Sean Kershaw's Weblog
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December 22, 2006
Is Jonathan Kozol Really Helping Public Education?
I was facinated and angered listening to the reply of Jonathan Kozol's speech at Carleton College last year. Here's a link. I have a hard time identifying why it provoked such a reaction.
* His basis for concern. He seems to be more concerned about racial segregation than the fact that these kids aren't learning. And while I agree that public education is in big trouble, I'm not ready to believe that the public doesn't care, which he implies. Our MAP 150 survey shows they care a lot -- and know that the system is busted.
* His basis in research. He emphasizes his research on how schools are becoming more segregated, which I will assume is rigorous and accurate, but then seems to forget about this rigor when it comes to causal contributors to poor academic performance. My bottom line is how these students are doing from a civic and academic standpoint. The research around "what works" in schools doesn't seem of interest to him. If it was, I think he'd have to do more than talk about buildings and money. The impact of teacher's unions and contracts on new teachers? The need for new types of schools and curricular approaches? The role of parents? Crickets.
* His motivation. If he's interested in raising the blood pressure of mostly-well-off students at an elite higher ed institution, then he deserves an A+. I was one of these students. But if he's really interested in solving the problem, then his self-righteous and condescending tone teach bad politics and bad policy. He should know better.
* My point. If Kozol sparks a conversation about the fact that we really aren't moving forward as a nation in public education, and that the outcomes for this are unjust, undemocratic and hurt our self-interest in the long-term, then I'm all for his role. If his point is to sit in an education institution that has a $30 billion dollar endowment, in a community that is in need of education improvements at every level -- and act like "the problem" is out there somewhere else and he's just a victim and an agitator -- then I'm shutting off the radio next time. Me thinks he doth protest too much.
Posted by Sean Kershaw at December 22, 2006 5:37 AM