_Letters to a Young Teacher_

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Dec 092011
 

_Letters to a Young Teacher_ by Jonathan Kozol

I don’t really know if this counts as pleasure reading, but most of my reading lately consists of journal articles or primary sources for my dissertation topic. However, as I was perusing our library at ZU, I found this book. Since I had read _Savage Inequalities_ by Kozol before, I thought it would be interesting to read.

It did not disappoint. Kozol puts together a collection of his correspondences to a young teacher named Francesca. What was interesting was that the same issues that Kozol dealt with as a new teacher in the ’60s are still in existence today. How is that possible?

Also, I noted an underlying comment on the type of teacher that matters to students, parents, and the system. There’s a quality of caring, empathy and sacrifice in the kind of teacher who truly reaches out and wants to make a difference in the lives of his/her students. Sometimes I forget that I used to be that kind of person. It’s so easy to let the world, our workplace, colleagues, etc. to get us down about wanting to make a difference. However, holding on to that optimism and ideals is really needed to truly succeed….

It’s time to dig that person out and let her shine! πŸ˜€

_Savage Inequalities_

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May 182011
 

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_Savage Inequalities_ by Jonathan Kozol

Back when I was in grad school, I heard a lot of talk about the works for Jonathan Kozol. He had also just come out with another book at that time, but as I didn’t have time to do much pleasure reading at the time, I just kept the author’s name in my head.

Somehow I picked up a used copy of this book, and have had it on my bookshelf for an unknown amount of time. As I start to go through my books and consider going all electronic, I thought I should start reading the books on my shelf that I haven’t yet touched.

The book speaks about the inequalities in education in various large cities such as New York, Chicago, DC, and even Camden, NJ in the late 1980’s and early ’90’s. Basically, although states run funding for public education, it is also distributed by districts. So, poorer districts end up getting less because the taxpayers in those districts are not able to contribute as much. The people with higher incomes tend to move out of these districts and then argue that their taxes should only go to the schools that educate their students and have no sense of responsibility to the greater community to provide equal educational opportunities.

The communities described were truly shocking and disturbing. Children are children whether rich or poor and need to be given a fair chance to a better future no matter their parents’ incomes. It seems rather shocking to me that people actually have a sense of selfishness when it comes to the quality of education for all children of the future of America.

Sure I’m pretty harsh on my beliefs about certain social norms these days, but at the same time, where do people get off having a sense of superiority when it comes to providing quality education to all children….

Back in the day, I got a great public school education. I think it was perhaps better than many people I know who are equally successful. So, my point is that public education can be great if we have faith in what children can truly achieve.

Anyway, I am not a social justice fighter, but it at least opened my eyes to realities that I knew existed, but hadn’t yet understood.

I might consider reading another book by him in the future. πŸ˜€

More to come,

-T

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