View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is one way not mentioned by Kozol's friend Elizabeth that poor people know that they are living in a rich society?

2. What does Kozol say the high math and reading test scores in America are based on?

3. According to Kozol, what is the estimated worth of the education a child receives in the suburbs of New York?

4. According to Kozol, students in what racial group are more often categorized with a speech disorder?

5. What does the New York Times say the better public schools are intended to do?

Short Essay Questions

1. What three Supreme Court justices wrote dissents for the Milliken v. Bradley case? Why did each dissent?

2. How do the children attending public schools in the suburbs of New York that Kozol interviews feel about sharing funding and resources with children at urban public schools?

3. Why would the students at Woodrow Wilson High want to remain there rather than attending a school with better resources?

4. What does Tunisia, a student at Anacostia Elementary School, say that she would do if she had money? Why?

5. Why do public schools in certain areas of New York suffer more than others?

6. How does the court ultimately rule in the class-action suit filed in 1981 by parents of school children in East Orange, Camden, Irvington, and Jersey City? What is the reaction of wealthier tax payers?

7. How does the judge respond to the class-action suit filed by the parent's of Raymond Abbot?

8. What problems do highly selective schools create in New York? Why do they create these problems?

9. How do the suburban schools in New York compare to the urban schools in New York?

10. Name three specific examples of overcrowding in New Jersey public schools.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Jonathan Kozol says that he wrote Savage Inequalities so that the voices of the children that attend public schools in America could be heard. In your opinion, what audience did Kozol want to read this book? Who was his target audience? Did he write his book for teachers, administrators, state leaders, government officials, etc? Why do you think he wrote the book for the audience that you have identified? Please use specific examples from the book.

Essay Topic 2

Why is it hard for urban public schools to retain young teachers? Where do the young teachers end up teaching? What changes should the school system to make in order to recruit and retain young teachers? Because the urban school system has many aging teachers, what future issues may arise as the teachers start to near retirement age? Please use specific examples from the book.

Essay Topic 3

Kozol points out that racial discrimination is the cause of many of the inequalities that exist in the public school system. However, some of the individuals that he interviews think that it's a socioeconomic issue and not a race issue. Based on the book Savage Inequalities, are the problems that exist in urban public schools caused by racial discrimination, socioeconomic status, or both. Why? Provide at least three detailed reasons for your answer. Please use specific examples from the book.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,337 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample