The Shame of the Nation: The Restoration of Apartheid Schooling in America by Jonathan Kozol

Jul 15, 2012 Crystal Belle rated it it was ok

Although Kozol makes a compelling argument about how segregated inner city schools are in this nation, he implies that integration will automatically make urban schools better. My question for him is, how? Putting people of different backgrounds in one school does not guarantee that the school will automatically be better. My issue is, he critiques predominantly black/Hispanic schools for being too much of the same but he barely addresses how predominantly white schools are posing the same pro ...more

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Mar 22, 2022 emma marked it as to-read

Shelves: owned, school, nonfiction, tbr-owned, non-ya

the day i decided books i half-read for school don't count as read was the day my tbr grew exponentially ...more

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Sep 04, 2018 Allison K rated it it was amazing

Throughout The Shame of a Nation, author Jonathan Kozol describes his journey through 60 different inner-city school detailing the discrepancies between those and rural schools. Kozol sheds some light on apartheid schooling, where minorities (specifically black and hispanic students) make up virtually the entire student body. Kozol details how the American education system is failing these students; particularly because these schools are underfunded, hire untrained teachers, and are overcrowded. Throughout The Shame of a Nation, author Jonathan Kozol describes his journey through 60 different inner-city school detailing the discrepancies between those and rural schools. Kozol sheds some light on apartheid schooling, where minorities (specifically black and hispanic students) make up virtually the entire student body. Kozol details how the American education system is failing these students; particularly because these schools are underfunded, hire untrained teachers, and are overcrowded. Kozol doesn’t just point these facts out, rather he compares these schools with those in rural areas that receive more funding and thus provide a more advantageous environment for young and eager minds. Kozol often alludes to the Brown v. Board of Education decision as well as the “separate but equal” doctrine, allowing him to illuminate a side of the education system that many want to keep in the dark.

Kozol uses his experiences and statistics to explain how and why inner-city schools are being forced to fail their students. He sheds light on the fact that the government simply does not supply these schools with the tools necessary for a quality education. As mentioned, inner-city schools, who are primarily filled with black and hispanic students, have unqualified teachers who are not properly trained feeding the brains of young students. Not only this, but there is an extreme difference in the amount of funding that inner-city schools receive in comparison to rural area schools. This is on top of the fact that a majority of the students at these schools already live in poverty. One of the most heart-wrenching topics that Kozol recognizes is how people provide little hope to these urban students. In his personal experiences visiting these schools, Kozol explains how students are often ranked on a 1-4 scale depending on one’s intelligence, where students on the lower end of the spectrum are often ostracized and overlooked. All of this helps Kozol to demonstrate how the decisions made in Brown v. Board of Education as well as the “separate but equal” doctrine have almost become nonexistent in today’s schools. Schools continue to be segregated and have large concentrations of certain races within them, and Kozol has made it undoubtedly clear that the educational facilities that are promised to children in order to help them grow into bright adolescents are far from equal.

Jonathan Kozol has spent virtually his entire adult life serving as an advocate for equal educational opportunities for all. He became a 4th grade teacher based in a black impoverished neighborhood of Boston in 1964. Kozol has written numerous books that detail his experiences as a teacher as well as describe the conditions of underfunded schools in America. It was his time spent as a 4th grade teacher where he encountered the same issues and conditions that he would witness over and over again when he would begin his five year project of The Shame of a Nation. Many of Kozol’s works have been nominated and have won awards, including the 1968 National Book Award in Science, Philosophy, and Religion, the National Book Critics Circle Award of 1992, and the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award of 1996. Kozol himself has a highly recognizable name when it comes to activism regarding educational equality.

Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Shame of a Nation. It was a very insightful book that provided an in-depth look at the vast differences between rural and inner-city schools. Kozol does an excellent job of engaging the reader and forces them to provoke emotion; primarily anger in my case. The Shame of a Nation was very informative, especially with the integration of the statistics that Kozol emphasized. I always knew that all schools weren’t equal in the sense of some schools having more advanced technology, more money, etc. However it was Kozol who informed me that countless American schools continue to practice segregation as well as helping me to understand just how dramatic the differences in treatment schools receive based on their location and who goes there. Additionally, I thought that Kozol was successful in helping his readers understand that the promised right to a quality education is not in fact a guaranteed right, but merely a privilege that some receive based on their socio-economic background.

Coming from a school that supplies well qualified teachers as well as the technology and materials necessary for me to succeed, makes it difficult for me to fully comprehend what it is like to go to school under any other circumstance. However Kozol’s work gives me a second-hand view into schools that don’t come close to the caliber of my own. His detailing of these inner-city schools helps to accentuate the education that many students take for granted. At my school for example, students are supplied with chromebooks, textbooks, workbooks, and other technologies that enable us to control our own education. It is at these inner-city schools however where the educational path for students is already planned for them: some will graduate, and as for the others, there is no hope. It was disheartening to read and come to the realization that there are a copious amount of schools in the US in which the government allows to attempt to raise the country’s future with insufficient supplies. Overall, one of the biggest and saddest takeaways I got from The Shame of a Nation was that education serves as the foundation of a person’s success, however there are millions of minority children who are being stripped of the right to this foundation because of a lack of hope and where they to happen go to school. ...more

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Mar 25, 2007 Deborah rated it it was amazing

Given the amount of Kozol's work that I have read, I'm going to just write 1 review (for now). His works on poverty, homelessness, and adult illiteracy are also worth reading, but I am most impressed by his books on the absolutely atrocious state of American education. If you are going to choose just one of his books, I would suggest this one (his most recent indictment of racism and classism in our public schools) or Savage Inequalities (a scathing report on public school systems across the cou ...more

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Sep 04, 2018 Davide R rated it really liked it

Jonathan Kozol’s The Shame of the Nation takes the reader on a tour through schools largely in the New York and Boston areas ravaged by the effects of apartheid schooling. Kozol focuses largely on the socio-economic backgrounds of school children, in order to provide a truly heart-wrenching picture of America’s poorly funded, overcrowded, and unabashedly and often ironically segregated schools. He makes frequent use of personal experiences and clever anecdotes in order to make his point that whi Jonathan Kozol’s The Shame of the Nation takes the reader on a tour through schools largely in the New York and Boston areas ravaged by the effects of apartheid schooling. Kozol focuses largely on the socio-economic backgrounds of school children, in order to provide a truly heart-wrenching picture of America’s poorly funded, overcrowded, and unabashedly and often ironically segregated schools. He makes frequent use of personal experiences and clever anecdotes in order to make his point that while Brown Vs. Board of Education was a historic and remarkable trial, it did not have much of an impact on desegregating schools in particular. He uses statistics that show the eye-opening discrepancies in funding received by schools of lower socio-economic status vs those with wealthier parents and children backing them, and goes further to show how so very often these more poorly funded schools have primarily black and hispanic school children attending them.

More than simply delving into the schools’ funding and demographic makeup, Kozol utilizes his own experience as an educator to analyse the teaching practices and customs being tried in these schools. It is at this point, where Kozol begins to truly identify the differences in educational standards and practices between schools of lower and higher socio-economic statuses that Kozol is, in my opinion, at his most successful. It is one thing to depersonalize an argument such as this, speaking only of differences in funding and demographics between schools, it is another entirely to shine the spotlight on the actual methods being employed. Kozol portrays a landscape of grimy, collapsing schoolhouses and strict soul-crushed teachers in such a skillful manner that one may forget that they are reading about actual schools in the United States, and instead think to George Orwell’s 1984. Particularly striking is the mention, very early on in the piece, of classes hushed to immediate silence by the stern gesture of a particular educator who, as Kozol described, seemed almost pleased with himself for being able to complete this task so effectively. Kozol, skillfully contrasts these shameful conditions with those enjoyed by wealthier, usually white, children. In doing all this, Kozol successfully paints a gray picture of the ‘other America’ kept in a cycle of poor conditions.

