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An End to Inequality: Breaking Down the Walls of Apartheid Education in America
An eloquent and passionate call for educational reparations, from the New York Times bestselling authorWhen Jonathan Kozol’s Death at an Early Age appeared in 1967, it rocked the education world. Based on the Rhodes Scholar’s first year of teaching in Boston’s Black community, the book described the abuse and neglect of children for no reason but the color of their skin. Since that National Book Award–winning volume, Kozol has spent more than fifty years visiting with children and working with their teachers in other deeply troubled and unequal public schools.
Now, in the culminating work of his career, Kozol goes back into the urban schools, where racial isolation is at the highest level since he became a teacher and is now compounded by a new regime of punitive instruction and coercive uniformity that is deemed to be appropriate for children who are said to be incapable of learning in more democratic ways, like children in more privileged communities.
Kozol believes it’s well past time to batter down the walls between two separate worlds of education and to make good, at long last, on the “promissory note” that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. described on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963. Sure to resonate with current-day arguments for reparations in a broad array of areas, this is a book that points us to a future in which children learn together, across the lines of class and race, in schools where every child is accorded a full and equal share of the riches in this wealthiest of nations.
Now, in the culminating work of his career, Kozol goes back into the urban schools, where racial isolation is at the highest level since he became a teacher and is now compounded by a new regime of punitive instruction and coercive uniformity that is deemed to be appropriate for children who are said to be incapable of learning in more democratic ways, like children in more privileged communities.
Kozol believes it’s well past time to batter down the walls between two separate worlds of education and to make good, at long last, on the “promissory note” that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. described on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963. Sure to resonate with current-day arguments for reparations in a broad array of areas, this is a book that points us to a future in which children learn together, across the lines of class and race, in schools where every child is accorded a full and equal share of the riches in this wealthiest of nations.
219 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 12, 2024
28 people are currently reading
1694 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Kozol
49 books529 followersJonathan Kozol is a non-fiction writer, educator, and activist best known for his work towards reforming American public schools. Upon graduating from Harvard, he received a Rhodes scholarship. After returning to the United States, Kozol became a teacher in the Boston Public Schools, until he was fired for teaching a Langston Hughes poem. Kozol has held two Guggenheim Fellowships, has twice been a fellow of the Rockefeller Foundation, and has also received fellowships from the Field and Ford Foundations. Most recently, Kozol has founded and is running a non-profit called Education Action. The group is dedicated to grassroots organizing of teachers across the country who wish to push back against NCLB and the most recent Supreme Court decision on desegregation, and to help create a single, excellent, unified system of American public schools.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
October 23, 2024
How is this the first Jonathan Kozol I have read?? Immediately adding Death at an Early Age and Savage Inequalities: Children in America's Schools to my must-reads.
Jonathan Kozol’s An End to Inequality serves as another powerful call to action, rooted in over five decades of firsthand observation and advocacy for equitable education. Returning to the deeply segregated and marginalized schools where he began his teaching career, Kozol exposes how racial and economic isolation has intensified, with punitive systems replacing nurturing learning environments, often targeting children of color. As Kozol illuminates the entrenched systemic racism that governs public education, we are challenged to confront the hypocrisy of a society that punishes its most vulnerable children while neglecting to address the root causes of inequality.
Kozol's unwavering commitment to dismantling the barriers between marginalized/historically excluded and privileged students is clear. He shows that racial and class-based divisions in education persist under a veil of discipline and control, depriving countless children of their right to learn in a supportive and creative environment. This is a deeply thought-provoking and necessary read, offering both heart-wrenching insight into the failures of the American education system and an urgent plea for systemic reform.
10/10!!
Thanks to Netgalley, Brilliance Publishing, Jonathan Kozol, and JD Jackson for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
Jonathan Kozol’s An End to Inequality serves as another powerful call to action, rooted in over five decades of firsthand observation and advocacy for equitable education. Returning to the deeply segregated and marginalized schools where he began his teaching career, Kozol exposes how racial and economic isolation has intensified, with punitive systems replacing nurturing learning environments, often targeting children of color. As Kozol illuminates the entrenched systemic racism that governs public education, we are challenged to confront the hypocrisy of a society that punishes its most vulnerable children while neglecting to address the root causes of inequality.
Kozol's unwavering commitment to dismantling the barriers between marginalized/historically excluded and privileged students is clear. He shows that racial and class-based divisions in education persist under a veil of discipline and control, depriving countless children of their right to learn in a supportive and creative environment. This is a deeply thought-provoking and necessary read, offering both heart-wrenching insight into the failures of the American education system and an urgent plea for systemic reform.
