomon]

I'm really frustrated about the fact that there seems to be no way to fix this problem.

Privatize.

[postfeminist]

...is a fantastic writer, and it's hard to read about the things he writes about. Savage Inequalities was an amazing book. I read it right before I started teaching school, and every day i went into Rothenberg Elementary in Over the Rhine, was worse than reading the book--because it was live in front of me, because it's easy to be angry--but when you live it everyday, it's easier to just get sad.

[classicgrrl]

Originally posted by solomon


Privatize.

good read to follow up is None of Our Business: Why Running Public Education As A Business Wont Work

;)