National Book Award winning author Jonathon Kozol, is scheduled to lecture about his findings of the nation’s public school systems at 8 p.m. Thursday in the University Union Ballroom.

Two Sacramento State faculty members, Associate Professor Janet Hecsh and instructor Kendall Vanderford, are using Kozol’s “The Shame of the Nation, The Restoration of Apartheid Schooling in America” as required material for their social science class because of the book’s analysis of the country’s failing public school system.

In addition the book reveals issues students will face when becoming teachers. In the book, Kozol addresses the learning gap between suburban white students and urban minorities.

“(The book) gives a perspective that would be somewhat controversial,” Vanderford said.

Despite the controversial topics in the book, Vanderford said controversy can be good because it creates dialogue, emotions and ideas that people don’t usually want to deal with.

Kozol’s book details his five-year study in which he visited 60 schools around the country, and discovered that most inner-city schools, where a majority of the students are black and Hispanic, were still lacking clean facilities, proper books and lab supplies ?” especially when compared to suburban schools.

Without proper facilities and materials, Kozol believes urban children will not be able to prosper in the adult world.

Hecsh has read Kozol’s previous work and has followed his research ever since.

“I’ve been reading him all of my intellectual life,” Hecsh said. “I find his work compelling.”

Evelyn Ramos, a senior history major, has read Kozol’s previous work and is looking forward to attending the lecture.

“He really highlights class and social class to education,” Ramos said. “(‘The Shame of the Nation’) is a book every teacher should have.”

Tickets for the lecture are on sale now and cost $10 for general admission and $5 for Sac State students.