The first book that comes to mind in reference to the Easley center is Savage Inequalities. The focus on inner city kids and their schooling environments are rather similar to those of these kids. Kozol notes them to have over-crowded and dilapidated school buildings and a shortage of supplies. While the Easley center isn’t dilapidated by any means, it is very much over-crowded at times and almost always is lacking the necessary supplies. What I did notice positively at Easley that matches up with Kozol’s findings is that children do want to learn but they are sometimes deprived of that opportunity based on where they live. I get the vibe that the teachers aren’t doing so much teaching as they are barking orders and giving out busywork that they don’t explain in the first place. Like Kozol said, these kids aren’t on drugs and they are aware that what the white kids get in their schools is not the same as what they get in their own. They know better. They are not stupid. One little girl asked me where I go to school and when I told her I go to Belmont she said, “I will never be able to go to college.” I asked her why and all she could say was, “because no one I know goes to college.” No one has told her that didn’t matter. She was also the same girl that said I had nice clothes because I was white. I was in shock. I didn’t know that people still thought that way. I guess I was a little naïve. She didn’t say it with a bias or any disdain for myself or any other white people, but she said it like a fact. I didn’t know what to say. Perhaps it is the city’s job to provide them with equal stuff as the other more fortunate kids, but the reality of someone picking up that ball or giving the extra money needed to make that happen is highly unrealistic and sad.
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