Educational Leaders: Jonathan Kozol

This post covers Jonathan Kozol. You may want to read the introduction to the series; this is the third educational leader explored.

I write about children in first grade who were taught to read by reading want ads. They learned to write by writing job applications. Imagine what would happen if anyone tried to do that to children in a predominantly white suburban school. -Jonathan Kozol

Jonathan Kozol is devoted to telling the stories of children and schools the media and society try to ignore. His teaching experience began in the Boston public school system and later as a substitute teacher. Kozol continues his compassion, as he researches schools and writes about leaking pipes; mold; old, ruined athletic equipment; outdated textbooks; scant school lunches; outside restrooms; and an abandoned skating rink transformed to a school. As importantly, he gives readers vivid images of these young souls: newborns segregated at hospitals; students suffering from asthma, AIDS and malnutrition; and the casualties urban neighborhood life causes. Once Kozol gives readers an unforgettable image of American's neglected, he provides the numbers to support his ideas.

In an interview, Kozol used Chicago and New York as examples. He highlights that these two cities educate 10% of all of the black men in America. "Of the black males who enter ninth grade in those districts, only 40% at best graduate within four years. Comparable statistics for any good suburban district are about 94%, 96%." These numbers lead to one of Kozol's constant questions: who decides which students are deserving of such treatment?


Current Job

Kozol founded and is running "Cambridge Institute for Public Education."


Accomplishments

• Kozol has written a dozen influential books.


• He calls for an integrated public school system where the place of a child's birth does not equal the value of his education. Many believe this should be our country's focus of educational reform.


• His speaking engagements include educational organizations, government sectors, television interviews and colleges.

• Kozol supports mandatory busing from the suburbs to the inner city.


• He calls on the government "to provide equal funding for both public schools in wealthy communities and in poor ones." Communities who support current funding practice (through property taxes) want their money to support their schools.


• He is against vouchers and public funds used for private education. Many think alternative funding will benefit a struggling education system.