When I was teaching in the 1960s in Boston, there was a great deal of hope in the air. Martin Luther King Jr. was alive, Malcolm X was alive; great, great leaders were emerging from the southern freedom movement.

Quote by Jonathan Kozol

Topics: Jonathan Kozol Quotes

The greatest difference between now and 1964, when I began teaching, is that public policy...

The greatest difference between now and 1964, when I began teaching, is that public policy...

The ones I pity are the ones who never stick out their neck for something...

The ones I pity are the ones who never stick out their neck for something...

If we allow public funds to be used to support our relatively benign, morally grounded...

If we allow public funds to be used to support our relatively benign, morally grounded...

Many of those who argue for vouchers say that they simply want to use competition...

Many of those who argue for vouchers say that they simply want to use competition...

You need massive recruitment to tell the poorest of the poor what is possible.

You need massive recruitment to tell the poorest of the poor what is possible.

Pick battles big enough to matter, small enough to win.

Pick battles big enough to matter, small enough to win.

Even if you never do anything about this, you've benefited from an unjust system. You're...

Even if you never do anything about this, you've benefited from an unjust system. You're...

Instead of seeing these children for the blessings that they are, we are measuring them...

Instead of seeing these children for the blessings that they are, we are measuring them...

So long as these kinds of inequalities persist, all of us who are given expensive...

So long as these kinds of inequalities persist, all of us who are given expensive...

Children are not simply commodities to be herded into line and trained for the jobs...

Children are not simply commodities to be herded into line and trained for the jobs...

The primary victims of Katrina, those who were given the least help by the government,...

The primary victims of Katrina, those who were given the least help by the government,...

In the book, I write about children in first grade who were taught to read...

In the book, I write about children in first grade who were taught to read...

I'd love to go back and teach primary school. I used to teach fourth grade...

I'd love to go back and teach primary school. I used to teach fourth grade...

I am opposed to the use of public funds for private education.

I am opposed to the use of public funds for private education.

Apartheid does not happen spontaneously, like bad weather conditions.

Apartheid does not happen spontaneously, like bad weather conditions.

But for the children of the poorest people we're stripping the curriculum, removing the arts...

But for the children of the poorest people we're stripping the curriculum, removing the arts...

At that time, I had recently finished a book called Amazing Grace, which many people...

At that time, I had recently finished a book called Amazing Grace, which many people...

During the decades after Brown v. Board of Education there was terrific progress. Tens of...

During the decades after Brown v. Board of Education there was terrific progress. Tens of...

I think a lot of people don't have any idea of how deeply segregated our...

I think a lot of people don't have any idea of how deeply segregated our...

What I tell these young people is, the world is not as dangerous as the...

What I tell these young people is, the world is not as dangerous as the...