Kozol himself, as mentioned, is an American writer that has devoted a great deal of his life to the educational system. Graduating summa cum laude from harvard University, Kozol has been an intellectual heavyweight for many years, studying under a number experienced authors in Paris, and finally moving back to the United States to tutor children in Roxbury Massachusetts. Soon after this, Kozol became a school teacher for the Boston Public School system, where he draws many of his experiences for The Shame of the Nation. After he was fired from the district for teaching a Langston Hughes Poem, Kozol became involved in the Newton School District, and became more dedicated to writing, and social justice work, eventually going on to author a number of pieces such as Death at an Early Age, Amazing Grace, And, of course, The Shame of the Nation.

I found The Shame of the Nation to be a capturing book with a fair amount of numerical evidence to back up its claims. The lack of footnotes in order to easily find this evidence was lamented, and the repetitive nature of the book (one is drawn to a Cicero quotation about making one’s point plainly and clearly) became tiresome at points, but despite these faults it was for the most part an enjoyable and informative read. Further than this, it was a deeply important read that allows one to better understand the plight of their fellow Americans, to empathize with them, and to think about making the changes necessary to allow these children and their children after them to have a good education, and an equal footing in life dependent solely on their own merit, rather than money or circumstance.

Take for example Kozol’s anecdote about the girl who attempted to take an AP class in high school, and found instead that she had been placed in a sewing class. Take her friend’s angry response to the situation “You’re ghetto, so you sew”. I myself as a student have never had my choices made for me, in large part, and I have been granted the extraordinary opportunity to challenge myself in AP classes such as the one this girl was trying to take. It is deeply saddening to see those that wish to better themselves, and to invest in their future lives, denied the opportunity due to a lack of school funding while others have a greater budget than they know what to do with.

I do recommend this book as a powerful glimpse into the side of American society our politicians are often so eager to sweep under the rug entirely, or adress only briefly, and as a learning experience by which one may come to understand the situation of their fellow American, and more importantly, their fellow man. ...more

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Sep 03, 2018 MikeO rated it liked it

Jonathan Kozol takes a strong stand on the corrupt school system of modern times. Children of low income neighborhoods are receiving poor educations in which are now where near the quality to those of richer neighborhoods just a few miles away. Conditions in these segregated low income communities attend schools with horrible learning conditions which include bad learning environments, poor teachers, and little government funding. These students are falling behind from the rest of society and t Jonathan Kozol takes a strong stand on the corrupt school system of modern times. Children of low income neighborhoods are receiving poor educations in which are now where near the quality to those of richer neighborhoods just a few miles away. Conditions in these segregated low income communities attend schools with horrible learning conditions which include bad learning environments, poor teachers, and little government funding. These students are falling behind from the rest of society and they are not receiving a proper education that will set them up for the real world. In result,if students wanted to take initiative of their education and attempt to transfer to a better school, they can't. The segregated schools are further more segregated when people of a higher class receiving a better education would never switch schools to a known lower class education. Jonathan Kozol exposes this divide and what school is truly like for the students of the lower class segregated schools.
Jonathan Kozol personally explores the lower class segregated education of this country. He exposes the lack of education and shows what these schools use their time for. The issue is that there is such a lack of funding, in result there is frequent testing of the students to see where the school place. Schools with higher placement receive more funding. Due to this the teachers take most of their time preparing students for these tests and mentally convincing them that the tests really matter. This takes time away from actual learning and also leads to students falling behind from students in higher class education. Students in higher class education have self funding for parents which boost their quality of education further compared to the lower class where such funding is not possible. It is very clear that if these two groups integrated there would be equal education. Getting to that point is a process that we as a nation are working towards.
Jonathan Kozol is an 81 year old from Boston, MA. He devoted most of his life to American Public Education to furthermore understand where the system is flawed. We know he is credible due to his extensive passion for this topic along with dozens of first hand experiences in schools.
The book was very informative in the sense of broadening my knowledge of what actually takes place in some school systems across the country. I know that what I was reading was reliable because of his passion for the topic along with with his connection he displays with the students he talks with. We can see that he genuinely cares for the best of every student and wants to make a change. With the number of schools he visited along with the consistency of the answers he received from students goes to show what the education is truly like in low class communities. The book had a positive impact on me in the sense that I now have a further understanding of how bad some children just like us have it in some parts of the country, which makes me more appreciative of what my education is.
In terms of the quality of the read itself it was very stale. Facts were consistently brought up and were repetitive. If you were to read any two chapters of the book you would take away the same thing from andy other two chapters. These facts really did a good job at backing up his purpose to make a change but, they were very repetitive.
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Sep 03, 2018 Gabbyp rated it it was amazing

This book was a very educational and inspiring read on the racism and unfair opportunities within education due to the wealth of the surrounding community. It is an eye opener for those who have better resources and chances because of their neighborhood and don’t realize how different some children have it. Jonathan Kozol does a marvelous job exposing the flaws in the educational system that many would not know of otherwise, including that America’s schools went back to being segregated as they
This book was a very educational and inspiring read on the racism and unfair opportunities within education due to the wealth of the surrounding community. It is an eye opener for those who have better resources and chances because of their neighborhood and don’t realize how different some children have it. Jonathan Kozol does a marvelous job exposing the flaws in the educational system that many would not know of otherwise, including that America’s schools went back to being segregated as they were centuries ago, which is now frowned upon but still happening. The opportunity gap between students in different areas shows in the long term because some inner-city schools allow students to fall behind due to lack of resources/ teachers and it affects them the rest of their life.

Kozol uses his own experiences to try and make a change in this flawed system and is an activist for these children who lack opportunity due to things such as their house income, neighborhood and skin color. He tries to make a change for these kids and starts it with himself, taking the time to teach them and shape them into the students he knows they can be. This is something that apparently not too many other teachers would do, seeing as many of the schools had an inadequate number of staff.

Another issue with the schools being treated improperly is that although the schools desperately need money, there is nobody willing to invest. People who could donate feel that it’s a lost cause and others are not in the position to be giving away their money, even if it is to their child’s school. For some, putting food on the table is a little more important than fixing a window that they don’t even have to look out of. But this is the issue with thieb schools, people do not realize how difficult it is to learn when the school is falling apart all around them.

To elaborate on this issue of inadequate conditions, Kozol talks about certain cases where some of his students that he had taught before would write to him and describe how bad it was sometimes. For instance, one of the schools was infested with rats which caused students to get sick, sending them home. It is very difficult to learn when you cannot even be at school. Many schools Kozol taught at had problems like not having stable classrooms and always being on the move. This is also very distracting and makes for a tough learning environment because there is nothing reliable and students have to focus on their things rather than the work.

