“The Race Gap”: Why Does it Persist? What Are the Solutions?
Jonathan Kozol
Educational and Economic Reformer
Friday, October 31
9:00 am–10:15 am
Johnathan Kozol, this year’s Special Plenary Speaker, discussed the “eerie silence on inequalities [in education] currently in the press and ruling class.” To a packed room, Kozol outlined the gross inequalities within urban education—the disadvantages of large class-sizes, inexperienced teachers, and lack of pre-K opportunities. He also argued that the damaging effects of virtually total racial isolation, which perpetuates the gap between different racial groups in U.S. public schools.
A memorable example Kozol gave was the fact that Chicago and New York City educate 10% of the U.S. Black male population. Yet, only 40% of males entering the ninth grade in these two cities graduate high school. Kozol attributed the cause of this to “students being locked in a school” where infrastructure and available funding could not meet their needs. He also sited many additional examples that demonstrated how individual needs of minority students are often lost in the “White elite” interests. He contended that there is more segregation than in 1968, the year of Martin Luther King’s passing.
Social workers, Kozol believes, are a key ally in increasing racial sensitivity throughout the education system. Kozol feels that devoted educators have made remarkable breakthroughs in this arena and challenged his audience to increase contributions to integration programs and create models for future solutions.
Kozol is most known for his respected commentary on public education, which has earned many of his scholarly works a New York Times best-seller and a slot on required reading lists at most universities. Some of his books include Savage Inequalities, Amazing Grace, The Shame of the Nation, and Letters to a Young Teacher.