Education Is Not A Privilege In America

The inequality of education in the United States is a pressing societal issue that has been the main catalyst for the division between the social classes. Education is a public good, and thus if it used by one consumer then it will not reduce the availability to another consumer. Education can also be considered the largest single factor in determining a person’s success and quality of life in society today.

Education in America is one of the most important issues that face our nation. If the education in America is not thought of one of most serious issues we face, our nation as a whole will fall. There are many debates and they seemly extend to all walks of life. The debates range from the decline in education, school vouchers, and the no child left behind law. As a nation, the United States is ranked above others. We must search for that solution to all of the pro’s and con’s in education. The solution should allow all walks of life to excel in the education realm. After all, the children of today will be the leaders of tomorrow.

tand then be expected to be living a life of prosperity today? Whites knew without an education Black people would not be able to eradicate the dire dilemma slavery put them in. Thus, that was the sole reason this particular White Privilege has been unanimously withheld from Blacks for almost their entire existence in the United States. It was not until 1968 when the doors were swung open and school segregation was determined unlawful in “all schools” across the US (tolerance.org) were Black people given access to education, especially a college degreed education. Hence, if Macintosh pondered what her White Privilege gave to her that really mattered to most Black people and if she really wanted her article to do its part towards disbanding the permanency of racism, which she eludes to in the article, then she would have pondered the White Privilege of education and she would have listed the lack education has been for centuries for Black people among her White Privileges. She would have even, highlighted such an important White Privilege. Yet most of the “White Privileges” Ms. Macintosh listed were blasé, at most. And as many years since Ms. Macintosh wrote the article, White Privilege, it boggles the mind that people consider it so profound that it is still being, today, in schools, colleges, and universities to discuss racism in the US.

In early America, only a couple of schools were open, and children were mainly taught at home or were sent to a boarding school. In 1837, a man named Horace Mann led the Massachusetts Board of Education and he seeked free, equal, non-religious education for all social classes. This was a major step towards obtaining natural rights. In documents H and E, it shows that education is one of the most important things in life. For example, “... It does better than to disarm the poor of their hostility towards the rich; it prevents being poor” (Doc. H). This quote shows that having an education can prevent someone being in poverty because, if you are smart, then you can get a high paying job, which will prevent you from being poor. Another example is, “When he goes to school he walks quickly, and does not lose time on the road. ‘My parents,’ he says, ‘are very good to save some of their money in order that I may learn to read and write’...” (Doc. E). This shows that his parents were willing to spend the extra money for their child to get an education, which will give him a chance at a better life. Without having an education, you will not get very far in life. It is a necessity to life. Education really helped expand democratic ideals in the United States because, giving different class people the chance to attend school and get a free education is the best possible way to do it. You are giving poor and wealthy children the

Education is a very valuable thing, something everyone should be able to receive and not to fight to receive a great education. No matter the race, religion,

As our global economy flourishes, newer and faster technology is always on the brink of invention. So, to learn how to operate these new technologies, education is a must. Education teaches us not only how to add, subtract, write papers and finish science labs, but also how to interact in every day life. Education is a constant struggle in the U.S. Trying to keep teenagers from dropping out of high school, or teaching adults how to read. Schooling is one of the only ways the not so well off can get ahead in life. With out education, it is very hard to live in the U.S. successfully and safely.

Do all Americans have equal rights and privileges? As years pass, sufficient education is becoming a more and more important necessity. Does the amount of education a person have determined the rights and privileges they get? Should this happen? How is someone determined to be uneducated or uneducated? The word “uneducated” can have a different meaning depending on the situation. “Uneducated” in most cases refers to adults who are illiterate, or adults who have not completed high school. “Susan B. Anthony stated in a 1873 speech that it might be acceptable for the educated to be given more rights and privileges by society than the ‘ignorant’ or uneducated.” This statement of Susan B. Anthony is completely justified, and the fact that the

