Illustration by Joel Kimmel
More than two decades ago, Jonathan Kozol published his landmark book Savage Inequalities: Children in America’s Schools. He opened by chronicling life in East St. Louis, where sewage often overflowed into Martin Luther King Junior High School and massive layoffs resulted in overloaded teachers. Kozol’s book described, in vivid detail, vast disparities in education across race and class.
“I have done without so much so long,” said one teacher at MLK Junior High, “that if I were assigned to a suburban school, I’m not sure I’d recognize what they are doing.”
A student named Samantha recalled hoping to transfer to a better school district—but being declined. “Is that a matter of race or money?” Kozol asked her. “Well,” the student thoughtfully replied, “the two things, race and money, go so close together—what’s the difference?”
It’s a familiar sentiment, as the region grapples with such issues. Here in Missouri, the state has struggled with the question of how to provide a quality education to students in St. Louis County’s unaccredited Normandy and Riverview Gardens school districts. School performance is among the top priorities for the new Department of Elementary and Secondary Education commissioner. In the city of St. Louis, whose district received provisional accreditation after improving in recent years, some families are still weighing their options. Some have chosen charter schools, which have grown significantly over the past 15 years, with stories of both success and failure. And all schools, whatever their revenue base, are exploring new ways to keep up with students’ evolving needs.
With so much transformation on the education scene, it’s even more important to stay informed. We hope that this issue, with its extensive charts and expert interviews, provides a starting point. And look for a guide to private schools later this year, just as St. Louis kicks off a new school year—and a new set of changes.
