On Friday night, in the Wolfe Center Donnell Theatre,
educational history was made. Now when walking into this presentation, I had no
idea of the importance of the talk that was about to happen.
To set the background, Jonathan Kozol, is a lifelong
educator and political activist, who is a Harvard graduate and Rhodes scholar.
His journey through life is meaningful because of the impact he has made in his
profession and his daily life.
To begin the lecture, Kozol easily stated, “Teachers are his
heroes.” He spent his life in elementary schools and fully realizes that
teaching can sometimes be a thankless commitment. He started his career in
1964, was an English major a Harvard and Rhoades scholar, who simply loves literature.
Though his father wasn’t impressed with his calling for education, Kozol
started off as a kindergarten substitute teacher and worked his way up to 4th
grade teaching.
When looking at why he wanted to be a teacher, Kozol
mentioned how the 1964 events with Martin Luther King, Jr. changed his life.
During the times of the incidents and riots, he wanted to help but really
didn’t know how too. He clearly remembers driving to the black community in
Boston, nearby his hometown, and asked a local pastor on how he can help. The
pastor explained how Kozol could help the people in Mississippi by fighting the
injustice here, because there was injustice everywhere. Kozol was called to be
a teacher and pass along his world-class education.
Though Kozol marched with Dr. King, remembers his words, and
even the sound of his voice, he admits that his journey was not always easy. He
spent most of his career in the Bronx working with the youth in bad areas and
actually wrote several books about his experiences.
Throughout the lecture, Kozol’s message was clear. He even
stated, “I hate to be bitter, but lives are at stake, my friends. I have to
speak from my heart.” Teachers are under fierce attack and racial isolation
does damage the youth. Though the system may be broken, we, as in all of us,
must take a stand. Charter schools are not the answer; books, class sizes, and
talents in classrooms do matter! Though there may be injustice with
politicians, Kozol is committed to doing his part. He admitted how he has lived
a good life, but he wants to keep passing along his message and keep sharing
his personal stories until his dying day.
He told personal stories that moved the crowd. They were
first hand accounts of the unfair practices in the inner-city schools around
the nation. Though discrimination still exists, Kozol believes that the
foundations of teaching can overcome the obstacles if they receive the
appropriate help. The teachers who believe in the real mission don’t value only
tests and agendas, they foster happy places and are great at what they do.
It may seem radical, but his message could not be denied on
Friday night. Kozol has even depended on his mentors, like Mr. (Fred) Rogers,
to let him know that it is okay to stick you neck out and you will survive.
The last message of the night: “The innocence of children
will out live us all.”
-Alex Solis
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