Invitations to Resistance- Jonathan Kozol Chapter 9

Quote 1- "Like many teachers I have met in similarly segregated schools over the past ten years, they taught apartheid's children but they had not given up their condemnation of apartheid and its consequences."(Kozol, p. 216)

I liked how Kozol used the term apartheid's children.  It made me think of how these children must've felt being in schools back in the day.  What was it like to teach these children?  How was your life like as a teacher in a segregated school?  I wish I could have an interview with one of these teachers to ask them about their experiences.  I feel by understanding these teachers and students, we can maybe better our own problems today.

Quote 2- "American has never made progress on racial issues unless there was enough agitation to force society to take action.  Honor among privileged blacks and whites alike, he said depends on rediscovering our commitment to treating all children fairly.  If it takes new turmoil to bring that about, that is a price we should be willing to pay."(Kozol, p. 216-217)

This is a quote that Kozol got from Jack White in Time magazine.  I really enjoyed this quote because I feel it is something that needs to happen in order for everyone to live as one.  In order for this to happen, we must make a commitment as a whole to end this inequality and racism.  He is right about the fact that it may take some turmoil in order for things to turn about and start on a new "foot."  I hope someday we can find a way to deal with our racial issues in society.

Quote 3- "Inspire students to take action on their own convictions and to understand the moral, political and symbolic landscape of our city."(Kozol, p. 219)

We, as teachers, need to inspire our students not only to become great learners, but to make our world a better place.  We need to teach them how they can do this especially by starting at a young age.  It is not our objective to brainwash them with our own morals and ideas, but rather help them and lead them to obtain their own.  We can teach them what is morally correct, different political issues, and how to help our surrounding community.  By inspiring our students, we can form relationships and create a positive learning environment.

Quote 4- "But if there is ever to be another major struggle in this nation to confront not only pedagogies targeted exclusively at children of apartheid, but apartheid in itself, we may hope that educators such as these will have a role in leading it."(Kozol, p. 221)

This quote most nearly means that we as teachers can be the next to change our nation and lead our country towards the right direction.  We need to be leaders not only in our own lives, but in the lives of our students.  These students need to see us as positive role models.  We need to create the future leaders of America and by being a good role model, we can hope for the inspirational students we have formed.

Quote 5- "A political movement is a necessary answer.  We cannot look to the courts to do it in the present age.  We cannot look to the two political parties, the Republicans and Democrats, to do it.  We need to reach out to a broader sector of the nation to initiate a struggle."(Kozol, p. 222)

I feel this is a great quote to get us started in the right direction.  We need a push from the "broader sector" of our nation to start us off and get us over this struggle we are going through.  Something needs to happen!  Rather than having all this talking about what can be done, some form of action needs to take place.  Why hasn't something big happened?  I understand that we cannot rely on political leaders to help us through this struggle or to jump start our nation again.  We, as a whole group of people who care, need to come together and try and figure out something to help us lead an easier and equal life.

Quote 6- "Choice, left to itself, will increase stratification.  Nothing in the way choice systems actually work favors class or racial integration."(Kozol, p. 225)

This was a quote said by Gary Orfield.  This quote made me angry because I feel that many people should have choice in whatever they do.  They should have a choice at what school to go to, what job to take, what house and neighborhood to live in.  This choice system that Orfield talks about sounds very unreal.  Is he right, do choice systems actually favor class and help with racial integration?  I would hope so, but have not seen anything come into play that would verify that these choice systems work.  I guess we must find other ways to help with our problems of class and racial integration.