10/10!!
Thanks to Netgalley, Brilliance Publishing, Jonathan Kozol, and JD Jackson for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 9, 2024
This audiobook was made available for me to listen to and review by Jonathan Kozol, Brilliance Audio, and NetGalley.
This is an important and sobering look at the long term measurable impact of segregation, both formal & informal, in the United States school system on marginalized communities. This looks specifically at Black and brown urban communities, created out of a toxic combination of white flight and red lining which barred POC from the suburban enclaves created to placate white folks fleeing integration laws.
He calls out the extreme hypocrisy of blaming Black and brown folks for the impacts on their communities created by the melding of white supremacist and white nationalist housing and schooling policies.
This is short, common sense and extremely accessible.
The narrator of this audiobook is JD Jackson. JD was an excellent narrator. This us nonfiction which can be dry but this is extremely accessible. The narration is dynamic and helps to hold the interest of the reader.
Thank you to Jonathan Kozol, Brilliance Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.
This is an important and sobering look at the long term measurable impact of segregation, both formal & informal, in the United States school system on marginalized communities. This looks specifically at Black and brown urban communities, created out of a toxic combination of white flight and red lining which barred POC from the suburban enclaves created to placate white folks fleeing integration laws.
He calls out the extreme hypocrisy of blaming Black and brown folks for the impacts on their communities created by the melding of white supremacist and white nationalist housing and schooling policies.
This is short, common sense and extremely accessible.
The narrator of this audiobook is JD Jackson. JD was an excellent narrator. This us nonfiction which can be dry but this is extremely accessible. The narration is dynamic and helps to hold the interest of the reader.
Thank you to Jonathan Kozol, Brilliance Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.
February 20, 2024
Who hasn't read Savage Inequalities? (if that's you, please read now!)
Jonathan Kozol is by far the hero, one of the only, unchanging voices, asking for change to benefit all children. Kozol goes back to urban schools, where he first started his career to build a case that we are in many ways worse off then we were years ago.
The first few chapters will surely take your breath away. Kozol continues making the case the separation is not equal and dismantles the racist myths that are used to punish poor and or families of color - not only in urban schools but rural as well. The culminating chapter includes questions and answers - questions that detractors and friends might ask. It strengthens his case and I look forward to hearing what my fellow educators think.
Who will take up this mantel now that Kozol is in his late 80's? How can we still be arguing about the basic tenants of education, water, and food?
IMPORTANT KOZOL QUOTE
There is something deeply hypocritical in a society that holds an inner-city child only eight years old "accountable" for her performance on a high-stakes standardized exam but does not hold the high officials of our government accountable for robbing her of what they gave their own kids six or seven years before.”
― Jonathan Kozol, The Shame of the Nation
#Jonathonkozol #anendtoineqaulity
Jonathan Kozol is by far the hero, one of the only, unchanging voices, asking for change to benefit all children. Kozol goes back to urban schools, where he first started his career to build a case that we are in many ways worse off then we were years ago.
The first few chapters will surely take your breath away. Kozol continues making the case the separation is not equal and dismantles the racist myths that are used to punish poor and or families of color - not only in urban schools but rural as well. The culminating chapter includes questions and answers - questions that detractors and friends might ask. It strengthens his case and I look forward to hearing what my fellow educators think.
Who will take up this mantel now that Kozol is in his late 80's? How can we still be arguing about the basic tenants of education, water, and food?
IMPORTANT KOZOL QUOTE
There is something deeply hypocritical in a society that holds an inner-city child only eight years old "accountable" for her performance on a high-stakes standardized exam but does not hold the high officials of our government accountable for robbing her of what they gave their own kids six or seven years before.”
― Jonathan Kozol, The Shame of the Nation
#Jonathonkozol #anendtoineqaulity
April 8, 2024
A quick, accessible, and worthwhile read, similar to other Kozol works but no less important.
December 13, 2023
Jonathan Kozol, a stalwart advocate for equality and racial justice in education, gifts us with his magnum opus with "An End to Inequality." This upcoming release marks the culmination of Kozol's illustrious career, which has been dedicated to dismantling the walls that segregate Black and Brown children from the mainstream of American society. As a therapist specializing in bibliotherapy and expressive creative therapies, I found this book to be a testament to the transformative potential of equitable education and the overall importance of the arts in public schools.
Kozol takes readers on a journey through the entrenched issues of apartheid education, boldly asserting that mere fixes won't suffice; the system itself must be dismantled. Drawing on his own experiences, including teaching at a segregated public school in Boston, where he was fired for introducing Langston Hughes's work, Kozol crafts a narrative that exposes the intentional harm inflicted upon students of color in these schools. He argues that segregated Black schools often prioritize punishment over intellectual curiosity, using biased data to justify these damaging practices.
