Ashley Jackson
2/23/10
TED 3380

The Shame of the Nation: Essay 1

Dear President Obama,

After reading Jonathan Kozol’s book entitled The Shame of the Nation, I am shocked and cannot believe that the United States has let our public schools become so bad. School should be a place where children can come and learn and have fun. School for some children is supposed to be a safe haven away from the pressures and hurts at home. Why is it that our public schools are still segregated and run down? Kozol paints a brutal picture into our heads and after reading this book something needs to be done.

Jonathan Kozol wants his readers to remember how terrible schools are and not every child goes to a nice, wonderful, and clean school. Kozol talks about some very low income schools and all of the terrible learning styles the students have to deal with. On page 43 he says, “During the 1900s, physical conditions in some buildings had become so dangerous that a principle at one Bronx school, which had been condemned in 1989 but nonetheless continued to be used, was forced to order that the building’s windows not be cleaned because the frames were rotted and glass panes were falling in the street, while at another school the principal had to have the windows bolted shut for the same reason. These were not years of economic crisis in New York. This was a period in which financial markets soared and a new generation of free-spending millionaires and billionaires was widely celebrated by the press and on TV; but none of the proceeds of this period of economic growth had found their way into the schools that served the truly poor.” It is heartbreaking to think about all the people in the world that could easily afford to help these kinds of schools all over the world and nothing is being done. In my opinion, the primary thesis of The Shame of the Nation is that there are some terrible schools and neighborhoods that need so much help. People need to stop living their lives not knowing or caring about people who live and go to school in low income areas every day. Kozol talks about how America can afford to help these low income schools but chooses not to.

I support Kozol’s claims of “Apartheid Schooling” in the U.S. and think that there needs to be numerous changes done so that schools are not still segregated. On page 15, an African American girl in one of the low income schools says, “What’s it like…Over there-where other people are.” This girl is asking what it is like over where the white people live. She lives only a few minutes away and has no clue what life is like where the white people live. How can America still be like this today after apparently desegregating schools years ago?

I agree with every issue Kozol talks about in his book. Whether it is that there are segregated, worn-down schools or that there are programs put into place to help schools but nothing is really ever done. Every child deserves to go to a great school that will teach them correctly and everything they should learn about.

In order for these schools to become better there needs to be a lot of changes done to our public schools. The teachers in these schools can make the biggest differences. Every teacher should be adequately certified to teach and be a positive and motivating person. He or she should want to change this problem and do all that he or she can to help these children. We must always try to help each and every individual child and make sure that they are in an encouraging environment. Every student in a teacher’s classroom is worth so much. Not only can teachers make a difference, but the programs and organizations we put into place. Instead of making a program and not following through or really trying to help we need to actually make a change and follow through with what we put into place. Every person needs to be active and give all they can to helping these schools.

In conclusion President Obama, we have the opportunity to have great schools where every child feels welcome and loves coming to them. We cannot stand by any longer and watch as our public schools keep being segregated and falling apart.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
Ashley Jackson