miseducation

there is an increasing disparity between american communities by class, ethnicity, gender, and region. for example, research illustrates the broad impact of household wealth on child health, nutrition and academic achievement. but, gross inequality is especially evident in public education. in fact, education has the single greatest impact on employment and housing.

recent literature documents the increasing segregation of our public schools by race and class. segregation is especially harmful because it leads to substantial disparities in student achievement. in the shame of the nation, jonathan kozol (2005) maintains that rural, suburban, and urban disparities reproduce apartheid segregation. kozol explains that unequal education forcibly limits access and opportunities for students of color. now that's real. . .

research studies consistently report that students of color have increased rates of school absence, school truancy and school dropout compared to white peers. research also demonstrates that aggregate black and latino youths score dramatically below peers in standardized assessments of math, reading and science.

these disparities have significant consequences. for example, a broad gap in secondary academic achievement leads to even larger deficits in postsecondary enrollment. if high school graduates do not continue to associate or bachelor degree programs, they will earn roughly $30,000 less than college graduates. when we connect poor education to income, health care, and housing, we create and reproduce poverty and segregation.

there is a growing crisis in our schools. it is especially devastating because public education has consistently struggled to provide equal education for diverse students. newspaper headlines dating back to the late 19th century and through the entire 20th century document failing schools.

i'll report further on the history of education and current trends in education reform. what do you think about public education?