2024 the best public schools in america review

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NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “An impassioned book, laced with anger and indignation, about how our public education system scorns so many of our children.”—The New York Times Book Review
 
In 1988, Jonathan Kozol set off to spend time with children in the American public education system. For two years, he visited schools in neighborhoods across the country, from Illinois to Washington, D.C., and from New York to San Antonio. He spoke with teachers, principals, superintendents, and, most important, children. What he found was devastating. Not only were schools for rich and poor blatantly unequal, the gulf between the two extremes was widening—and it has widened since. The urban schools he visited were overcrowded and understaffed, and lacked the basic elements of learning—including books and, all too often, classrooms for the students.
 
In Savage Inequalities, Kozol delivers a searing examination of the extremes of wealth and poverty and calls into question the reality of equal opportunity in our nation’s schools.
 
Praise for Savage Inequalities
 
“I was unprepared for the horror and shame I felt. . . . Savage Inequalities is a savage indictment. . . . Everyone should read this important book.”—Robert Wilson, USA Today
 
“Kozol has written a book that must be read by anyone interested in education.”—Elizabeth Duff, Philadelphia Inquirer
 
“The forces of equity have now been joined by a powerful voice. . . . Kozol has written a searing exposé of the extremes of wealth and poverty in America’s school system and the blighting effect on poor children, especially those in cities.”—Emily Mitchell, Time
 
“Easily the most passionate, and certain to be the most passionately debated, book about American education in several years . . . A classic American muckraker with an eloquent prose style, Kozol offers . . . an old-fashioned brand of moral outrage that will affect every reader whose heart has not yet turned to stone.”—Entertainment Weekly

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Crown; Reprint edition (July 24, 2012)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0770435688
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0770435684
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.1 x 0.72 x 8 inches
Reviewer: Tori Adkins
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: This is a must read.
Review: Savage Inequalities is probably one of the most riveting books about the haves versus the have nots. It is direct in its first hand accounts of students such as those in East St Louis who have been red lined right to the bread lines. Corporations have squeezed that area to the point that they cannot even afford toilet paper for their restrooms.filled with anger, frustration and indignation,and hopelessness, the book outlines chapter by chapter, each horrific situation one right after another form New York city to sunny California and even in the heartland of America where these types of situations are usually swept under the rug using the “Midwestern nice” narrative and agenda. It highlights how our school district fails our students but also exposes the sinister underbelly of the extremes and disparities between wealthy districts and poverty- stricken districts. Hearing a girl in the book say that teenage pregnancy is the only way out of the system is both maddening and utterly tragic. Reading that students in Chicago’s poorest schools, if they are able to even graduate, are not prepared for the rigor of the college or university setting is absolutely astounding. Jonathan Kozol encapsulates the struggles of these students, the hopelessness that they feel and society’s inability or apathy regarding doing something about it.This is a must read, but be prepared to feel extremely guilty about the inadequacies that are starkly narrated within each story. Be prepared to see how large districts allocate money inappropriately or inequitably. Be prepared to read about schools in New York with less than half the funding of other schools in their district, a student body of 1300 where only 900 should be housed and 5th grade class sizes of 35 or more students. The real tragedy is that the losers in this scenario are not only the teachers and communities, but more importantly, the students. How do we look these students in their innocent little eyes and say that we are providing an equitable education? It is not a wonderful book. It is a tragedy that is eloquently written to absolutely expose so many of the things wrong with education in America. It was written in 1991, and sadly, not much has changed in the past 30 years. Unfortunately, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Every time school finance reform has come to the table, it is repackaged to look pretty but not address the pink elephant in the room. So students in high poverty areas still go without the basics of a fundamental education. And we are wondering why reading levels are 2 and 3 grades below their given grade? We wonder why so many schools have drop out rates starting in 6th and 7th grade. Kudos to Jonathan Kozol for having the courage to pull the ugly truth out from under the proverbial rug. His last chapters talk about how the problems come about and ways we could strive for equity. This is a must read.

Reviewer: Amazon Customer
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Really good book!
Review: I really enjoyed this book. Purchased this for schools for my Bachelor program in education. It's very informative and interesting. I highly recommend it

Reviewer: Heidi Ganshert
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: An essential read, especially for educators
Review: Although written in 1991 this book has numerous parallels to our current education system, with the future of the American education system in the balance. The accounts witnessed firsthand by Kozul in East St. Louis, New York, and Chicago is not only deplorable but almost inconceivable. The fact that children are going to schools without heat, food, and books, to name only a few issues needs to be brought to the forefront of conversations surrounding education. In reading this book it is evident that most of the children in these environments are unable to escape their circumstances and without an education fare an even less chance of beating the system. Kozul brings to light the most despicable aspect of the entire situation, the unwillingness of those with money, power, and influence to do anything to change the conditions of so many American schools. Even though we are living in a world much different from when Kozul wrote this book, America still has school systems that are operating under the same conditions that are thought-provokingly explained.

Reviewer: Ashley M.
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Savage Inequalities
Review: Jonathan Kozol's Savage Inequalities (1991) reveals drastic differences in America’s public schools, showing how race and poverty impact education. Based on his firsthand experiences, Kozol compares underfunded urban schools, where students deal with overcrowding and unsafe conditions, to wealthy suburban schools with better facilities and resources. He highlights how many Black and Latino students are stuck in failing schools, which keeps them in poverty. Kozol’s writing calls for urgent changes to fix these inequalities, making it a must-read for anyone interested in education and social justice.Kozol’s interviews with students, teachers, and administrators highlight the moral importance of addressing these inequities, which he argues are a direct result of systemic racism and the unequal distribution of public funds.This book was an emotional read. It was hard to read this story without feeling heartbroken. Even thirty-three years later, in 2024, these inequalities continue to exist in our public school systems. Students of color and those from low-income backgrounds still attend underfunded schools, where teachers may be underqualified, high-quality instructional resources and supports are lacking, and many buildings remain unsafe, contributing to lower student academic achievement.Race and wealth should not determine a child’s educational opportunities. Our public school system as a whole in the United States must come together to do better for every student. Kozol's book is just as relevant today as it was when it was first written, and it's a reminder that education reform is more critical than ever if we are to truly create an equitable future for all.While the book may not present a roadmap for reform, its depiction of injustice continues to inspire actions aimed at achieving educational equity in the United States.

Reviewer: Amazon Customer
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Gift
Review: Granddaughter loves it for her class

Reviewer: CThomas
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Savage Inequalities: My opinon
Review: Jonathan Kozol did an outstanding job writing this book. The information in this book is appalling and I couldn't believe that America would allow innocent children to be victims of such deplorable conditions in the inner-city school. It's truly sick that there are wealthy people who look down on innocent children because of their race, that they don't want their own children to attend schools with them. This book leaves you frustrated, shocked, and baffled at what these poor children have to endure. I think all colleges and even high schools should require students to read this. Especially for the kids who take school for granted and think it's a joke. Although the book has content that will leave a person feeling helpless, it's a real eye-opener.