All in all, Jonathan Kozol had very strong points and did a brilliant job of exposing the flaws of the modern day educational system, especially in inner-city/ urban schools. This book was very inspiring and should be read by all so that they can truly understand how tough it is for some children these days to get a good education, which is a right that is supposed to be given to all. ...more

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Sep 04, 2018 Rory F rated it really liked it

While writing his book “Shame of the Nation” author Jonathan Kozol visited over 60 schools across America to compare the rural area schools to the city schools. While visiting the schools he realized how much has not changed since the Board of Education battles 50 years ago. Schools are just as much or maybe even more segregated than they were before the Supreme Court ruled schools to have no segregation. Looking at the different schools he realized schools that were primarily white would offer While writing his book “Shame of the Nation” author Jonathan Kozol visited over 60 schools across America to compare the rural area schools to the city schools. While visiting the schools he realized how much has not changed since the Board of Education battles 50 years ago. Schools are just as much or maybe even more segregated than they were before the Supreme Court ruled schools to have no segregation. Looking at the different schools he realized schools that were primarily white would offer AP classes while the schools that were primarily black would offer classes like hairdressing.
Kozol describes how schools could be separated by a minimal drive but the difference is uncomparable. Primarily schools in the city would be rat infested or broken down with no supplies and maybe even not enough desks, then just a few minutes away would be a school funded by the community, thriving with a good facility and many classes to choose from. Through his writing Kozol criticizes the way school districts are run and how the segregation has not changed throughout the may years it has been ruled out by the court.
THe author Jonathan Kozol went to college for english literature, then traveled to Paris to learn more about writing with some of the top writers in the world. When Kozol returned he began to tutor children in Massachusetts and then becoming a permanent teacher in the Boston Public Schools. After teaching for many years Kozol got involved with social justice work a put in more time to writing which then launched his career in writing about social injustices in education.
While reading “Shame of the Nation” I realized how much the culture in education has not been changed. Hearing what other area schools are like is an eye-opener to how different a rural area can be. When listening to the stories of the children in school it made me realize that those children don’t understand what a quality education looks like. The book was very informing because it brings the reader into real life scenarios based on facts that show how corrupt the education system really is.
Kozol also made the book very entertaining by always keeping the reader on their toes. Going from issue to issue keeps the reader interested and always wanting to find out more. With every chapter having a new issue or story the reader finds themselves excited for the next topic or curious about what the next story will be about.
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Sep 03, 2018 Maegan Q rated it liked it

The shame of the nation by Jonathan Kozol is a very informative book in which Kozol himself goes and visits over 60 public schools. At each of these schools he unveils awful conditions that the inner city children still go through after 15 years ago when the federal courts began to dismantle the the ruling of Brown vs. Board of education. The schools today still face segregation as well as many other issues. Most of the inner city schools are apartheid schools which cause the kids to be complete The shame of the nation by Jonathan Kozol is a very informative book in which Kozol himself goes and visits over 60 public schools. At each of these schools he unveils awful conditions that the inner city children still go through after 15 years ago when the federal courts began to dismantle the the ruling of Brown vs. Board of education. The schools today still face segregation as well as many other issues. Most of the inner city schools are apartheid schools which cause the kids to be completely separated from any whites. In these schools kids face issues From health hazards to a strict almost militarized way of teaching to many other awful issues that have a really big impact on the students in the schools. Kozol is very credible because he himself was a teacher in Boston for many years and he experienced the issues first hand and he seems very passionate for what he does. His passion makes him very credible as well because he make a big effort to go to tons of schools to show people the awful things the kids face and to try and make a Change. Kozol also in the book cites and quotes students and information he finds in the schools making him extremely credible and trustworthy.

In my perspective I did enjoy the book a little bit but after a while it did get quite boring and I thought it was almost repetitive. Although the book did give a lot of information I felt as if it was almost too much. Due to that in the last few chapters my interests in the book faded. It faded because it made it difficult for me to concentrate with what was going on in the book. Even thought it’s was too informative it did have quite an impact on me.

The issues that Kozol talked about such as the health hazards that kids are exposed to really did make me upset. It is sad to think that kids in this day and age are exposed to harmful environments that can put risks on their lives. The book for me personally makes me grateful for the schooling I have because I sometimes take it for granted. At our school we have options as to what classes we can choose. At these inner city schools Kozol shows how kids aren’t allowed to choose what classes they take and are almost held back from taking advanced classes. Instead they are forced and told they have to take classes that won’t help further the kids education such as hair braiding.
The book really does open your eye and is worth reading to get an insight to what kids today still go through.
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Sep 04, 2018 Virginia C rated it it was amazing

Jonathan Kozol’s book, The Shame of the Nation, addresses the issues within the American system of education, particularly pointing out the advantages and disadvantages that come along with race, location, and funding in public schools. Kozol begins presenting his ideas with the issue of segregation in inner-city/urban school districts. Kozol points out that the majority of students in urban schools are people of color, while the surrounding suburban school systems are dominated by white studen Jonathan Kozol’s book, The Shame of the Nation, addresses the issues within the American system of education, particularly pointing out the advantages and disadvantages that come along with race, location, and funding in public schools. Kozol begins presenting his ideas with the issue of segregation in inner-city/urban school districts. Kozol points out that the majority of students in urban schools are people of color, while the surrounding suburban school systems are dominated by white students. Throughout each chapter, Kozol goes on to explain how this imbalance negatively affects inner-city students, as funding and support are in abundance for the majority white schools, leaving fewer benefits for students of color, which in turn sets them up to fail.
Kozol, being an educator and activist in the Civil Rights Movement, wanted to shed light on the issue of segregation within education in America. He properly prepared himself for writing his The Shame of the Nation through taking the time to visit over fifty public schools in America, where his observations turned to research and information that would be some of the main points in his book.
The Shame of the Nation opened my eyes to a lot of issues I had not thought of before, as I live in a rural area, and go to a predominately white school in a majority white town, so the segregation of inner-city schools and its effects on the students were not thing that I had been aware of. Kozol presented the information in a logical way with statistics to back up almost every one of his claims, making it clear to the audience the magnitude of each issue. This is what made me like the book even more, as each argument proved itself valid with statistics following them.
Reading this book made me very concerned, and, frankly, guilty about the matters presented.The the school systems talked about by Kozol in his book put white students at an advantage from the time they are young to when they graduate, whereas the schools attended by majority students of color are not given equal funding, supplies, opportunities, or pay for teachers. This makes me feel guilty because the way the system is set up is obviously racist and incredibly unfair, but I cannot do anything about it accept for raise awareness and hope it is effective. This makes me appreciate Kozol much more as he took the time to visit each school and try to make change for these unfairly disadvantaged students.

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Nov 22, 2017 Jeremy rated it really liked it

Kozol has been writing about education in America, its failings and inequities, with talent for decades. I was impressed with the factual nature of the presentation. He makes an argument that the roots of our currently segregated system, in which blacks, particularly poor blacks are segregated into schools that are less well funded, feature educational programs that are rigid and stultifying, and are often shunted into low wage job training before they are 12. The argument holds up very well, as ...more

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Feb 12, 2017 David Nessipbekov rated it it was amazing

Shelves: simply-bombastic-rad-swagalicious

You know (you don't), I don't like to get political, but if we would rather spend yuge amounts of money on a wall, a proposition fraught with difficulty, than solve the problems such as ones outlined in this book, there is something intrinsically wrong with this nation. Please read this book. Get out of your echo chamber, defy your conservative worldview, and read this work. To be fair, I'm reading Dinesh D'souza's "End of Racism" right now and it's equally uncomfortable for my worldview. But if ...more

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Sep 18, 2013 Jack rated it liked it

Shelves: nonfiction, politics

I very much respect Kozol and his lifelong work on education, and education for certain underserved portions of our society. It's not talked about enough. I also respect Kozol's passion: after dedicating so much time and energy on this issue, he has every right to write whatever he wants on the topic. Unfortunately for me, I didn't learn anything here. A white guy who grew up in middle class white suburbia, and I didn't learn much that I didn't already know about education in America. A missed o ...more

