Childhood ought to have at least a few entitlements that aren't entangled with utilitarian considerations. One of them should be the right to a degree of unencumbered satisfaction in the sheer delight and goodness of existence in itself. Jonathan Kozol childhoodconsiderationdegree share on social
If you grow up in the South Bronx today or in south-central Los Angeles or Pittsburgh or Philadelphia, you quickly come to understand that you have been set apart and that there's no will in this society to bring you back into the mainstream. Jonathan Kozol angelesbackbring share on social
There has been so much recent talk of progress in the areas of curriculum innovation and textbook revision that few people outside the field of teaching understand how bad most of our elementary school materials still are. Jonathan Kozol areabadcurriculum share on social
Discrimination is alive and soaring. Jonathan Kozol alivediscriminationsoar Change image and share on social
We are now operating a school system in America that's more segregated than at any time since the death of Martin Luther King. Jonathan Kozol americadeathking Change image and share on social
Schooling should not be left to the whim or wealth of village elders. I believe that we should fund all schools in the U.S. with our national resources. All these kids are being educated to be Americans, not citizens of Minneapolis or San Francisco. Jonathan Kozol americancitizeneducate share on social
I emphasize teachers because they are largely left out of the debate. None of the bombastic reports that come from Washington and think tanks telling us what needs to be 'fixed' - I hate such a mechanistic word, as if our schools were automobile engines - ever asks the opinions of teachers. Jonathan Kozol askautomobilebombastic share on social
The ones I pity are the ones who never stick out their neck for something they believe, never know the taste of moral struggle, and never have the thrill of victory. Jonathan Kozol moralneckpity Change image and share on social
A great deal has been written in recent years about the purported lack of motivation in the children of the Negro ghettos. Little in my experience supports this, yet the phrase has been repeated endlessly, and the blame in almost all cases is placed somewhere outside the classroom. Jonathan Kozol blamecasechild share on social
In many of the high schools in the South Bronx, more children will end up in prison than will go to college. Jonathan Kozol bronxchildcollege Change image and share on social