Hayden, J. & Cauthen, K. (Producers) & Hayden, J. (Director). (1996). Children in America's schools with Bill Moyers [Film]. South Carolina: ETV.


This film based on Jonathan
 Kozol's book, "Savage Inequalities," compared Ohio's richest
 and poorest schools and illustrated the inequity inherent in
 local property tax support for education. Educators, legislators,
 and parents discussed options for solving this nationwide
 problem. Equitable funding for schools was recommended as a
 solution.

I chose this video because of the impact it made on my ideas for school
funding.

Questions I would ask :
1. If funding for schools was based not on local property taxes but on
equal funding per student, how long would it take to bring the worst
schools up to acceptable conditions?
2. What would happen in the richest schools when funding was inevitably
lessened?
3. How has equitable funding worked out in Tennessee?
4. Has it been attempted anywhere else in the U.S.?
5. Why has the current system of school funding, based on local property
taxes, been allowed to exist for so long?

Submitted by Carol Chard


This documentary filmed in Ohio, based on a book entitled Savage
Inequalities: Children in America's Schools, showed huge discrepancies in the
conditions of  schools from grade school through high school.  The contrasts
in funding for various school districts were incredible (anywhere from $3,000
to $20,000 per student)!  The scenes switched back and forth from students
shuffling through puddles in hallways (from leaking walls and ceilings), with
coal heated rooms and absent indoor plumbing to immaculate facilities as far
as the eye could see.  Some of the schools had hundreds of computers
available to students, and several exercise rooms with central heating and
air conditioning.  Across town,  a dismal tiny room with a couple obsolete
computers has rain falling on its inhabitants.  Another school holds gym,
music, and lunch in the same area.  One of these poorer schools has one
locker room, so kids will have physical education for only half a year .
This same school doesn't even serve lunch, so many of the students end up
eating lunch in a local bar.

    It's not surprising to me that many of the students in the lower income
areas do not have a positive outlook on school or their own future lives . I
had a difficult time listening to the folks in the public forum claiming that
money is not an issue, or that there isn't funding available, or that nothing
more can be done.   What kind of message are we sending to children about
their worth  when they are treated with such little regard?

This film made me wonder, "Are there schools in similar situations in Oregon?
 Why do Oregonians vote against a sales tax time after time?  How can
students meet education goals when the most recent encyclopedia says 'someday
we'll send a man to the moon.' and WHY DO WE KEEP COMING UP WITH THE MONEY TO
BUILD MORE PRISONS?"

Submitted by Elizabeth Mann


For ample footage of the "savage inequalities" in American educational
systems, come view "Children in America's Schools."  This documentary was
filmed entirely in Ohio--rural, urban and suburban--and based on Jonathan
Kozol's book, "Savage Inequalities."  Kozol and others (educators,
administrators, and activists) speak periodically throughout the film as
well as being featured in the panel discussion facilitated by Bill Moyers.
There are also many students featured, with insights about their
experiences and perceptions, from well funded as well as poorly funded
districts.

I chose this film because I wanted to gain a better understanding of the
subject matter and there are some things I learn better by viewing rather
than reading.  This is one of those things.  And learn I did:  it is
striking to see the stark contrasts presented in this film, from schools
with crumbling ceilings and coal-burning furnaces to spacious complexes
with carefully crafted architecture and state of the art lab equipment.

My questions for people in the documentary:

1)  To the students from poorer districts--if given the opportunity to
meet regularly with that legislator who made the offensive remarks about
poor communities, what would you want him to know?  How might you educate
him as to the realities of life in your neighborhoods and schools?

2)  To the students from the wealthier districts--how well has your
education prepared you to understand what you saw in this documentary?  Is
the U.S. truly a meritocracy?  Make an informed argument that it is not
and present your case to the above mentioned group (legislator and
students).

3)  To Mr. Kozol--who are you?  How did you come to have your particular
passion for writing about educational injustice?  That is, what has your
journey been?

4)  To the 7th grade science teacher--I so appreciated your ability to
keep reality in the panel discussion.  What you motivates you?  What
is your approach since you have no textbooks?
And 5) what do you personally do in your classroom to counter the negative
messages that inadequate funding sends to the students?

Submitted by Martha Hotchkiss.

Children in America's Schools takes a look at inter-city, rural and
affluent schools in Ohio.  This film discusses the problems that occur
when schools are funded by local property taxes.  I chose this film
because I feel that unequal distribution of funds is a real problem that
affects the quality of education for our students.  This film portrays an
accurate image of the wide range of technology and priviledges that are
avaliable in some schools and not avaliable to others.

5 questions

1. How can students succeed, when they learn in cold, damp, classrooms
with leaks?  What kind of message does this send to our students?

2. In Ohio, property tax is not a fair way to distribute school funding.
How should schools be funded to equally benefit all districts?

3. Is this an economic form of segregation?

4. Is it justified that teachers from poor districts must spend their own
money to purchase classroom supplies?

5. Will the disadvantages poor students face affect them throughout their
lives?

Submitted by Heather Logan.


 This film depicts the savage inequalities that were discussed in
Jonathan Kozol's Book, Savage inequalities: Children in America's schools.
I viewed this film this past summer with other PTEP members and we had a
great discussion after the film.  It was sad to see the huge differences
between the schools in the poor school districts and the schools in the
rich school districts.  I thought that this film, although it depicted
schools in the state of Ohio, should be shown to all government officials
in every state.  State governments need to open their eyes to the needs
that are being unmet in school districts that do not have the resources to
educate students in the best way.  I felt sick to my stomach when I saw
the schools that did not even pass building inspections and the children
were sent to outhouses to use the restroom, in freezing cold weather!  The
burning question that I had while watching this film is, "How do we expect
these children to learn when they are shown by the way their school looks
that they aren't worth much?"

 Here are 5 questions that I would ask the makers of this film:
 1.  Do you plan on doing more documentaries on schools in other
states?
 2.  How did you feel when you saw the schools in the poor school
districts?
 3.  Has this film affected you in such a way that you have done
something for the schools that you portrayed in your film?
 4.  Are there any other documentaries that you would suggest that
have similar content like this film?
 5.  What drove you to make this documentary?

Submitted by Lisa Burnett. 

I chose to watch this film because I think that it is a problem in every
state, not just in one particular area of the country.  The film, Children
In America's Schools with Bill Moyers, is about funding schools receive in
different areas.  Rural areas and inner cities receive less funding than
suburban areas.  The film focuses on the different effects on students,
both good and bad, who go to schools in the different areas.

Questions:

1.  Why would someone not want to invest more money into a school that
they think the students are a lost cause?

2.  Teachers are supposed to encourage and teach about equal
opportunities, but how can a student in a rural area attending a school
which has been condemned supposed to believe in that?

3.  Why has no system been developed which allows funding through taxes to
be evenly distributed throughout a state instead of certain areas?  (maybe
there has been and I am not aware of any.)

4.  This question is a quote taken from the film from a student and I
 have this question too.  "How can you have a nice city when it's full of
ignorant people?"

5.  Children are said to be the future of tomorrow, so why don't we take
care of them today?

Submitted by Kelly Wear.
 

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