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Sep 02, 2018 Catherine K-S rated it it was amazing

Jonathan Kozol’s The Shame of the Nation brings light to the calamitous effects of apartheid schooling in the United States in an astounding way, as well as shows how the courts failed to deliver their promises in cases such as Brown vs. The Board of Education regarding the desegregation of schools. Through visiting numerous inner-city schools that are severely underfunded, Kozol is able to reveal a pattern: most of the kids that go to the schools that are in astrocious condition, as well as hav Jonathan Kozol’s The Shame of the Nation brings light to the calamitous effects of apartheid schooling in the United States in an astounding way, as well as shows how the courts failed to deliver their promises in cases such as Brown vs. The Board of Education regarding the desegregation of schools. Through visiting numerous inner-city schools that are severely underfunded, Kozol is able to reveal a pattern: most of the kids that go to the schools that are in astrocious condition, as well as have poor quality (and not even fully qualified) teachers, and low graduation/drop out rates, are minorities that come from an extremely impoverished backgrounds. Not only are the classrooms at these schools crammed with many more children than they can actually fit, but schools are too. The riveting statistics that Kozol reveals indeed proves that there are major differences between government spending in the inner-city, minority dominated schools and those that are primarily suburban middle class. For instance, Kozol made note that in “1997-1998, New York’s Board of Education spent about $8,000 yearly on the education of a third grade child in a New York City Public School. In a fairly typical white subarb of New York, that number would be from $8,000-$12,000” (45), which is a statistic that is sure to cause an outrage.

Kozol is also able to offer a unique inside look into some of the nation’s most segregrated and underfunded schools. He is able to illustrate the military, robotic, and market production ideas that dominate most urban classrooms in order to meet state testing standards. Additionally, Kozol is able to offer reasons why minorities typically receive lower quality educations and are not continuing (or even finishing) their high school education, those being that inner-city schools are mainly career orientated, receive tremendous budget cuts, there is no hope that the kids can succeed, and kids simply not being informed that college was even an option. As a result of this, middle classed children (especially white children) are continuing on to receive degrees of higher education at prestigious universities while minority children who come out of these inner-city schools are working menial jobs. Through The Shame of the Nation, Kozol is able to make note that although the Supreme Court ruled in Brown vs. The Board of Education in 1954 that the “seperate but equal” doctrine was unconstituional, there are still visible and severe disparities in schooling between those of minorities and those of the middle class.

Author Jonathan Kozol has spent a majority of his life in the education system. After studying English literature at Harvard College in 1958, he eventually became a fourth grade teacher in a black neighborhood in Boston during the 1964-1965 school year. During his first year of teaching Kozol experienced some of the harsh disparities that are all too frequent to inner-city schools, including being in an overcrowded space with children who were maybe two or three years behind in their reading level in a severely underfunded school. After experiencing this, Kozol decided to visit some of other inner-city schools in the United States, some of them being in Chicago while others in San Antonio. In total, Kozol visited 60 schools in 30 districts scattered throughout 11 different states before writing this book, often immersing himself in the school environments to experience first hand what being a student at one of these schools is like. If anyone can and should write this book, it is Jonathan Kozol, as he has the experience necessary to provide an accurate description of the horrors of apartheid schooling in the United States.

In my opinion, I found The Shame of the Nation to be both informative and thought provoking. This book will give you new insights to the realities on inner-city schooling in the United States and will most likely provoke a sense of anger and outrage. Prior to reading The Shame of the Nation, I did not really know anything about these disparities and how they really only affect one group of people - minorities. Knowing this fact and learning how there are substantial differences in funding by the federal government to minority ruled urban schools and middle class suburban neighborhood schools sparked a sense of outrage. I not only feel ashamed that our government allows this to happen, but I also feel upset for these children. I believe that everyone, regardless of socioeconomic status, deserves to receive a quality education that allows them to be successful in life. The fact that Kozol incorporates logos into The Shame of the Nation by including statistics of differences in per pupil spending and funding towards schools helps to show that these disparities do really exist and change is needed in order to ensure equality in the world of education. It makes me want to see change for these children.

In addition to creating a spark of outrage, The Shame of the Nation also made me realize how much I take for granted at my school and how many children in the United States do not receive many of the luxuries that I do. For instance, I get to receive a quality education as the teachers at my school are all certified. I do not have to worry about being cold or too hot during the schoolday as there is heat and air conditioning. I am not deprived of taking AP classes and instead put into technical classes such as hairdressing. I am given the resources to make receiving a post-high school education a reality while more than a majority of the children in the inner-city schools described are not. I am allowed to be creative in my assignments and am not forced to think of myself as a “product” and my teachers as “bosses”. As such, The Shame of the Nation was not only a credible and reliable book offering information on apartheid education and made me want to see change in these schools, but it also forced me to realize that the education I receive should not be taken for granted and can be considered as a luxury compared to the education that the kids in inner-city schools receive. Overall, I highly recommend this book, as it was written in such a wonderful and compelling manner.

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Jun 02, 2013 Casey rated it it was ok

Shelves: education-youth-development

The low review comes from my frustration of the lack of in text citations and his heavy focus on New York and Boston schools. Also I have read another one of his books and get the sense that he recycles many anecdotes between books so ended up feeling like misty of the information was repetitive. Otherwise an interesting read it you are new to the subject area and or are focused on learning about the New York school district (and don't mind sifting for citations or going with out). ...more

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Aug 27, 2015 Miriam rated it it was ok

Even though Kozol is an extremely accomplished and excellent writer, I found this book to be a serious let down from the high hopes that I had for it. This book could easily be cut in half if all the repetitive statements had been deleted. This book has many of the same ideas being repeated multiple times with very much being added with each new reiteration. That being said, this book had a lot of information that everyone needs to know and is a very well written book overall,

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Sep 04, 2018 Carolyn K rated it it was amazing

