The Shame of the Nation: The Restoration of Apartheid Schooling in America

In The Shame of the Nation, Kozol prioritizes speaking to children and shares many of their stories. How does this affect the narrative and the persuasiveness of the text?

Describe your own elementary and secondary educational experience. Did reading The Shame of the Nation reveal any advantages or disadvantages of which you were aware?

Kozol has written many books about the intersection of poverty, race, and educational opportunities. Compare The Shame of the Nation to one of Kozol’s other books. How does this text help to further his exploration of race and education in the United States?

Why is Kozol so passionate about the education of inner-city children?

Kozol argues that many Americans are unaware of the extent of segregation in American public schools. Do you agree? Why or why not? What surprised you most when reading The Shame of the Nation?

Kozol quotes different education advocates who claim that a “political movement” is necessary to change public schooling in the United States. Why is this necessary, and why would it be difficult, as Kozol and others claim?

How might segregated education affect the United States’ democracy?

Why are there such stark pedagogical differences between urban and suburban schools? What does this say about how their respective students are viewed?