A National Horror Hidden in Plain View: Why Not a National Response?

The following quotes are taken from The Shame of the Nation, by Jonathan Kozol.

“Racist beliefs are so profound and the supportive structures have now been in place so long that an upheaval like the one we lived through 40 years ago, it leaves the nation exhausted with a huge desire not to be obligated to think of it again. And yet, the nation must be asked to think of it again.” Chapter 10, Page 240.

It is true, the American Society needs to take a step back and look at the inequality in school systems. People want to ignore this issue because they do not want to have to deal with the stress and time it is going to take to fix our segregated schools. In, today’s world everyone is wrapped up in media, technology, and themselves that they do not realize how much some people are suffering. Do Americans not care about the inequality of schools systems or do they just have no knowledge of it? Do we have to have an upheaval to fix this problem or is there a way to come up with a peaceful solution?

“The inequitable distribution of resources between districts is often equally pervasive within the district. This is because most districts simply give their schools the money that they need to pay the teachers they are able to employ. Since high-poverty schools tend to employ a disproportionate number of inexperience, low-paid teachers, these schools end up getting much less money per student than do schools in wealthier communities of the same district.” Chapter 10, Page 247.

I am not sure how I feel about this quote. Yes, I think that certified teachers should get paid more because they have proper training, but is it fair to lower the funding of the high-poverty school when they need the money for resources more? Why can’t both schools receive the same amount of money but use it in different ways. The wealthier districts can pay the teachers more, while the poverty schools pay teachers less can use the left over money to buy resources for the school or be used towards the “per child” fund. I do not know if this would work in a real world setting, however it is fair and both schools are getting the same amount of money.

“Attorneys have been asked to renounce the goal of fully equal education and to ask the courts to give poor children not the same high level of resources offered by the wealthiest white districts but merely sufficient funding to achieve the standards now demanded of them by the state.” Chapter 10, Page 247.

This quote is clear evidence that children are not getting an equal education. Why should any student or school system have to suffer with a “sufficient amount of funding” when a few miles away a wealthier school district is able to have a high level of resources? I don’t think anyone should have to settle. We are supposed to be the nation with opportunity, but instead we are teaching students to settle. 

“It has taken over 30 years of litigation to achieve a genuinely substantial victory for children in poor districts in New Jersey. In Ohio more than a decade since a suit was filed to achieve a similar objective, courts have now determined four times that the system of schools finance is in violation of the constitution of that state and still the governor and legislature have defined these rulings with impunity.” Chapter 10, Page 254.

Why is does it taking for so long for courts to determine the inequality of funding in school systems? How is it possible that the school in Ohio be dismissed four times, but yet the state and governor still think it is fair? I do not understand why the state is not moving faster to help these schools in poverty, any amount money or funding would help students but it needs to be done at a quicker pace. Each school should not have to go through a 30 year process.

“Even when attorneys do try to reach out beyond the courts to build political support, it has been very hard to build a movement of dynamics national importance out of adequacy claims in a variety of separate states. Adequacy itself, as a political objective is hardly a heart-stopping and exalted cry to battle.” Chapter 10, Page 258.

I think that it is hard for people to talk about the segregated and inequality in schools because it bring up a lot of emotions from past events in our history. Another reason why people might not agree with this issue is because people have different opinions on what adequacy is. This quote connects to the first because some people to do not want to have an “upheaval” because they are comfortable with their status and lives, meaning the white privileged. Building a movement takes a lot of time and effort, and with the evidence from Kozol’s book one is needed to eliminate inequality in schools. I believe that if small movements started then joined together it could create a big impact on our nation.

“Whatever damage segregation might or might not do, the premise of our case is that the state and city can provide sufficient resources so that students in a school even if that school is segregated can achieve a respectable level of success.” Chapter 10, Page 259.

I think that everything in the state and federal government’s power should be in helping the equality of education for all. There is no reason why we should have segregated schools, inequality, and racism. All students should have the same amount of resources available and if this is not possible then schools should be able to share with each other. Wouldn’t this be a perfect school system if it were to actually happen? I believe that one day our school systems will be equal and segregation will be gone, but it going to take time and a lot of pressure on the government.