"Children are not simply commodities to be herded into line and trained for the jobs that white people who live in segregated neighborhoods have available"

Jonathan Kozol's quote is a profound review of the systemic concerns within education systems, specifically examining how they frequently prioritize financial energy over individual growth, creativity, and capacity. At its core, the declaration challenges the idea of viewing kids as simple tools for economic efficiency, tailored to fit established functions that sustain the status quo of societal power structures.

Kozol is known for his works focusing on academic inequality, especially highlighting how children from marginalized communities are typically funneled into fitting roles that comply with existing financial and social hierarchies. By mentioning that kids are not "products to be rounded up into line", he stresses the dehumanization implicit in dealing with education as a simple conveyor belt to produce workers, instead of a transformative procedure that broadens horizons and motivates important thought.

The reference to "white people who live in segregated areas" is a direct call-out to the racial and financial segregation that persists in education systems. It recommends that the educational opportunities and courses available to kids are typically dictated by these segregated structures, which are mainly controlled by those who hold economic and racial advantage. The phrase critiques a system in which task markets and instructional paths are typically designed to serve the interests of these segregated enclaves, rather than dealing with wider social needs or the aspirations of the kids themselves.

At a deeper level, Kozol's quote is a plea for an academic paradigm shift-- one that values diversity, individuality, and the holistic development of children. It advocates for an academic system that empowers kids as thinkers and innovators instead of conditioners for pre-existing functions. Ultimately, Kozol calls for a reflective reassessment of how academic worths align with more comprehensive societal objectives and principles, encouraging a system that focuses on equity and human self-respect.