Question

In his book, Savage Inequalities, former teacher Jonathan Kozol conducted an ethnography of public schools in major cities across the United States. According to his study, how do schools reinforce inequality?

Answer 1

Answer: by using local property taxes to fund public schools, trapping poor children in poor schools

Explanation: Jonathan Kozol is an American writer, educator, and activist best known for his publications on public education in the United States. In savage inequalities, Kozol pointed out how students from poor family background are trapped in poorly funded schools since public school funding comes from local property taxes which vary widely between communities.

The basis of Kozol's argument is the comparisons between rich and poor school districts, in particular the amount of money spent per child. School districts with relatively wealthy property-owners are spending over $20,000 per year per child while school districts where poor people live spend about $11,000 per year per child.

The pertinent question he asks is whether it is fair or right that the place of one's birth or residence should determine the quality of education a child is entitled to.