Free Republic

We are reading Jonathan Kozol's "Savage Inequalities" in my sociology class. I’m smart enough to know the book isn’t objective. And so far, I’ve sought out independent information about him, including that he is big government, but against national testing. And that he is against vouchers. And that he thinks the solution to the problem is more $$$ in the schools. And from reading the book it’s so so clear that he is a race monger. I understand why there is very little work and money in terms of economics but is there anything else? I’m hesitant to blame the...

Jonathan Kozol has a devoted following, and "The Shame of the Nation" will not disappoint his fans. It's vintage Kozol -- a jeremiad. His core complaints are familiar: American public schools are segregated, and those that have few whites in them are financially starved. He adds only one new element: The standards, testing and accountability "juggernaut" has crushed the "humane and happy" education we once had.... "The Shame of the Nation" is basically an updated version of Mr. Kozol's 1991 book, "Savage Inequalities."... To be sure, Mr. Kozol has a seductive formula: Ignore most social scientists, listen to the children...