Within the pages of The Shame of the Nation by Johnathan Kozol, one will find a raw and exclusive look into the other side of the American education system so many are quick to put aside. Despite actions by the Supreme Court in instances such as Brown vs. Board of Education to bring to light the injustice served to countless school aged children, Mr. Kozol made it his mission to personally investigate and report on the corruption within the American public school system. Despite numerous attempt Within the pages of The Shame of the Nation by Johnathan Kozol, one will find a raw and exclusive look into the other side of the American education system so many are quick to put aside. Despite actions by the Supreme Court in instances such as Brown vs. Board of Education to bring to light the injustice served to countless school aged children, Mr. Kozol made it his mission to personally investigate and report on the corruption within the American public school system. Despite numerous attempts to desegregate schools and allow them to be accessible to all Americans regardless of race or skin color, they failed to be adequate. After delving head first to the source, Kozol was able to get a realistic look at the true conditions of these schools that happened to be the only ones accessible to minorities. To his consternation, he found nothing but adversity and struggle within the four walls some dared to call a school. The kids who lined the walls each day and came to school to only be judged by a number all had something in common; it was all they knew. Most, if not all, had no idea what it was like to expect to graduate, nonetheless have a teacher actually qualified to do their job. More times than not, classrooms were overfilled with kids, further diminishing the quality of education the kids were able to receive. Throughout the book, Kozol makes an effort to make his argument that inner city kids who have nowhere to turn but public education have a much lower quality of education and life, in part to both living in poverty, not receiving an education, and frankly have no one to believe in them or care should they succeed.
By going straight to the source first hand, Kozol is able to give a first hand view of the oppressive education system, often implementing many tactics and methods not seen in a "normal" public school. He had made numerous references throughout the book stating that sometimes the actions used to control the kids resembled techniques used to train a dog. He made it abundantly clear that delivering a quality education was not a top priority, but instead hitting a quota for state testing. Consequently, the curriculum was not based around student's needs and interests, but instead around a piece of paper with bubbles to fill in. Due to the restricted curriculum, students are rarely, if ever, encourage to consider anything other than management and clerk positions at local establishments. After doing a quick poll, Kozol came to realize that the majority of the kids has never even been informed of such a thing as "college". This format for "learning" sets minorities up for a lesser life than their white counterparts thanks to their limited exposure to opportunities starting at a young age. Many are unaware of their true potential and capacities, and few will ever come close to even beginning to scratch the surface.
Kozol had always had a keen interest in the educational system, and took a job at a school for primarily minorities in Boston following college. It was at this school where he caught a glimpse of what these children were given for an "education". Following a year of overflowing classrooms of kids of all ages due to lacking or downright nonexistant reading and writing abilities, he found a passion in investigating and exposing the harsh realities so many are too ashamed to admit and face; that in many ways, our country is no better than it was pre Civil Rights era. Segregation is still real, and it is alive and well, despite what we choose to call it. His experience and time spent in classrooms across the nation in big boroughs and cities alike makes Kozol an excellent candidate for the job. After seeing a problem, he not only had the courage to further scrutinize the issue, but he also took the time to gather his thoughts to speak out and inform. His countless testimonies within the book and personal experiences give the reader an unparalleled look inside America's divided education system.
Despite my myriad of knowledge that I was able to take away from this book, I found it to be a little repetitive in the ways that despite what information was being presented, it all came back to the one sole point. In some ways, it almost felt like a slap in the face to all those not living in these conditions. Despite this, Kozol did an exceptional job of formatting his points to tell a story that I personally think needs to be told again and again until real change happens. I believe that words are so powerful, and when they are used in the correct manner, they can initiate exceptional change. Even if this book does not necessarily change the world, it will get some heads thinking and discussions starting. If anything, Kozol added the gasoline to the fire.
The information presented in the book changed my perspective on the American school system, and also gave me a new appreciation for what I do have. No matter how little I have, there will always be someone who has less. Many emotions came to light while reading this book, including shame, guilt, anger, sadness, and even a little bit of denial. I myself found that throughout the book I found it hard to believe that our government would allow for such conditions to exist for our brothers and sisters in which we share the rights to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. By denying the rights to a quality education, I strongly believe that with it are the inalienable rights promised to us so long ago. Despite the extensive efforts and countless strides made towards correcting this inequity, progress has been limited. There is more to be done, and there is more we can do. For than reason alone, I urge those with a thirst to make a difference to pick up this book and read it. After, get a conversation going and initiate change. It all starts with one.

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Sep 03, 2018 Hailey B rated it liked it

The Shame of The Nation was a very inspiring and emotional book. The author, Jonathan Kozol presented to his audience how segregation in inner city schools was a huge problem that needed to be solved but might never be. The idea of "separate but equal" was mentioned a lot throughout Kozol's story, and not in a good way. Kozol claims that "separate but equal" is enforced no where in these inner city urban schools. He wanted the educational system to realize what was going on and solve the "separa The Shame of The Nation was a very inspiring and emotional book. The author, Jonathan Kozol presented to his audience how segregation in inner city schools was a huge problem that needed to be solved but might never be. The idea of "separate but equal" was mentioned a lot throughout Kozol's story, and not in a good way. Kozol claims that "separate but equal" is enforced no where in these inner city urban schools. He wanted the educational system to realize what was going on and solve the "separate but equal" problems in these schools, which took about 13 years to begin resolving or even noticing and caring about what was happening.. One of Kozol's main arguments is how the American educational system is leaving many students behind and allowing them to receive terrible physical, mental and emotional conditions in the schools they have to attend. This made learning and concentration very hard for the children when they had no support from the educational system or the government.

Jonathan Kozol was part of the civil rights campaign in his earlier years. When writing, The Shame of the Nation, Kozol described the conditions of nearly 60 segregated inner city schools he had visited. Kozol wrote, and showed how these school children were so racially isolated. It was an emotional experience. Kozol, visiting these inner city schools, makes him credible because he shows the poor conditions that, who he believes are minorities (African Americans or Hispanics), are being placed in while the Caucasian majority is given clean and stale buildings, is given certified teachers, and most importantly is give funding for their schools. After Kozol had these experiences, he spoke through a personal viewpoint in his book. Jonathan Kozol is asking for a change in the racial isolation in these students (more funding to inner city schools).

Doing a little bit of a background search on Jonathan Kozol, before reading The Shame of the Nation, I noted that Kozol seemed to be a reliable and credible person. Seeing how other stories, articles, and books that he has written are all related, it shows how much he cares about the racial issues, segregation, funding, stability, etc. issues going on in the inner city schools. Was this book informative? Yes, for me, not reading a non-fiction book like this before, it was very informative and helpful to me, as a student, in learning about what is happening in the world around us. Kozol used specific examples from each school he went to to show what was happening to these kids. Kozol showed how the school children wanted to learn and wanted to be successful, but the only way that was possible was if they got the funding to provide these kids with classrooms, textbooks, and qualified teachers. They needed support from the educational system and the government. Being a very informative story, Kozol uses a lot of pathos to make the reader feel like they need to help with the racial isolation issues going on in the South Bronx. This story was informative, reliable and credible, making an impact on me. The way the school children were so harshly treated, impacted the way I now think about isolated and segregated schools.

Jonathan Kozol's non-fiction book about racial isolation in inner city schools was very powerful and showed a lot of emotion. Kozol was right with every point he made and everything he said was emotional. I did enjoy reading this book because it was very informative, however, it was very repetitive. The first two or three chapters was a little bit of a drag to read because he kept talking about the same thing over and over again, but, once the story kept on, Kozol went into a lot more specifics on certain schools and how the kids were being isolated. The last few chapters in his book were enjoyable to read because he talked about how the "separate but equal" issue in segregated schools was still not solved completely but was beginning to improve. I feel like if the book was not so repetitive I would have enjoyed it more. After I knew the basis of what Kozol was trying to prove and show to the reader, I just wanted to stop reading it. Overall, Jonathan Kozol's book, The Shame of the Nation, was a very informative emotional and reliable story to read but, it could have been shortened so it was not so repetitive.

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Sep 05, 2018 JacobJ rated it really liked it