One of the book's strengths lies in Kozol's exploration of the shift towards military and corporate paradigms in education. He meticulously examines the history of educational reform attempts and failures, particularly in cities like New York and Boston, providing his readers with a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced in achieving equitable education - and yet, this book still reads as hopeful that change is possible!
Kozol's personal involvement in successful inter-district integration programs, such as the Boston-area Metco program, adds depth to his arguments. As a school social worker of African American and Puerto Rican descent, I appreciate Kozol's commitment to dismantling the myth that educational failures among Black and Brown children are solely the result of familial pathology and individual shortcomings. He skillfully dismantles these harmful beliefs, using real-life examples from his conversations with principals and teachers over the course of 15 years.
The book also sheds light on the troubling laws in certain states that permit practices like placing children in lockdown rooms without any imminent danger. Kozol's exploration of these issues serves as a wake-up call, urging readers to confront the systemic injustices embedded in our educational institutions.
The inclusion of the last section where Kozol directly responds to questions from readers enhances the book's accessibility and offers practical insights into what educational reparations can look like. "An End to Inequality" is not just a critique of the current state of education; it is a blueprint for transformation, grounded in Kozol's unwavering commitment to justice. If you enjoyed "Punished for Dreaming" by Dr. Bettina Love, you'll deeply appreciate this book.
In conclusion, Jonathan Kozol's "An End to Inequality" is a must-read for educators, therapists, and anyone passionate about dismantling the barriers that have perpetuated segregation and inequality in our schools. It is a clarion call for systemic change and a testament to Kozol's enduring dedication to ensuring that all students, regardless of their background, have access to an education that fosters curiosity, growth, and equality. Thank you to the author and publisher for the e-arc copy!
Kozol takes readers on a journey through the entrenched issues of apartheid education, boldly asserting that mere fixes won't suffice; the system itself must be dismantled. Drawing on his own experiences, including teaching at a segregated public school in Boston, where he was fired for introducing Langston Hughes's work, Kozol crafts a narrative that exposes the intentional harm inflicted upon students of color in these schools. He argues that segregated Black schools often prioritize punishment over intellectual curiosity, using biased data to justify these damaging practices.
One of the book's strengths lies in Kozol's exploration of the shift towards military and corporate paradigms in education. He meticulously examines the history of educational reform attempts and failures, particularly in cities like New York and Boston, providing his readers with a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced in achieving equitable education - and yet, this book still reads as hopeful that change is possible!
Kozol's personal involvement in successful inter-district integration programs, such as the Boston-area Metco program, adds depth to his arguments. As a school social worker of African American and Puerto Rican descent, I appreciate Kozol's commitment to dismantling the myth that educational failures among Black and Brown children are solely the result of familial pathology and individual shortcomings. He skillfully dismantles these harmful beliefs, using real-life examples from his conversations with principals and teachers over the course of 15 years.
The book also sheds light on the troubling laws in certain states that permit practices like placing children in lockdown rooms without any imminent danger. Kozol's exploration of these issues serves as a wake-up call, urging readers to confront the systemic injustices embedded in our educational institutions.
The inclusion of the last section where Kozol directly responds to questions from readers enhances the book's accessibility and offers practical insights into what educational reparations can look like. "An End to Inequality" is not just a critique of the current state of education; it is a blueprint for transformation, grounded in Kozol's unwavering commitment to justice. If you enjoyed "Punished for Dreaming" by Dr. Bettina Love, you'll deeply appreciate this book.
In conclusion, Jonathan Kozol's "An End to Inequality" is a must-read for educators, therapists, and anyone passionate about dismantling the barriers that have perpetuated segregation and inequality in our schools. It is a clarion call for systemic change and a testament to Kozol's enduring dedication to ensuring that all students, regardless of their background, have access to an education that fosters curiosity, growth, and equality. Thank you to the author and publisher for the e-arc copy!
August 20, 2024
Summary: A brief book about the problems of education reform.
I picked this up because it was by Jonathan Kozol. I read several of his books in the 1990s and was a bit surprised that he had a new book out. Kozol turns 88 in Sept 2024 and his work on social justice and education should be celebrated. I am glad I read this because it was by Jonathan Kozol, but at the same time, if you are interested in the problems of education reform and especially how it negatively impacts Black or other racial minorities or poor students of all races, I would recommend Bettina Love's recent book Punished for Dreaming: How School Reform Harms Black Children and How We Heal. I read it last year but did not write up my thoughts at the time because I was in a busy season. But it is a very helpful book that I think should be more widely read, not just among educators, but also among politically active people of all types of backgrounds.
