Jonathan Kozol on the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., poverty and class size
Every year on Martin Luther King Jr. birthday, I try to honor this man’s great memory on this blog. Today I watched Obama’s inauguration; he gave a great speech, particularly on issues like climate change, and probably the most progressive since he was elected; except for a gaping hole when it comes to education.
During the last campaign, Obama spoke about cuts to public schools and the need to reduce rising class sizes; yet this wasn’t mentioned today. All he said today about education was the vague need to “harness new ideas…to reform schools” and hire more “science and math teachers.”
I suppose it could have been worse; he could have pushed Race to the Top and charters, but it is not wholly satisfying when we see how our public education is being decimated by
During the last campaign, Obama spoke about cuts to public schools and the need to reduce rising class sizes; yet this wasn’t mentioned today. All he said today about education was the vague need to “harness new ideas…to reform schools” and hire more “science and math teachers.” I suppose it could have been worse; he could have pushed Race to the Top and charters, but it is not wholly satisfying when we see how our public education is being decimated by