The Shame of the Nation written by Jonathan Kozol was a very well written and educational book. Kozol’s main focus throughout the book is the state of segregation within the school system. He touches on how colored students have limited resources in their lives and the hardships they have to face due to this. One of the biggest problems leading to unobtainable education is funding issues. Whether it’s the schools lack of budget or the parents not being able to pay for certain programs, the stud The Shame of the Nation written by Jonathan Kozol was a very well written and educational book. Kozol’s main focus throughout the book is the state of segregation within the school system. He touches on how colored students have limited resources in their lives and the hardships they have to face due to this. One of the biggest problems leading to unobtainable education is funding issues. Whether it’s the schools lack of budget or the parents not being able to pay for certain programs, the students who can afford a good education succeed exponentially. A reoccuring theme Kozol experiences is that the actual funding for the students to succeed is heavily disregarded and deemed unimportant. Another sensitive issue that Kozol dissects are the problems with standardized testing. Nobody likes taking a test, but for students in lower income schools their education suffers due to the lack of resources they receive. Scores on the tests given are heavily manipulated within the curriculum being taught. For the typical teenage student they may be excited they got a solid B+ on the test they just took, but in reality their score is raised to make it look better on a piece of paper, but what is that really doing for the student? They aren’t obtaining the knowledge they should or think they are getting from the lessons by being given an inflated test score. On simpler terms standardized tests can be very harmful to the minds of students. When tests are being given at a young age, an excessive amount of pressure can be put on students. If a student fails tests over and over again, they may even have to repeat the grade which is one of the most degrading and unmotivational decisions someone has to make. This skyrockets a drop out rate, and isn’t that hard to understand why. The student may think to themselves something along the lines of “Well if i don’t understand it now what makes you think i'll ever understand it.” This of course is debatable and heavily relies on the teaching environment, and how serious the student takes learning.
Kozol also sheds light on privilege within education. Students with privilege are separated from the minority students, and receive different education. Better school districts have more resources more knowledge to share making it almost like a race for students to be enrolled at the schools. For the public schools where the segregated students attend the curriculum just isn’t good enough for a good education. Even the appearance of the schools are poor, whether the textbooks are outdated or the school itself is falling apart.
To make such claims conflicting the school system proper knowledge is needed about it first which Jonathan has. He was a teacher and wanted to provide equal opportunity to everyone in public schools. He himself experienced these conditions from over 60 public schools and wanted his voice to be heard about the poor conditions segregated students face daily altering their lives forever due to not receiving proper education. Jonathan still visits schools to share his voice with students and does not plan on giving up while students still struggle.
In my reading experience I found myself to enjoy the book. The overall message of the book was eye opening and makes you appreciate what you have in your life. On a personal level as a student I could relate to some of the things being said, and was also informed about some struggles I had no idea about. The major point that stood out the most to me was the part on standardized testing. As a student who used to and sometimes still dislikes tests, I understood the stress and pressure of taking them and staying up late some nights hoping for that good grade. I also found it interesting on how grading is abused and how the students think they may know what is being taught but in reality they can have no idea what it really means.
Although I enjoyed the book, the negative part that stands out is the aging of the book. It’s disheartening to see how a book that was supposed to fix these issues, and open the public's eyes to them couldn’t achieve 100% success. It’s now thirteen years later, as the book was published in 2005, and some of these issues still occur today. Schools still don’t have great budgets, students can't get proper education, and kids are sadly still segregated because of this. I feel like this left the most impact and made me think about how in thirteen years these issues couldn’t be resolved, and in some cases gotten worse in some areas. Overall the book was very enjoyable and was thought provoking to a student like myself on the state of the school system.
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Sep 04, 2018 Felicia F rated it really liked it

The Shame Of The Nation by Jonathan Kozol is both informative and engaging. Kozol argues that pre-school education is crucial for children in order to develop at a normal rate, teachers curriculum is so based on standardized testing that they are not allowed to be creative and explore different ideas when lesson planning, test scores do not define someones worth or value, funding is very hard for most school districts (especially those in lower income neighborhoods), and that integration helps The Shame Of The Nation by Jonathan Kozol is both informative and engaging. Kozol argues that pre-school education is crucial for children in order to develop at a normal rate, teachers curriculum is so based on standardized testing that they are not allowed to be creative and explore different ideas when lesson planning, test scores do not define someones worth or value, funding is very hard for most school districts (especially those in lower income neighborhoods), and that integration helps blacks become more successful in the real world by allowing students to become more adjusted to white culture and collaborating with whites so blacks aren't so socially stressed when they go out into the real world which is mostly white dominated. These are some of Kozol's main points throughout the book and I really enjoyed how he backed up his claims with statistics and evidence. He has been working with children, specifically in inner-city schools, for more than 40 years. Many schools he had taught at, spent hours observing the conditions, and even interviewed students and administration while putting together this book. He is also a reliable source because he is a teacher himself and not just someone off the streets who has no experience being in a classroom setting or not knowing about education policies and what it takes to teach. Kozol attended Harvard College studying English Literature.

I found this book to be surprising and inspiring. I was shocked at the vast amount of problems that still exist today in schools. Even basic things, like getting materials, a clean classroom, a qualified teacher, and enough desks so every child has a seat. I was most surprised with the fact that there is still so much segregation within schools. Something I always thought was in the past, is still very relevant today. Kozol did a great job at enlightening the reader that things of the past are still being addressed today. Kozol calls for action. He encourages readers to start a new round of protests to get Washington's attention. He believes that America only deals with black issues if someone causes enough stink about it otherwise the federal government will not focus on these issues voluntarily. He is able to write in such a way that keeps the reader engaged while motivating them to want to join in on efforts being made to push for change. Overall, this book really opened my eyes up to see different sides of what goes on in schools and to appreciate my schooling more. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to get a closer and more in depth look into America's education system and wants to be informed about present day issues that seem to be put on the backburner. ...more

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Sep 04, 2018 Aidan M rated it really liked it

Book Review: The Shame of a Nation
Jonathan Kozol’s The Shame of the Nation entails information regarding the system of education in lower income areas specifically in relation with race, location, and funding in public schools. He explains the disadvantages and advantages that certain places get because of these factors. Kozol first talks about the issue of segregation in inner city and suburban public schools. He states that in inner city school systems the student body is mainly made up of pe Book Review: The Shame of a Nation
Jonathan Kozol’s The Shame of the Nation entails information regarding the system of education in lower income areas specifically in relation with race, location, and funding in public schools. He explains the disadvantages and advantages that certain places get because of these factors. Kozol first talks about the issue of segregation in inner city and suburban public schools. He states that in inner city school systems the student body is mainly made up of people of color in contrast to the mainly white student body in suburban areas. He proceeds to explain the lack of funding in the inner city school systems compared to the abundant funding for the urban/suburban public schools. This funding, or lack thereof, for the inner city schools does not allow for proper learning environments and overall set them up for disaster.
Due to Jonathan Kozol’s participation and involvement in the Civil Rights Movement, he felt inclined to spread awareness to everyone around the world in regards to the matter. To be as factual and non-opinion based as possible, he traveled in the United States mainly on the east coast, to over 50 public schools. He visited and researched many different kinds of schools whether they were in low income areas or whether the students came generally from suburban neighborhoods. He used his findings as examples throughout his book.
To me personally, this book made me think of how lucky I was to attend a school that has great funding, staff, and many opportunities. However, the town I live in is predominantly a white town and therefore the student body is dominated by white students, so I never really thought o the segregation issues that Kozol points out. All of his points are presented in an orderly fashion and are statistically sound. The fact that all of his statistics and pieces of evidence are valid, makes the book and the overall message seem more important and allowed me to get invested in reading this book.
Jonathan Kozol’s The Shame of the Nation made me feel incredibly lucky to have such pure opportunities and a school that truly helps me for the future. It also made me feel anger and guilt that the government does not provide fair and equal opportunities for inner city schools and that I receive so many more benefits than the students attending said schools. The guilt aspect sprouts from the fact that, in my current position, the only thing I can do is spread awareness about this issue rather than actually take action and see change for these poorly funded schools. Overall this book was very credible, interesting, inspiring, and made me greatly appreciate my situation.
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Sep 04, 2018 Noah S rated it really liked it

In this book Jonathan Kozol shares an articulate story about the flawed education system that shamefully exists today. Throughout the book Kozol describes his visits with many schools within the inner cities. He sheds light on the inequalities that exist within them which the privileged may be blind too. He slowly debunks the reasons for low graduation rates. Kozol talks about the need for equal Pre-K education, and much more. Throughout the book Kozol has shown himself to be a strong advocate o In this book Jonathan Kozol shares an articulate story about the flawed education system that shamefully exists today. Throughout the book Kozol describes his visits with many schools within the inner cities. He sheds light on the inequalities that exist within them which the privileged may be blind too. He slowly debunks the reasons for low graduation rates. Kozol talks about the need for equal Pre-K education, and much more. Throughout the book Kozol has shown himself to be a strong advocate of equal education and desegregation. The authors strong passion for changing inner city school’s education for the better is shown throughout this book.