An End to Inequality covers a number of different problems with public education from the physical environment (lead in water or paint, poor air circulation, heating, air, etc.) to curriculum to problematic reforms. I think one of the main themes of Bettina Love's book is handled well here. Generally, testing of educational reform programs is done at poor or minority schools. Any testing of educational reform at predominately white and higher income public schools are reforms that give students more options or freedom. While the reforms at lower-income and minority schools are reforms that are focused on more highly structured teaching models, narrower academic ranges of subjects, or economic efficiencies. Said another way, reforms at predominantly white and upper-income schools are designed to help students have more enjoyment at learning and reforms at lower-income and predominately minority schools tend to reduce educational enjoyment.
The main problem with this first third of the book is that the examples are presented anecdotally, not systemically. I completely believe that everything that he reports happened, but there isn't a structure to tell the reader how widespread these problems are or if they really are disproportionately impacting low-income and minority students. I think they are, I think there is plenty of evidence available in other sources to show that they are, but Kozol's standard format is to tell stories of particular students or teachers and that story-oriented structure tends to lack statistical underpinnings.
As he moves toward the policy prescriptions I think he blames administration (which deserves a lot of blame) too much. Toward the end of chapter five (Models of the Possible), he suggests that it isn't parents who oppose integration but administrators. This chapter largely recounts his time teaching in an optional school integration program in the 1970s. He had a supportive administrator who gave him flexibility with the curriculum and encouraged him to develop a love of learning. He describes what today would be called problem-based learning.
But I do think he is wrong about parents. While there are administrators who retrograde racial attitudes, I think the evidence is that parents play a significant role in maintaining segregation. School choice widens segregation. Parents' perception of school quality impacts housing values, and those perceptions are significantly impacted by how many minority students are in the school. Kozol notes that diverse schools are known to have better overall learning outcomes than segregated education, but that isn't the perception of parents. I think educators are likely to know that more than parents. However, like homework for elementary students, parents push for having elementary homework even as educators know it isn't helpful and can be harmful.
I agree with Kozol that the movement toward educational integration has largely stalled and that continuing school segregation, regardless of the cause, does harm to students. I think his comments about reparations are under-supported but still important. I am a regular listener to Advisory Opinions, a legal podcast that primarily focuses on Supreme Court and higher-level judicial opinions. Over the past few years that I have been listening, there have been a number of cases that impact school integration or affirmative action cases. And the two (pretty conservative) podcasters agree that racial issues are real within education and other segments of society. But that affirmative action and desegregation systems were designed mostly around fairness in access, not reparations. And current movements to reduce affirmative action or desegregation system are based on raw fairness now, not on historic reparations due to harm. The legal system understands repair, but that is not how affirmative action was largely framed as it came into being. I think Kozol is right that we need to reframe education reform around reparations and repair rather than fairness, but that is an underdeveloped topic in the book that I wish he had addressed more fully.
I listened to the audiobook and it was just over three hours with a Q & A at the end. If it were longer I probably would not have finished it. Again, if you are interested in school reform and willing to read about the problems of school reform, especially in how the reform movement can negatively impact students, read Punished for Dreaming instead.
This was originally posted to my blog at https://bookwi.se/an-end-to-inequality/
I picked this up because it was by Jonathan Kozol. I read several of his books in the 1990s and was a bit surprised that he had a new book out. Kozol turns 88 in Sept 2024 and his work on social justice and education should be celebrated. I am glad I read this because it was by Jonathan Kozol, but at the same time, if you are interested in the problems of education reform and especially how it negatively impacts Black or other racial minorities or poor students of all races, I would recommend Bettina Love's recent book Punished for Dreaming: How School Reform Harms Black Children and How We Heal. I read it last year but did not write up my thoughts at the time because I was in a busy season. But it is a very helpful book that I think should be more widely read, not just among educators, but also among politically active people of all types of backgrounds.
An End to Inequality covers a number of different problems with public education from the physical environment (lead in water or paint, poor air circulation, heating, air, etc.) to curriculum to problematic reforms. I think one of the main themes of Bettina Love's book is handled well here. Generally, testing of educational reform programs is done at poor or minority schools. Any testing of educational reform at predominately white and higher income public schools are reforms that give students more options or freedom. While the reforms at lower-income and minority schools are reforms that are focused on more highly structured teaching models, narrower academic ranges of subjects, or economic efficiencies. Said another way, reforms at predominantly white and upper-income schools are designed to help students have more enjoyment at learning and reforms at lower-income and predominately minority schools tend to reduce educational enjoyment.
