Jonathan Kozol challenges politicians of both parties to confront the economic and political issues that deprive the poor of equal education. Criticisms of current policies include the following: (1) dependence on property taxes penalizes the poor; (2) local control protects privilege and oppresses minorities; (3) education has been removed from the area of social justice and made dependent on private charity; and (4) students and schools are blamed for their own failure. Solutions are the following: (1) direct funding for the deprived; (2) massive compensatory education programs; (3) a realistic minimum wage; (4) emphasis on rewards, not blame; (5) end dependence on local property taxes; and (6) federal guarantee of equal distribution of funding. U.S. Representative William Goodling's (Rep.-PA) response includes the following: (1) local control assures accountability of decision making; (2) the Federal Government's role is to ensure equal education for special populations, and to disseminate information; (3) distribution of state spending is dependent on each state's needs; (4) private business should be even more involved in education; and (5) Congress has reauthorized all federal elementary and secondary education programs. The response of former Texas Governor Mark White, a Democrat, includes the following: (1) attention must be given to how funding is spent on the local level; (2) Congress has been handicapped by the Reagan Administration's lack of cooperation; and (3) Kozol's proposal for direct funding for the disadvantaged should be supported. (FMW)