If you're looking for a book that discusses educational disparities in America, Savage Inequalities by Jonathan Kozol is the book you're looking for. Written in 1991, this book addresses the differences in educational achievement between school districts and races. The author argues that these disparities are rooted in systemic racism and environmental racism, and that education must address them head-on. It is an important read for anyone who cares about education.
Jonathan Kozol
Jonathan Kozol's 1991 book Savage Inequalities: Children in America's Schools discusses the education disparities among schools. Kozol argues that educational disparities are caused by poverty, race, and ethnicity. Nonetheless, he does show that there are solutions for these disparities. Despite the book's many flaws, it can still be helpful in understanding the educational disparities in America.
Environment racism
One of the most troubling examples of environmental racism is the way that black children are exposed to higher levels of air pollution than their white counterparts. According to a recent UK government report, black children are exposed to more than 30% of the amount of air pollution as white children. And environmental racism goes beyond a lack of clean air to include poverty, a lack of resources, and environmental injustice. In some cases, environmental racism is so extreme that it actually threatens the lives of children.
Biased curriculum
Jonathan Kozol's book Savage Inequalities highlights the many problems in education that are perpetuated by the social class system. He argues that while schools in more affluent neighborhoods tend to train children for jobs that suit lower-class students, those in poorer communities primarily focus on the needs of upper-class families. The result is that the future of a child is largely determined by the school they attend.
Unequipped, understaffed and underfunded schools
The authors of Savage Inequalities have spent years observing the disparities in education between rich and poor children. Jonathan Kozol compared schools in the poorest and most affluent areas and found many differences. Public schools in areas of high crime have less resources and are not as well equipped as those in affluent areas. These disparities have a disproportionate effect on poor and minority children.