The main problem with this first third of the book is that the examples are presented anecdotally, not systemically. I completely believe that everything that he reports happened, but there isn't a structure to tell the reader how widespread these problems are or if they really are disproportionately impacting low-income and minority students. I think they are, I think there is plenty of evidence available in other sources to show that they are, but Kozol's standard format is to tell stories of particular students or teachers and that story-oriented structure tends to lack statistical underpinnings.
As he moves toward the policy prescriptions I think he blames administration (which deserves a lot of blame) too much. Toward the end of chapter five (Models of the Possible), he suggests that it isn't parents who oppose integration but administrators. This chapter largely recounts his time teaching in an optional school integration program in the 1970s. He had a supportive administrator who gave him flexibility with the curriculum and encouraged him to develop a love of learning. He describes what today would be called problem-based learning.
But I do think he is wrong about parents. While there are administrators who retrograde racial attitudes, I think the evidence is that parents play a significant role in maintaining segregation. School choice widens segregation. Parents' perception of school quality impacts housing values, and those perceptions are significantly impacted by how many minority students are in the school. Kozol notes that diverse schools are known to have better overall learning outcomes than segregated education, but that isn't the perception of parents. I think educators are likely to know that more than parents. However, like homework for elementary students, parents push for having elementary homework even as educators know it isn't helpful and can be harmful.
I agree with Kozol that the movement toward educational integration has largely stalled and that continuing school segregation, regardless of the cause, does harm to students. I think his comments about reparations are under-supported but still important. I am a regular listener to Advisory Opinions, a legal podcast that primarily focuses on Supreme Court and higher-level judicial opinions. Over the past few years that I have been listening, there have been a number of cases that impact school integration or affirmative action cases. And the two (pretty conservative) podcasters agree that racial issues are real within education and other segments of society. But that affirmative action and desegregation systems were designed mostly around fairness in access, not reparations. And current movements to reduce affirmative action or desegregation system are based on raw fairness now, not on historic reparations due to harm. The legal system understands repair, but that is not how affirmative action was largely framed as it came into being. I think Kozol is right that we need to reframe education reform around reparations and repair rather than fairness, but that is an underdeveloped topic in the book that I wish he had addressed more fully.
I listened to the audiobook and it was just over three hours with a Q & A at the end. If it were longer I probably would not have finished it. Again, if you are interested in school reform and willing to read about the problems of school reform, especially in how the reform movement can negatively impact students, read Punished for Dreaming instead.
This was originally posted to my blog at https://bookwi.se/an-end-to-inequality/
January 3, 2024
Jonathan Kozol’s portrayal of the current K-12 system is both heartbreaking and illuminating, showing how far the US hasn’t come following Brown v Board of Education. Hearing the poor physical conditions of schools and strict enforcement of militaristic conditions, it is no wonder administrators think it is their role to inflict misery onto students. The book does include some hopeful stories and is written with compassion for children.
I appreciate Kozol’s time spent immersed in education and his work to end inequality. He speaks with many educators throughout the book. Despite the sadness of the topic, this was an engaging read, one that feels important to witness in order to make positive change.
Who should read it: Sociology Majors, Educators, Parents, Politicians, and Anyone Who Cares About Our Future Society
Thank you to NetGalley and The New Press for the ARC.
I appreciate Kozol’s time spent immersed in education and his work to end inequality. He speaks with many educators throughout the book. Despite the sadness of the topic, this was an engaging read, one that feels important to witness in order to make positive change.
Who should read it: Sociology Majors, Educators, Parents, Politicians, and Anyone Who Cares About Our Future Society
Thank you to NetGalley and The New Press for the ARC.
March 19, 2024
This book is an absolute must-read. Kozol has been observing and researching the vast inequities in childhood education for decades. I read Death at an Early Age and then Savage Inequalities. In this book, Kozol lays out evidence that segregated black (and brown) schools prioritize discipline and punishment and conformity as if the problem is individual children and their "dysfunctional" families as opposed to looking at the root causes of systemic institutionalized racism. School systems (public and charter) adopt a corporate/military-type obedience to authority. I had not idea that corporal punishment is not illegal. The use of isolation rooms for very young children is traumatizing. ProPublica did a major expose on the use of these in Chicago. The fact that kindergartners are being punished by engaging with the criminal justice system shines a light on how broken and inequitable our education system is in America. Kozol himself was fired for teaching a Langston Hughes poem to his black students when he was a young teacher. New teachers entering classrooms today have to follow a very tight script of what and how they teach. One teacher is called out for being too enthusiastic, smiling too much. Many school systems have hired these corporate training entities to train teachers to be authoritative disciplinarians. It is all about behavioral conditioning. I myself saw this in my neighborhood school in Chicago - 1st grade kids in uniforms having to sit quietly at tables where there where crayons and paper which they could not touch as the teacher slowly took attendance and collected lunch money. When it was time to switch to the next activity == she played chimes on a xylophone, which just like Pavlov's dog, the children stood up (no one was talking). The teacher said they were too noisy and had to do it again. And the action repeated itself. The classroom was covered with signs about "most cooperative" and "quiet in hallways" etc. I left my tour so disillusioned about what type of society are we building for this next generation. This book is a quick read and I encourage everyone to read this and also look at the citations in the back to do additional research -- there is a lot of emerging evidence that supports his case here.