Attending school is seen as a privilege to some and a right to others. To Tambu and other African females in the setting of the novel, education is often seen as a privilege. White males become the stereotypical educated population, creating barriers for both females and non-whites. Being both a female and somebody who is not white, Tambu would not be expected to receive an education, especially since her immediate family is not well off. As explained in A Black Feminist Statement, black women are met with more than just one challenge especially when they were not in a privileged class, “The major source of difficulty in our political work is that we are not just trying to fight oppression on one front or even two, but instead to address a whole range of oppressions. We do not have racial, sexual, heterosexual, or class privilege to rely upon…” (Combahee Collective, 109). While women in Babamakuru’s family face the same fate, because of Babamakuru’s perceived success, more opportunity is presented for education access. Because of the fact her parents are not educated, Tambu would experience difficulty in trying to access education from her original situation; in order for Tambu to pursue an education, she must reside with Babamakuru and his family, rather than living with her biological parents. A financial barrier also exists that serves as an obstacle to Tambu attending school, as going to school entails a fee that her family cannot necessarily afford.

Education is something often seen as an equalizer in the face of social injustice. The concept of using school and information to put different people on a level playing field is a noble but misguided attempt at social equality. Education undoubtedly affects the position of people in society positively, while creating an outlet to educate the ignorant, it becomes problematic when education is not an equal opportunity for everyone. In Adrienne Rich’s essay, “Taking Women Students Seriously”, she speaks of the inequality mainly affecting women while subtly hinting at the inequality present in education in regards to race and class. Gender, race and class are three characteristics that work together to create either a positive or negative profile for one’s education.

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” - Nelson Mandela. Without education, there is simply no telling of what this world would be like. There wouldn’t be doctors, lawyers, businesses etc. Life and everything around us would be fatuous. Schools and education give us a plan in life and help guide us. Throughout the years education has changed tremendously. It had its improvements throughout the decades, and it also has had its falters as well. Education in America is an issue in this country and it definitely needs to be tweaked and improved. Education is what makes us people who we are and what we will be. Nelson Mandela had it right, there is no weapon more powerful than education.

Is education a basic human right? According to Article 26 of the United Nation’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights, yes. It states that everyone should have access to free primary education and equal opportunity access to higher education. Unfortunately, in many places around the world, access is limited either monetarily or governmentally, and even when it is available, a lack of resources or a lack of proper educators can severely limit the quality of the education. As many as 115 million primary-age children around the world are not currently in school, and of those who are in school, over 226 million never attend secondary school. In some parts of Africa the literacy rate in children is below fifty percent. Let’s take a look at one developing country in particular, South Africa, which is considered to have one of the worst education systems on the planet.

While I have my beliefs on how education in a democratic society should be, others don’t have the same beliefs differ. Our history in education has proven that. Education throughout our history has changed tremendously. Acquiring an education in our history has not always been portrayed as important as it is now. Being educated went from unimportant to almost a necessity today. Today in history, a lot of jobs will require you to have at least your GED if you hired or even interested at that establishment. Just as getting an education wasn’t important before, getting an education for certain

Imagine growing up not having a formal education. Determining if good education is a right or a privilege is a very debated topic in the United States. Not only could an informal education harm the student, but it could impair their future. Therefore, acquiring a degree is essential for ninety percent of jobs on the market today. Having a good education should be a right in order to enroll into college, obtain a degree, and have a brighter future.

Education is a elemental human right and essential for all other human rights. It is a powerful tool by which socially and economically marginalized children and adults can lift themselves out of poverty. It also consists of the right to freedom of education. Freedom of education is the right given to human beings to have access to the education of their preference without any constrictions. Right to education is a human right recognized by the United Nations. It includes the entire compulsion to eliminate inequity at all levels of the educational system.

One of the key philosophies of education has been ingrained in our Constitution. Article 42 states that "The State shall provide for free primary education and shall endeavour to supplement and give reasonable aid to private and corporate educational initiative" (Bunreacht na hÉireann, 1937) . Although this is specific to primary education, as already mentioned, this was expanded into secondary education. Educational philosopher, Randall Curren describes education as a social right saying we must "assign society and its government an obligation to provide the child with an education" (Curren 2009).