The book deals with how people who are mired in poverty perceive the world around them, and communicate with each other and others. Having spent 23 years in education, I know exactly how poor schools in poor neighborhoods are short-changed (unless they are non-public schools). But THAT IS NOT THE SUBJECT OF THIS BOOK.
To quote my sainted Mother, about half of all the credentialed academics I've dealt with over the years "don't have the common sense that God meant for an animal cracker." Is that your experience, also?
Congressman Billybob
The real problem with inner city beyond social class considerations is the middle class has abandoned the city and the median IQ for entering students in the inner city is now 85. This is the cutting score for graduation from HS. This means that up to one half of inner city children will not succeed at a HS that has usual academic standards. I know this sounds terrible but you can find the data on this: HERE. Note you will have to scroll down to find "inner city IQ distribution" The actual link does not post.
Recalling that, on the average, and adding in mentally handicapped youngsters about 5% of the general population will have an IQ of 70 or less; this is the cutting score for graduating from the usual grade school; less than 70 requires extraordinary educational and student effort.
Further, if the median IQ in the inner city is really 85, this means you may have up to 15% of this population with an IQ of 70 or less. It all depends on who does the math and where.
No one wants to speak to this. No wants to admit what has been known for 100 years.
The idea is to deny realty, blame the bourgeois and capitalism. If that doesn't work deconstruct the whole idea of variations in ability and wage a class war.
Because things are tough in the inner city, does not mean we should spend less, but rather more and with more intensely interested and educated teachers.
Just my thoughts.