Introduction
How the central argument of Jonathan Kozol’s: ‘A Tale of Two Schools: How Poor Children Are Lost to the World’ essay and the reasons therein can help guide our thinking about similar issues today.
In Jonathan Kozol’s article, the predominant issue being discussed is the vast gaps in the living standards of two groups (Kozol, 142). This is well elaborated using the education system. Whereas all the children have the right to education, the quality of it differs a lot. Those from the rich backgrounds, as argued by Kozol, have the privilege to learn in better equipped schools. New Trier is a good example to this. On the other hand, those who hail from the poor backgrounds find themselves in schools that are not well equipped. Du Sable is the perfect example.
Another point to note is that there is always unfair competition. This is clearly brought out by Kozol in his essay. While students in New Trier have the luxury of modern laboratories, those from Du Sable have to settle in makeshift equipments for their science lessons. Students from New Trier are likely to boast of having a lot of choices, ranging from varied courses and co-curricular activities. In contrast, those from Du Sable lack useful information that can help them achieve their dreams. Their lessons include that of pronunciations without even knowing the meaning of the words. How then can they favourably compete when looking for jobs? There is a big disparity in their trainings. One group is well equipped while the other lacks the basics. They have to rely on unqualified staff. This is mainly due to their differences in their family backgrounds. The social inequality can be blamed for this and the government has not played a key role in ensuring a fair level of competition for all. The current education system should be reviewed.
The students of Du Sable can only hope to join the colleges. However, they are not sure of what should be done to make this possible. Most of them have not filed applications for this. Even so, the only one who had filed neglected to submit the grades and the results of the entrance test. She has to start afresh again if she hopes to make it. This is despite the fact that it is already April and the courses she undertakes do not favour an application for a four-year college. This means that she had prepared herself in an irrelevant field. This is cannot be said about the children who hail from well-to-do families. They get quality and relevant education which can help them later when looking for jobs.
Currently, in the higher education, the playing field is not level to all students. This is despite several attempts in the past decades geared towards making it the same. Admission prices are always high, becoming a hindrance to poor students hoping to join them. This is unfair taking into mind that all children have equal rights. More often than not, celebrities and rich families have the financial muscle to buy places in the best colleges of America for their children. Admissions into the elite universities have also been turned into a system that reinforces privilege and wealth, rather than the expected role of opening up new opportunities. In many cases, selective admissions to the colleges are the norm. Those that are already privileged are preferred. Double standards are always applied. How then do we expect to reduce the gap between the poor and the rich? We need change.
As the author concludes, it must have taken a combination of several factors to allow the public schools in America to get that bad. These schools are often treated as warehouses for the students who are inferior. Political cowardice, racism and greed must have all played a part in this. The argument is that we don’t have children from rich families in such schools. They are always sneaked into the best schools in the country, even with their poor performances. A case in point is the son of Senator Bill Frist. Despite getting the lowest rating expected from the admissions office in Princeton for academic achievement, he was admitted. No explanation is given for this. Havard is not left out either with its empathy towards Al Gore’s and Bill Frist’s undisciplined sons.
The Government has to look into potential reforms that can be available about the admissions policies of colleges. This is necessary if a level playing ground is to be achieved. It is unfair when talented students who are ‘unhooked’ are disadvantaged as pertains to gaining admissions into good colleges, while the less talented counterparts from rich families and alumni legacies are favoured. Admissions should be on purely academic merit. Those from poor families should be considered in situations whereby they cannot afford to raise the school fees. The Government should come to their rescue.
That being said, it is important to conclude that this trend does not happen in all colleges and institutions. Caltech College is a good example for this argument. Despite ranking among America’s standout private colleges, its admissions are based on merit alone. It should be used as an example to all institutions, since all men are equal.
Works Cited
Kozol, Jonathan. Savage Inequalities: Children in America's Schools. New York: Crown Pub, 1991. Print.
