Scan barcode
A review by maralyons
Punished for Dreaming: How School Reform Harms Black Children and How We Heal by Bettina L. Love
5.0
Punished for Dreaming is an eye-opening, phenomenal book about the terrible consequences of racist school reform policies in the US since the 1980s. It is in the same vein as The New Jim Crow, Caste, and The Sum Of Us.
Over the last 40 odd years, so many policies have been put into place that have hurt the lives of black and brown children. From the War on Drugs, harsh carceral policies, increased focus on standardized testing, philanthropic overreach, and privatization of schools for profit. I was largely unaware of the consequences of Brown vs. the Board of Education, which forced the integration of schools in the 1960s.
Though this is presented as an overwhelmingly positive ruling, 38,000 black teachers lost their jobs because of how the policies were implemented. Though Punished for Dreaming spells out myriad injustices, it is hopeful and inspiring. Improving education for black and brown children will improve it for all children. Everyone should read this book. I listened to the audiobook, which was perfectly narrated by Karen Chilton, with an introduction read by the author.
Thank you, NetGalley, and the publishers for providing this ebook and audiobook ARC. All thoughts are my own.
Over the last 40 odd years, so many policies have been put into place that have hurt the lives of black and brown children. From the War on Drugs, harsh carceral policies, increased focus on standardized testing, philanthropic overreach, and privatization of schools for profit. I was largely unaware of the consequences of Brown vs. the Board of Education, which forced the integration of schools in the 1960s.
Though this is presented as an overwhelmingly positive ruling, 38,000 black teachers lost their jobs because of how the policies were implemented. Though Punished for Dreaming spells out myriad injustices, it is hopeful and inspiring. Improving education for black and brown children will improve it for all children. Everyone should read this book. I listened to the audiobook, which was perfectly narrated by Karen Chilton, with an introduction read by the author.
Thank you, NetGalley, and the publishers for providing this ebook and audiobook ARC. All thoughts are my own.