I once made a check of all books in my fourth-grade classroom. Of the slightly more than six hundred books, almost one quarter had been published prior to the bombing of Hiroshima; 60 percent were either ten years old or older. Jonathan Kozol bombbookcheck share on social
It is a commonplace by now to say that the urban school systems of America contain a higher percentage of Negro children each year. Jonathan Kozol americachildcommonplace Change image and share on social
But for the children of the poorest people we're stripping the curriculum, removing the arts and music, and drilling the children into useful labor. We're not valuing a child for the time in which she actually is a child. Jonathan Kozol artchildcurriculum share on social
I think a moment of critical energy has suddenly emerged. But moments like this come and go unless we seize them at their height. Jonathan Kozol criticalemergeenergy Change image and share on social
The fact that a crime might have been committed with impunity in the past may make it seem more familiar and less gruesome, but surely does not give it any greater legitimacy. Jonathan Kozol commitcrimefact Change image and share on social
Our political establishment refuses to use the word 'segregated.' They call the schools diverse, which means half black, half Hispanic, and maybe two white kids and three Asians. 'Diverse' has become a synonym for 'segregated.' Jonathan Kozol asianblackcall share on social
It is our nation which is blind, and needs our prayers. Jonathan Kozol blindnationprayer Change image and share on social
In schools with a history of chaos, the teacher who can keep the classroom calm becomes virtually indispensable. Jonathan Kozol calmchaosclassroom Change image and share on social
The inequalities are greater now than in '92. Some states have equalized per-pupil spending but they set the 'equal level' very low, so that wealthy districts simply raise extra money privately. Jonathan Kozol districtequalequalize Change image and 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
