A Wel-rounded Perspective of Jonathan Kozol's "Savage Inequalities"

This article, "Savage Inequalities", by Jonathan Kozol presents an extremely controversial issue. Educational Inequality is a familiar topic in most sociologists' and ordinary citizens' thoughts and conversations. Some people, most likely those who are subject to the effects of the inequality, are activists who are trying to boost equality for children in our educational system. Many others, however, are not directly affected by the social inequalities that so pervade out society. These people, subsequently, cannot grasp the idea that thousands of children are deprived of most, if not all, of the things that we take for granted. Jonathan Kozol traveled around the country and visited and observed schools in poor, middle-class, and rich communities. He found that many schools that don't receive substantial funding from their tax district lacked many of the essential tools and resources that most sufficiently funded schools thrive on, therefore putting many children at an enormous disadvantage.

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Kozol's article is about two very different school systems in seemingly opposite worlds, although both in the United States. First, he observed the Martin Luther King Junior High School and The Jefferson School in East St. Louis. This small, decrepit city is overwhelmed with sewage overflows that have crept into the schools shutting them down from time to time. The majority of teachers and maintenance crews have been laid off here due to a lack in funding because the city is so poor and taxes do not produce enough money to maintain the schools. Many students here are well aware of their inferior position to students living in better areas that can afford to provide a good education. Those who have class-consciousness, however, feel powerless in making changes and accept their realities. Young women become pregnant because they know that there is not much else in store for...