Jonathan Kozol is a well credited educator, writer, and activist. He has dedicated his life to bettering the public education in the United States. He earned a well credited education being a graduate of Harvard University. He began his journey as an educator in inner city schools. He spent time in many different communities with poor public education in attempt to find the fix to the inner city school systems. As Kozol's credibility greatened, many schools in need would ask him to come visit and evaluate their problems. Kozol is a native of Boston, MA and is coming on 83 years of age.

Kozol created a very informative book. Although dry and somewhat repetitive at times, I learned a great deal about the corrupt education system that exists in inner cities. The book was very credible as Kozol provided his own unaltered experience working within the public school system. After reading it, it changed my overall outlook on the education system. I also developed my own thoughts and opinions on the matter. I was very surprised on how much the government has given up on inner city education/desegregation. If that big bracket of people were given a better education and chance to succeed, it would benefit our economy drastically in the long run. Sadly, people don't always think that broadly.

In conclusion, The Shame of the Nation successfully articulates the overlooked problems within our country. Kozol’s passion for public education was seen throughout the book as he gave the reader a sense of the unfair treatment children have to endure from such a young age. Everyone should read this book or atleast have an understanding of the concept as it shows a different side of life that many people are privileged enough to not have to live.
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Jun 26, 2020 AllyRose Caruso rated it really liked it

I read this book now—fifteen years after it was published and it makes me angry. It makes me angry because the conditions described and the continuation of school segregation should never have existed. This country has a broken education system and The Shame of the Nation makes that apparent. I am even angrier because I know that not much has changed since this book was published. Until partway through fifth grade, I attended a rather rural school which was incredibly underfunded and even as a f ...more

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Aug 11, 2017 Gabrielle Schwabauer rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2017-challenge

Clear and easy to read, despite the heavy subject matter. He didn't just point out problems; he explored the Why, exposing the underlying systemic deficiencies that perpetuate and exacerbate the problems. I appreciated how thoughtfully he articulated his arguments, and the subject matter deserves deep thoughts. This book helped me to think more critically about the structure of education in the United States, hence the four stars.

I would have liked more concrete, provable information that backe ...more

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Apr 23, 2020 Kate Dadio rated it it was amazing

A must read. Kozol’s explanations of what is going on in our inner city schools is something that all Americans should be aware of. This is hands down the best piece of literature I read in my master’s program.

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Apr 07, 2022 Nina rated it did not like it

If I could give it a zero I would. Thumbs down. Thumbs down. Kozol, trash your white savior complex. Whiteness isn't the solution. Boooooo ...more

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Sep 03, 2019 Kieran C rated it really liked it

Johnathan Kozol’s The Shame of the Nation presents a portrait of present-day educational inequities that is certain to be incredibly intriguing and thought-provoking, especially for those unacquainted with the realities of urban public schools. Kozol examines the physical conditions, teaching, curriculum, and students in urban schools where nearly all of the children are African-American or Hispanic. The book chronicles visits to schools in which students are faced with material deficiencies tha Johnathan Kozol’s The Shame of the Nation presents a portrait of present-day educational inequities that is certain to be incredibly intriguing and thought-provoking, especially for those unacquainted with the realities of urban public schools. Kozol examines the physical conditions, teaching, curriculum, and students in urban schools where nearly all of the children are African-American or Hispanic. The book chronicles visits to schools in which students are faced with material deficiencies that would indisputably be considered an outrage in many wealthier districts. Overcrowded classrooms without enough chairs, lead paint, rat infestations, and other health hazards, and science labs devoid of any supplies all overwhelmingly support Kozol’s assertion that these schools are in no way equal to many of the institutions that white students attend. The book also proceeds to investigate teaching trends, finding that standardized high stakes testing and pressures for schools to improve their test scores have resulted in curriculum and instruction that is so standardized, regimented, and focused on producing tangible results that there is little focus on independent exploration, discovery, or fun. Another especially insightful portion of the book discusses “school-to-work”, an increasingly popular education paradigm in urban schools which mainly views schooling as a method to prepare students for future jobs. Most readers will agree that the practices observed by Kozol in these schools are a far cry from a traditional elementary school education. “Help wanted” signs are posted around many schools, prompting children must “apply” for classroom jobs, students are presented with “earnings charts” which describe how much their academic tasks are “worth”, and students sign “contracts” agreeing to complete their assignments. Kozol reveals that even in high school, “career preparation” tracks are marketed so aggressively that many students abandon their ambitions to take advanced-level coursework.

Kozol received a degree in English literature from Harvard, and, despite having no plans to work in education, was motivated to become a volunteer teacher at a “freedom school” in Boston during the height of the civil rights movement in 1964. He then became a fourth grade teacher in a Boston school, which, like many of the other urban schools chronicled in the book, struggled with antiquated disciplinary practices, physical disrepair, and a low teacher retention rate. After teaching for more than a decade, he began visiting schools in other parts of the nation, noting the gradual changes that occurred as once-integrated school districts increasingly resegregated themselves as the Brown decision was partially dismantled. Since Kozol worked as a teacher in an urban school, he is clearly qualified to discuss the issues present in the schools he’s visited and to make In this way, he effectively distances himself from news media, politicians, or administrators, who might excessively criticize schools or teachers without actually experiencing them firsthand, and demonstrates that he has an intimate understanding of how schools operate and where problems lie. It’s also evident that he has gone to great lengths to deliver objective portraits of the schools he has visited; he emphasizes how he not only observed schools and classes themselves, but also had discussions with students, parents, teachers, and school administrators. This reinforces the notion that Kozol is not simply criticizing schools based on superficial qualities like physical appearance or brief classroom observations, but has rather gone to significant lengths to develop a well-rounded portrait of each school and its surrounding community.

Kozol must be commended for reporting on all these schools in a seemingly objective manner and without excessively sensationalized descriptions often found in news articles describing the “crisis” of America’s education system. However, the reader is left to wonder whether his detailed descriptions of schools’ physical conditions really provide much meaningful insight into students’ experiences. This is not to say that the physical condition of a school has no bearing on the attitudes of the students that attend it, as it certainly does, but when Kozol presents anecdotes about how he observed rats in one school or broken windows in another, it is often unclear how widespread these issues are, and even if he implies that they are widespread, little supporting evidence is presented to reinforce this notion. Kozol’s discussion of teaching and curriculum, on the other hand, is indisputably very effective in demonstrating the vast inequities of America’s education system. The prevalence in inner-city schools of the idea that children are an “investment”, and, if educated properly, can produce a financial return by becoming productive workers, is demonstrated very well. This, along with “school-to-work” curriculum, shows that funding and physical differences aside, urban schools serving primarily black and Hispanic children essentially predetermine the careers of their students by assuming that most students are destined to enter the workforce instead of attending college.