Thank you to Netgalley and The New Press for an ARC and I voluntarily left this review.
Thank you to Netgalley and The New Press for an ARC and I voluntarily left this review.
May 10, 2024
AN END TO INEQUALITY |
Thank you so much @harperbooks for my #gifted copy. This is already out now
AN END TO INEQUALITY examines the ways in which segregation in public schools on the basis of class and race impacted and destroyed the standards and learning environments for primarily Black and Latino kids.
At the core of this is an assumption that the family's capabilities at home are lacking and that a certain degree of discipline and correction through punishment is necessary. The first few chapters were the most alarming with the degree of instructional control the teachers were being taught to exercise in the classrooms: measuring time, enforcing a very emotionless, strict style, with a focus on return on investment rather than a holistic view of what is beneficial for the kids where they are, are improvements being made that matter for them, are they learning?
Clearly if a school is using corporal punishment or solitary lockdown rooms as small as closets to enforce authority something is not right. And when this is enacted in public schools where there is lack of clean water, in buildings that are in disrepair that break down during extreme temperatures, high levels of lead paint, then there's clearly a need to overhaul the system. And it needs to be holistic.
Because the book is so short it does not go into any depth on the steps that are needed. Bussing or providing access to better schools for a percentage of students does not fix the problem. It creates a better environment and opportunities for those given the chance, but how do we improve the overall baseline environment such that everyone, every kid, has a chance to succeed and thrive?
3.25
Thank you so much @harperbooks for my #gifted copy. This is already out now
AN END TO INEQUALITY examines the ways in which segregation in public schools on the basis of class and race impacted and destroyed the standards and learning environments for primarily Black and Latino kids.
At the core of this is an assumption that the family's capabilities at home are lacking and that a certain degree of discipline and correction through punishment is necessary. The first few chapters were the most alarming with the degree of instructional control the teachers were being taught to exercise in the classrooms: measuring time, enforcing a very emotionless, strict style, with a focus on return on investment rather than a holistic view of what is beneficial for the kids where they are, are improvements being made that matter for them, are they learning?
Clearly if a school is using corporal punishment or solitary lockdown rooms as small as closets to enforce authority something is not right. And when this is enacted in public schools where there is lack of clean water, in buildings that are in disrepair that break down during extreme temperatures, high levels of lead paint, then there's clearly a need to overhaul the system. And it needs to be holistic.
Because the book is so short it does not go into any depth on the steps that are needed. Bussing or providing access to better schools for a percentage of students does not fix the problem. It creates a better environment and opportunities for those given the chance, but how do we improve the overall baseline environment such that everyone, every kid, has a chance to succeed and thrive?
3.25
March 25, 2024
Review of “An End to Inequality: Breaking Down the Walls of Apartheid Education in America” by Jonathan Kozol
In his book, “An End to Inequality: Breaking Down the Walls of Apartheid Education in America”, Jonathan Kozol proposes inter-district (across county or parish lines) integration as a way to address the legacy of “separate but equal” in our nation’s schools. “Separate but equal” was a legal doctrine that allowed for segregation in public facilities, including public schools and public transportation. The 1954 Supreme Court case, Brown v. Board of Education, ruled that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. Despite this, Kozol contends, a de facto segregation persists in our nation’s schools, one that has been proven harmful to students of color. Many schools in urban areas are woefully underfunded, understaffed, and segregated by race. For Kozol and others, “separate has never been equal”. In integrated settings, students of color, particularly those from impoverished backgrounds, tend to have higher test scores, are less likely to drop out, and are more likely to enroll in college. According to Kozol, integration in our nation’s public schools is one of the best ways to address inequities that presently exist in our schools.
