Super Short Summary

Letters to a Young Teacher by Jonathan Kozol is a collection of letters addressed to Francesca, a new first-grade teacher, offering advice and insights drawn from Kozol's extensive experience in education. The correspondence explores the challenges of teaching in under-resourced schools, the importance of building relationships with students and parents, the impact of racial and generational divides among teachers, and the systemic issues of segregation and inequality in education. The book emphasizes the necessity of maintaining children's innocence and creativity, the pitfalls of mandatory testing, the dangers of privatization, and the need for educators to be honest and act against injustices, all while celebrating the joyful moments that teaching brings. The book discusses harsh realities faced by students in underfunded schools.