Talking Points for Savage Inequalities

Talking Points for Savage Inequalities

Talking points are quotes, questions or themes from the bookthatidentify key issues. You should write two of these and submit themon the assigned date. Prior to our discussion of this book, I will type some of your points to be distributed and used in class. They should be one to four sentences in length.

Points will be earned fromyour reflectiononone of your talking points. This reflection should be at least one and a half pages long and the point to which you are responding should be clearly written at the top of the page. These will be submitted on the date of the Savage Inequalitiesdiscussionand the grading rubric is the same one used to evaluate your first reflection.

Examples of talking points:

Reducing class size is “not a very prudent investment strategy,” said Mr. Finn, Assistant U.S. Secretary of Education, who sent his daughter to Exeter, where class size is 13. "There are a lot of better and less costly things you can do and get results.” Is this consistent? What do you think is the real opinion here?(78)

Kozal states that “It has recently become a matter of some interest to the press and some academic experts to determine whether it is race or class that is the major factor in denial of these children.” (165) In sharing your opinion, consider whether these two factors can be easily separated? How are they connected?

There is a common theme of resistance from prospering suburban school districts when faced with the issue of busing students from poorer, inner city schools. How would you react if you were from one of the superior schools? What is the answer this problem?

Ruthie Green-Brown, principal of Camden High, states that Head Start is “the most significant thing you can do…if your goal is to include the urban child.” (142) Do you agree? What is the impact of the first five years of life on the rest of your schooling?

These are just a few examples. Your talking points may include similar questions and quotes on the same issues and themes. I suggest that, as you read, you mark certain passages that stand out and revisit them at the end of the book. Your biggest challenge will not be finding good talking points, but narrowing it down to one.

Here are some topics (themes) to consider as you read:

School Funding/School Resources

Illiteracy in families- Exposure to text and print before entering school

Race/Social Class Connection

Cycle of Socialization

Busing

Class Size

Inequality (on many levels)