In his book, “An End to Inequality: Breaking Down the Walls of Apartheid Education in America”, Jonathan Kozol proposes inter-district (across county or parish lines) integration as a way to address the legacy of “separate but equal” in our nation’s schools. “Separate but equal” was a legal doctrine that allowed for segregation in public facilities, including public schools and public transportation. The 1954 Supreme Court case, Brown v. Board of Education, ruled that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. Despite this, Kozol contends, a de facto segregation persists in our nation’s schools, one that has been proven harmful to students of color. Many schools in urban areas are woefully underfunded, understaffed, and segregated by race. For Kozol and others, “separate has never been equal”. In integrated settings, students of color, particularly those from impoverished backgrounds, tend to have higher test scores, are less likely to drop out, and are more likely to enroll in college. According to Kozol, integration in our nation’s public schools is one of the best ways to address inequities that presently exist in our schools.
March 21, 2024
While Mr. Kozol's earlier book, Savage Inequalities, should be required reading for all Americans, this book falls somewhat short of expectations.
While we desperately need to break down the walls of apartheid education, it is not clear how METCO (the Boston area voluntary desegregation program highlighted by Mr. Kozol as a model for achieving equity) will actually achieve this goal. METCO certainly provides priceless opportunities for a fortunate few. However, and similar to the much-maligned charter schools, this program serves primarily those students whose parents are knowledgeable and engaged, capable of filling out and following up on applications, in a position to ensure that their children board the buses for the long ride each morning, and so on. It does little to eliminate the inequalities or address the limited opportunities faced by everyone else remaining in (or dropping out from) decaying schools with vastly fewer resources.
There is so much more that we must do to ensure the future of our nation.
While we desperately need to break down the walls of apartheid education, it is not clear how METCO (the Boston area voluntary desegregation program highlighted by Mr. Kozol as a model for achieving equity) will actually achieve this goal. METCO certainly provides priceless opportunities for a fortunate few. However, and similar to the much-maligned charter schools, this program serves primarily those students whose parents are knowledgeable and engaged, capable of filling out and following up on applications, in a position to ensure that their children board the buses for the long ride each morning, and so on. It does little to eliminate the inequalities or address the limited opportunities faced by everyone else remaining in (or dropping out from) decaying schools with vastly fewer resources.
There is so much more that we must do to ensure the future of our nation.
September 11, 2025
This was a good read, both because of and in spite of the uncomfortable self-reflections it stirred up from my earlier years in the classroom. I remember blindly accepting some of the more rigid classroom discipline practices we were taught in graduate courses and professional development, often at the detriment of students’ freedom to simply be playful kids, the way children in suburban communities are allowed to live in a more authentically democratic and playful manner. The phrase “coercive uniformity” really struck me.
I tend to gravitate toward fiction, so it was refreshing to discover a nonfiction book so connected to my career and passions that still felt accessible, engaging, and relevant. I’d recommend this to anyone invested in equity, education, or simply questioning the structures we too often take for granted.
I tend to gravitate toward fiction, so it was refreshing to discover a nonfiction book so connected to my career and passions that still felt accessible, engaging, and relevant. I’d recommend this to anyone invested in equity, education, or simply questioning the structures we too often take for granted.
August 20, 2024
This book is very much what I expected, sadly, which is to say it is very true to my experience as an educator, even not working in the type of schools that have majority black and Latino populations. The light that Kozol shines on the very unequal educations, teaching styles, resources, opportunities, attitudes, and, to not put too fine a point on it, lives, that we offer to differing populations in our society should make everyone want to fix our country and education system for the better. Denying children the things they should have in order to thrive is child abuse and is a way of silencing minority groups and should not be permitted to continue. Thank you so much for this book, it was a revelation!
July 1, 2024
I am thankful for all of Jonathan Kozol's books. However, this was more disturbing to me as it points out how after all these decades in which he and others have fought to improve the state of education in the United States of America, things are just as bad. Or, worse.
I would like to think that all politicians have read his books and learned from them. This one, being his most recent, was published in an election year. I would hope all voters care about our nation's children. Not sure about our politicians, though.
Regardless, this is an eye-opening book. While it's filled with sad statistics, I found it to be a quick read. It's laid out logically, has Q&As and footnotes in the back.
I would like to think that all politicians have read his books and learned from them. This one, being his most recent, was published in an election year. I would hope all voters care about our nation's children. Not sure about our politicians, though.
Regardless, this is an eye-opening book. While it's filled with sad statistics, I found it to be a quick read. It's laid out logically, has Q&As and footnotes in the back.
May 11, 2024
I’ve been thinking lately about Walter Benn Michael’s The Trouble with Diversity in which he argued that race has distracted from talking about class. The left’s obsession with racial equality is misguided, and the focus should be all about economic class. Walter (a class reductionist) is partly right that in our contemporary debates, people tend to believe that by making capitalism more diverse - it’ll solve the problems of inequality.
