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Jonathan Kozol supports the belief that poor children in America’s inner city public schools are denied the means of competition and “nowhere is this pattern of denial more explicit or absolute than in the public schools of New York City,” (Kozol, 1991, p.83). Kozol highlights the obvious difference in per pupil spending in New York City and the surrounding suburbs, pointing out that the schools attended by mostly poor, minority students receive the least amount of funding. These schools also tend to have the least qualified teachers and poor working conditions.
There is also a problem with overcrowded classrooms.
For, example, in one school, “four kindergartens and a sixth grade class of Spanish-speaking children have been packed into a single room,” (p.86). In addition, the school lacks adequate books and supplies. Some children have to share basic textbooks, the library does not have reference books, and the school has only 26 computers for well-over a thousand children (Kozol, 1991). Even worse, there is a lack of support staff.
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Children experiencing academic or social difficulties have little or no access to the counselor.
There is “a ratio of 930 children to one counselor,” (p.86). Kozol and others educators assert that these types of conditions would never occur in a predominately white, middle-class school. However, these deplorable conditions are all too common in the public schools attended mainly by poor, minority children. Teachers, parents and children are all aware of the unfairness of the situation, and the racial segregation that seems to perpetuate the problem. The enrollment register “reflects the demographics of continued racial segregation: Of the students in this school, 38 percent are black, and 62 percent Hispanic.
There are no white children in the building,” (p.103).
There does not appear to be a sense of urgency to solve these problems in New York City’s inner city schools. However, America as a country needs to pay attention to the crises in the public school system. How will we be able to compete in the global society, when large numbers of our citizens are not receiving a quality education? And why our we refusing to improve the situation? Without making sure that all children have an opportunity to learn, and develop into responsible citizens we will surely face a challenging future as a nation.
When large numbers of school children grow up to become members of society and they are illiterate and unable to take care of themselves, we will all bear the burden of supporting them through higher taxes, violence, and crime. I often wonder if most Americans are naïve enough to believe that everyone has equal opportunities, or if we simply prefer to ignore the obvious. As a society we are failing to ensure that all children receive the foundation necessary to become successful adults.
Reference
Kozol, J. (1991). Savage Inequalities: Children in America’s Schools. New York: Crown Publishers, Inc.
The Savage Inequalities of Public Education in New York. (2017, Mar 22). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/the-savage-inequalities-of-public-education-in-new-york-essay
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