Perspective

As stated in his opening chapter, the author has a long history of working for progressive social issues in various fields, but his first love is teaching. One can tell from his description of the interviewees that he likes children and respects all sorts of people equally. (He even comes to admire a callous, selfish teen because she speaks her mind honestly instead of hiding behind political correctness.) Kozol seems to feel that if the general public would think of the students as children instead of dangerous "others" they might demand these kids be treated better.

Perhaps it is his basic love of humanity that prevents the author from expressing rage, or hatred for those who treat these children so savagely. The overwhelming feeling throughout the book is one of sadness, sympathy and concern. His perspective is not one of a firebrand or blamer, it is a person...