Death at an Early Age: The Classic Indictment of Inner-City Education (National Book Award Winner)

by Jonathan Kozol

Book Overview

WINNER OF THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD

In 1964, Jonathan Kozol entered the Boston Public School system to teach fourth grade at one of its most overcrowded inner-city schools. Here, he unflinchingly exposes the disturbing "destruction of hearts and minds in the Boston public school." Death at an Early Age is the unsparing, heart-wrenching account of the year he spent there--the most shocking and powerful personal story ever told by...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0452262925
• ISBN13: 9780452262928
• Release Date: October 1985
• Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
• Length: 274 Pages
• Weight: 0.56 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.4" x 7.9"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 12 and higher

Customer Reviews

Don't Read This Book!

If you do not want to consider the injustice of schooling in America, not just public schooling, do not read this book. I first read it when I was a beginning teacher and "Death at an Early Age" affected my entire 32 year teaching career. In the age of "No Child Left Behind," we refuse to realize that school reflects the entire society in which we live. The PURPOSE of education is no longer (if it ever was) to give every child a fair chance. Education is the first of many sorting systems to make sure that nobody escapes the social class into which they are born. Because school is competitive, every "concerned parent" with the resources to do it makes sure that their own child gets an extra edge, even if all children were getting the same education at school. If you read this book, it might infect you with the desire to make sure that, not only is "No Child Left Behind," but that every child really has a fair chance. You might start trying to make sure that every child can learn and grow to be the adult he/she could be if born to the wealthiest family in America. Teaching under the influence of this book could become an endless struggle to address the inequities of this world.

Excellent Account of Inequalities

This book, i havent read it all, i just started today, made me sick when i read the first couple of chapters. I knew that there were things that were horrific in the public school system. this was a good account of the racism and unequalness in the system. i admire kozol as he is an activist in this part of politics. read this book and his other savage inequalities, both are heartwreching but truthfull.

A Book to Expose Injustice and Incite Social Action

Jonathan Kozol cleaverly exposes the horrors of the Boston Public School system with various accounts from co-workers, public school administrators, and students. Kozol's powerful expose on the blatant racism and socio-economic discrimination helped to bring attention to the effects of segregtion in schools. It also helped to convince public schools to intergrate their institutions so a great education can be provided to all children, regardless of race or ability. Unfortunately the problems dealt with in this book are still an issue and are far from being solved. But the words in this book are powerful enough to incite other individuals like ourselves to become involved in this issue and take action. Highly Recommended

powerful statement about education

This is a wonderful book for anyone interested in education, children, learning, or human rights issues. Kozol describes the horrible treatement of mostly black children in the 1960's Boston public schools. This book is by no means outdated, as I believe that schools continue to reinforce gender and racial stereotypes and squelch a child's natural love for learning.

Well written and is very relevant today

I started reading this book with little interest. However, I found interest in the book and it is one that should be read. There is no doubt that we often had two groups of individuals in this society. However, many assumed that it was just in the south. However, this is not the south. However, even today we do not keep up our school buildings. The issue today is not necessarily desegragation but one of making sure that our school buildings will last into the next century and that we can educate future generations. Therefore, reading this book is very relevant today when we have disregarded some of our school buildings and do not care what condition a child is educated in.