Kozol presents much evidence to support that teachers’ time in urban schools is essentially dominated by regimented learning that seeks to develop skills efficiently and maximize test scores. However, the book falls short of suggesting a method to resolve the issue of “teaching to the test” while still having tests that can be used to measure students’ abilities and performance. At times, Kozol seems to ignore the fact that some sort of test-based quantitative data on students’ academic performance is typically necessary to identify underperforming schools and investigate the effects of changes in curriculum changes. While it is evident that excessive pressure to increase test scores had negative effects on instruction at schools mentioned in the book, the question of how to still measure students’ performance while avoiding these effects is not discussed. It sometimes seems as though Kozol regards segregation of urban schools as the root cause of many of these issues, but it is hard to believe that all testing-related difficulties would cease to exist if urban schools became integrated.

As a high school student who attends a rural public school, I had never experienced firsthand nor even heard about many of the problems described in this book. In history courses that I’ve taken (such as AP US History, for example) the Brown vs. Board of Education ruling is often regarded as a definitive end to school segregation in America, and likewise, there isn’t much discussion of how schools began to turn back towards segregation in subsequent decades. Thus, reading this book was a very eye-opening experience, since I had never truly been aware of the extent of segregation in our modern-day public schools. I also became much more aware of how the media can often misrepresent the problems abound in urban schools by focusing excessively on test scores while ignoring many factors like curriculum and teaching.

Overall, The Shame of the Nation has allowed me to realize how I’ve taken so many aspects of my public school education for granted. The ability to take AP courses, a school building free of health hazards, and a classroom atmosphere that generally prioritizes academic exploration and discovery over strictly regimented skill-based learning are all things which many privileged students might assume are present at all schools, but Kozol demonstrates that this is clearly not the case. Though the book may be somewhat repetitive and generally spends more time exposing problems than discussing potential solutions, it has certainly caused me to feel quite ashamed that in a country that is often presumed to be a beacon of hope and equality, I am lucky enough to enjoy a first-rate public education while minorities in cities are systematically denied the same thing. ...more

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Jun 28, 2014 David rated it liked it

Shelves: non-fiction

This book is a good one, but it is a hard read and as a teacher who sees these issues first hand, it gets my blood boiling.

This book paints the very realistic picture of hour racism plays a huge role in contemporary education and how the powers that be push for it and allow it to thrive while insisting with fervor that the real problem is something totally different and they have the solution (and it includes more testing)

For those who don't live it or see it, Kozol's books are huge eye openers. ...more

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Sep 03, 2019 Alvin Li rated it really liked it

Johnathon Kozol's The Shame of the Nation takes the reader through nearly 60 inner-city public schools devastated by the effects of segregation. He sheds light on the glaring disparities between those institutions and their more rural and white counterparts. These inner-city schools, reminiscent of the apartheid era in South Africa lack support in funding and other resources, and thus put their majority-black or Hispanic students at a major disadvantage to their more priviledged counterparts. Th Johnathon Kozol's The Shame of the Nation takes the reader through nearly 60 inner-city public schools devastated by the effects of segregation. He sheds light on the glaring disparities between those institutions and their more rural and white counterparts. These inner-city schools, reminiscent of the apartheid era in South Africa lack support in funding and other resources, and thus put their majority-black or Hispanic students at a major disadvantage to their more priviledged counterparts. These schools, supposed to be equal with their suburban counterparts, lack money, trained teachers, and even space for the students. Throughout his book, Kozol masterfully uses statistics with personal experiences from his experience as an educator to argue that the Brown vs Board of Education was not the end of the fight against segregation and that the country still has a long journey before its public schools can truly be considered equal.

Throughout the book, Kozol provides numbers that highlight how unequal schools in the United States are. For example, the low graduation rates in New York, as well as the low amount of money spent on students in these inner city schools provide definitive proof that, nearly half a century later, schools are still not equal. Additionally, he points out that these inner city schools are not helpful in preparing students for college, and those that are vocation or career orientated receive less government subsidies. Though his statistics are very convincing, his use of personal experience and anecdotes are most poignant to me. While exploring the flaws in state-mandated testing (they lead to strict and scripted lessons that often fail to engage students), he describes their impact on the students. The testing also stresses the students, as they become separated into different levels, which have become labels in the student body. He also provides a story about a girl that outraged me. Even though she signed up for an AP class, she was put into a sewing class, and she is rebuked by her peers because she is too “ghetto.” Not only have the schools failed this girl, but they have also created a feeling of complacency and inferiority in their students and thus fostered a terribly detritrimental sense of apathy.

Author Jonathon Kozol is an acclaimed author and a prominent education activist. He graduated summa cum laude from Harvard in 1958 with a degree in English literature. After that, he served as a teacher in Boston. However, he was fired after teaching a controversial poem, and then became deeply active in the civil rights movement. He then taught in the Newton Public Schools System until he decided to dedicate more time to activism and writing, drawing on what he saw during his tenure: underfunded schools, undertrained teachers, overcrowding, and underprepared and unmotivated students. During his over forty years of work as a teacher, he saw countless inner-city schools plagued by the same problems, leading him to begin his five year project The Shame of the Nation. This book, and others have been nominated for many awards, including the National Book Award in Science, Philosophy and Religion in 1967, the Robert F. Kennedy Book award and the Conscience-in-Media Award of the American Society of Journalists and Authors in 1989, and the New England Book Award, among others. Kozol has also had two Guggenheim Fellowships, as well as been a fellow of the Rockefeller Foundation, as well as the Field and Ford Foundations. He has established himself as one of the leaders in the fight for equal education in the United States.

Personally, I was captivated by Kozol’s book. His statistics, though repetitive, provide an unignorable call to action while his personal stories, and dry humor captivate the audience. Kozol engages his readers, forcing them to open their eyes towards the massive discrepancies in the school systems. He also does an excellent job of appealing to his reader’s emotions, evoking outrage and sympathy. The Shame of the Nation really opened my eyes towards a massive problem in the United States, one that deserves the utmost attention. The glaring inequalities between schools separated by just 15 minutes goes against the ideal of “every man created equal.” Kozol’s work really helps his audience see past their own socio-economic privilege and into the bleak reality for many minority students.

As an Asian American, the importance of education has been drilled into my head before I could talk, and for good reason. In China, a student’s entire high school career is pretty much dedicated to one big test: the gaokao. This test is the only factor in deciding whether a student will attend college or not, and is the reason why many poor and underprivileged students (like my parents) were able to attend top tier universities in China. However, reading his book, I found myself outraged that this students, whose living conditions were much better than my parents, were being failed by their schools. Before they even had a chance, they were put at a massive disadvantage, which is despicable to me. I also go to a school which, though small, provides me with many opportunities to challenge myself and grow. What the school cannot provide, my parents will no doubt help me with. However, for the students in these inner-city schools, what I have is just another symbol of the ongoing fight for integration. However, that brings up one minor complaint I had while reading this book. Kozol, although not explicitly, makes it clear that he believes integration is the solution to this problem. However, while I agree that it would definitely help, I do not think throwing students of different backgrounds together is the end all be all. I would’ve liked to read more about the steps to take after integration, as I myself am curious as to how to break to deep rooted mindsets of tribalism that are innate in all people. Nonetheless I enjoyed reading Kozol’s book, and I highly recommend it if you would like to look more into the ongoing fight against segregation and inequality.

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Jan 13, 2011 Carly rated it really liked it

Recommended to Carly by: ALL educators and policy makers

Shelves: grad-school, 2011

This is an AMAZING book regarding education in the US. Although written in 2005, I can't say that I have hope that all of the problems he shines light on has suddenly disappeared.

This book challenges the notion that schools are integrated, even though Brown vs Board of Education was....over 60 years ago. In fact, as Kozol finds, if you go to a school named for one of the civil rights leaders that fought for integration and desegregation (Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Jr)...you'll likely find ...more

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