Oct 08 2007
Jonathan Kozol’s “Letters to a Young Teacher”
As half of new teachers are likely to quit within the first five years on job, Jonathan Kozol has written a new book of letters to a first year teacher. The semi-fictionalized “Francesca,” based on young educators who have written to Kozol over the years, is a new first-grade teacher in an inner city public school in Boston. Through a series of sixteen letters, Kozol offers his advice on the challenges and joys of teaching within an apartheid school system in the United States. In “Letters to a Young Teacher,” Kozol also goes to core issues effecting public education by discussing No Child Left Behind, school vouchers and excessive testing standards. The long-time educational advocate who started the new non-profit “Education Action,” has protested No Child Left Behind, by going on a liquid diet fast. Jonathan Kozol first began working with children in inner city schools more than forty year ago. In that time, he has also authored numerous books including Death at an Early Age, The Shame of the Nation and Savage Inequalities. People’s historian Howard Zinn has said of Kozol’s latest work that “teachers, students, parents alike will find this book inspiring.”
Event Details:
Letters to a Young Teacher
A discussion and book-signing with Jonathan Kozol
Standing Up, Speaking Out, Fighting Back in the Era of Privatization
Tues October 9th, 6:30pm,
Immanuel Presbyterian Church (across from UTLA)
3300 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles
One Response to “Jonathan Kozol’s “Letters to a Young Teacher””
Using the schools to divide our nation based on race and status is criminal. Not teaching the truth to our children condemns us to repeat our historic mistakes again and again. It certainly isn’t surprising when you look at the use of schools to civilize the native American children. Oh, and let’s not forget that W’S brother is hawking computerized educational software.