Quotes taken from Kozol Ch. 5, Spring Ch. 5, and Anthology Ch. 5&6

Quote 1- "So long as knowledge is considered something like a dot upon a map and learning is considered an assault upon that knowledge (invasion of the subject matter, followed by its capture), then it's hard to quarrel with the model that the CEO had used."(Kozol, p. 111)


This quote referred to the title of the chapter, The Road to Rome, an used a military metaphor to show how students need to be drilled rapidly in order to force the march of students to "Rome," or success/learning.  I found this quote to be quite disturbing.  I understand they are explaining the drilling of standardized testing to the path of success, but I feel offended that they need to use a military metaphor to explain the plan for teaching.  It doesn't seem right to me and the education process.  I understand we need to push hard with practicing for these standardized tests in order for students to succeed, but not through "military training."

Quote 2- "The children were told, she said, that "it's not just 'important' that they pass," but that "passing this-the test- is actually the only thing that is important.  One of her students "was throwing up and crying, so she couldn't take her test, because she was afraid she'd never be allowed to leave the school because she'd never pass the state exam."(Kozol, p. 113)


Talk about making a child so nervous that he/she is set up to fail.  Students shouldn't be scared to death about a standardized test, but rather should be encouraged to practice and try their best.  Scaring a child about a test and telling them that it is the most important thing in their life makes them even more nervous.  I remember growing up, there being plenty of practice before actually taking the test. This gave children some experience and practice for the certain test they are taking.  We must give our students some warm up and even a taste of what the test is going to be like, in order to give them the possibility for success.

Quote 3- "One of the distorting consequences that is taking an especially high toll on children of minorities, she notes, is the increasing practice of compelling children to repeat a grade or several grades over the course of years solely on the basis of their test results and, in some districts, almost wholly independent of the judgement of their principals and teachers." (Kozol, p. 117)


How can one test, one teacher, or one principal singly decide the success of a child?  If a child doesn't pass the test they shouldn't be held back.  I feel as if some school districts jump quickly to having a child stay back because of the fact that they didn't pass a standardized test.  I understand that standardized testing is important to schools and districts, but must they decide if a child moves on or not.  Maybe one of these children had a bad day or was under the weather, should this decide if they fail?

Quote 4- "We are giving kids less and calling it more," "limiting what we teach" to what " we can easily measure," pushing our students "to focus on memorizing information, then regurgitating fact,"  The student's job, he said, should not be only "to absorb information, but to make connections, find new patterns, imagine new possibilities..."  But imagination and inquiry are "not a big item" in the testing and accountability agenda, he went on.  "Choosing the right answer to someone else's question is what counts." (Kozol, p. 131)


Wow!  I loved the fact that this quote was included in Kozol's novel.  This quote still seems so true in some districts even though it was stated by Dr. Sobol in the mid 90's.  Many districts are still having students memorize information and having them regurgitate it word for word.  How can we expect students to do this and actually enjoy what they are learning and encourage them to keep coming to school?  I loved the three words in the middle of the quote, "imagine the possibilities..."  Amazing is all I have to say.  Let students imagine the possibilities and dream big.  Have them make connections and find new patterns.  Make sure they are thinking critically and using real world situations.  This will make your children want to come to school as well as maximizing their learning.

Quote 5- "An important understanding in multicultural education is that people can be bicultural in knowing and viewing the world.  This is particularly important for understanding the learning processes of students who have recently arrived in the United States." (Spring, p. 120)


I enjoyed reading this quote because it told us how important it is to understand multicultural education and how people are bicultural in knowing and viewing the rest of the world.  As a society we need to be open to others' views and lives.  This quote makes me relate it to ELL and how they need support when they first arrive in the U.S.. Especially in the education system, we need to be supportive and open to their diversity.  At the same time, we must help them adapt to our society, the way of life, and in the classroom.

Quote 6- "Anti-Bias Curriculum Tools for Empowering Young Children.  This curriculum and related methods of instruction are designed to reduce prejudice among young children regarding race, language, gender, and physical ability differences." (Spring, p. 129)


I was very informed by this quote and portion of the chapter on teaching about racism.  I liked seeing that there exists curriculums that help children learn about these prejudices and how to reduce the bias against others.  We need to teach children that everyone should be treated equally, no matter who they are or what they look like.  Everyone is different in their own way and these differences should be celebrated rather than judged!