But Walter isn’t right. Race does matter. Sure, capitalism invented race to justify its hierarchies but it doesn’t mean that racism is any real that is today. Modern day education is proof enough of that.
Kozol argues the educational myth that has led people believing that children of different race learn differently. White kids learn differently then Latinos, Latinos learn differently then black kids etc. This myth has led to people justifying their inaction for having equitable education and funding.
As he breaks down in a series of focal points, we need to end this ways of thinking and work towards establishing an equitable education. Kids don’t create failing schools, educational apartheid does.
bonus anecdote: I actually kinda know WBM. I recently ran into him a few weeks ago. He still hates Bob’s Burger’s.
But Walter isn’t right. Race does matter. Sure, capitalism invented race to justify its hierarchies but it doesn’t mean that racism is any real that is today. Modern day education is proof enough of that.
Kozol argues the educational myth that has led people believing that children of different race learn differently. White kids learn differently then Latinos, Latinos learn differently then black kids etc. This myth has led to people justifying their inaction for having equitable education and funding.
As he breaks down in a series of focal points, we need to end this ways of thinking and work towards establishing an equitable education. Kids don’t create failing schools, educational apartheid does.
bonus anecdote: I actually kinda know WBM. I recently ran into him a few weeks ago. He still hates Bob’s Burger’s.
December 20, 2024
I have very much enjoyed all of Kozol's previous books, but this one feels very slight. It is extremely short and it just didn't feel like there was much there, there. It does contain all the elements of Kozol's previous works that will make you insanely mad about our education system and its inequalities. It felt more like Kozol really wanted to write one final book, but didn't quite have enough in him to write a full book.
December 27, 2024
A quick read that seems to serve as a summation of his thinking over the last 5 decades in schools. Nothing is new here if you're in schools/have been reading widely, but good if you've never read Kozol before or want a quick primer on the state of brokenness in public education. As always, he cites great research to read. Recommend Nikole Hannah-Jones and Bettina Love if you actually want a deep dive.
January 15, 2025
A very important book covering very important topics, but it was quite difficult to get through due to its tedious voice as I found it read like a very long op-ed. I also wish the book was a bit longer to fully investigate and delve into the examples presented, like the discussion surrounding METCO in the Boston area, in order to gain a more well-rounded understanding of these programs' origination, transformation, and considerations for the future.
March 16, 2024
I think I read Death at an Early Age in 1971 and all the books written by Jonathan Kozol that followed. They have influenced me as an educator and a human. Like the author, I never imagined we would be where we are today: still needing to break "down the walls of apartheid in America." When will there be an "end to inequality?"
January 19, 2025
While I don’t mind the book, it is my least favorite book by Kozol so far. He kind of seems to be writing a summary of his life’s work, while also addressing issues that we still deal with in the 2020s as his last hoorah.
The later chapters are better, but I’ll stand by savage inequalities and shame of nation are far better.
The later chapters are better, but I’ll stand by savage inequalities and shame of nation are far better.
March 11, 2024
I think this might be a decent introductory text for people who are wanting a deeper look into the state of American education. As an educator and as someone who has read others of Kozol's books I didn't find it be all that informative.
May 16, 2024
More a collection of essays than a full book, and more a takedown of U.S. charter schools than a look at American education as a whole - and yet, reading Jonathan Kozol is a gift to any educator who values equity in our schools and in the world as a whole. He is a hero, today and always.
June 25, 2024
Read in a night’s sitting. Appreciate the no holds barred criticisms JK takes. My takeaways: racial integration bussing, boost librarians, make learning fun, and factor in lesson plans for students to read entire books not just excerpts!
June 26, 2024
Kozol is one of the most important authors for me in the world of social justice and education. This is. Short read but very important and aspirational for the future of education and working to remove racist barriers that keep kids in horrid educational systems. A really good read.
March 22, 2024
Another short but powerful plea from Kozol to end inequality by desegregating our schools. His best book though was The Night Is Dark and I Am Far From Home. As he says Separate is not Equal.
March 24, 2024
Noworkst as good as his other books. Almost like a summary of his other
May 6, 2024
Welcome coda from tireless advocate for public education.
November 27, 2024
Great at pointing out lots of problems with education.
Lots of questionable assumptions & conclusions
Lots of questionable assumptions & conclusions
January 11, 2025
A concise and somber summary of the inequalities that continue to plague the US education system and how children are negatively impacted.
March 4, 2025
Very interesting read if you are a teacher of young children, or just a teacher. Jonathan Kozol is a leader in equal education for all children.
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