DeKALB – For nearly 50 years, Jonathan Kozol has dedicated his life to addressing the complex issues that face public education. He is among the most respected writers and speakers on public education, has written a number of bestsellers and has been the recipient of many national awards, including the National Book Award and the Robert F. Kennedy Book Award.

Kozol will speak at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 26, in the auditorium at DeKalb High School. The title of his talk is “Fire In the Ashes: The Deepening Crisis in Our Public Schools – Victims and Survivors.” The presentation is free and open to all.

Kozol’s first book, “Death At an Early Age,” a description of his first year as a teacher in one of the poorest of Boston’s public schools, was published in 1967 and received the 1968 National Book Award in Science, Philosophy and Religion. It is regarded as a classic by educators and has sold more than 2 million copies.