Erik Burke's Reviews > Savage Inequalities: Children in America's Schools

I read this book in junior year in highschool in tandem with Huckleberry Finn, and I remember that during a Socratic Circle presentation, I began my opening argument by asking the class what they thought would happen if Huck's Father and Jonathan Kozol were locked in a room together.

This is a very harrowing read, and I'd argue a necessary one for those seeking a career in education in the United States. My main problem with it is that it tends to devolve into tragedy porn, and while I'm certainly not arguing the fact that some students have it immeasurably harder than others, it can't ALL be doom and gloom. Kozol tends to revel in the failures, and not enough in the successes. I understand WHY he did this, but the way he presents the problems of race and inner city schools, it seems insurmountable and very defeatist. Still a good read, though.