Secondary School Vs. Vocational Education

Outline and assess the view that the role of education system is to justify and reproduce social inequalities (50)

Vocational Education has been around throughout history in ways that were not noticed as a trending way for education. After the wars, families were self-sustained through personal knowledge and self-learned skills needed to survive. As society, advanced, newer, more efficient ways of completing tasks and learning took place, to include assistance outside the home, so families could better provide for itself. It was through these advancements that paved the way to vocational education as we know it today. There has been

The idea of a universal education system is criticized by many, because the idea of giving everyone a chance to prosper, has a detrimental effect on government resources; and the value placed on a post- secondary education, is somewhat diluted. This is wrong though, as people be judged on their academic skills, character and drive above their economic restrictions. The finances which a young person is born into, should not determine the life and career which they have. It has been shown that a college education increases a person’s earning power, but this education is contingent on money, which dictates your chance of achieving a recognized education. This is against the ‘education gospel’ which supports the idea that schooling should be for everyone, and that the more people who are educated, the less prejudices there will be in society. Education is universal, but post-secondary education, and one which leads people to positions of power and influence, is not. It is for the select few, of whom have the finances and opportunities to prosper that other, more underprivileged people do not, and that needs to change.

Expansion of education is closely related to idealistic views of democracy. In developing and wealthy nations, education is valued because it helps the individual mind to develop capabilities. In contrast, education has also been seen as a way to promote equality. Having access to public education, in theory, has the potential to reduce poverty and promote equality. If all are entitled to the same public education, not to mention they are required by law, why do school systems seem segregate their students? Researchers have searched for the answer and have theorized that economic background, tracking, and hidden curriculum are a few things that help contribute to the imaginary lines drawn between students in society.

One of our class readings stuck out to me. The reading was "The Return of Vocational High Schools: Career Path or Kiss of Death" by Allie Bidwell. In this she talks about career and technical schools, otherwise known as vocational schools. In the article, she mentions, "… it's not enough for students to get an education past high school- they also must have the skills needed for in-demand jobs"(Bidwell). This article relates to me deeply because last year I went to a career and technical school to further my education in the nursing world. At the end of the course, all of the students who took the class for the whole year had the opportunity to test to get their CNA license. I was fortunate enough to be able to get my license at the age of

Throughout the United States and even the world, there are many different types of schools that children are able to attend. These schools are also located in different environments, such as rural, urban, and suburban. Not only are there different environments, there are also a wide range of schools to pick from; public, private, boarding, charter, home schooling, online and career/technical schooling. The career/technical school system is very different from the majority of other schools. However, they are very beneficial to the future of the students, especially for college readiness across the nation. Through this website, https://www.acteonline.org/, we see that career and technical schools are very technology driven.

Socioeconomic status plays a key factor in the type of education a child receives today and ultimately functions to keep individuals in the class they are born into. Those who are part of the lower class receive the bare minimum in education with the end goal being blind obedience, while the upper class is educated in a way that encourages self-regulation, individual thought, and creativity. These vast differences in education are no mistake and are put in place for overall control.

Amongst many social justice issues, educational inequity continues to dramatically affect the nation's youth in the long term. However, for some students the ability to access a quality primary education provided by public schools depends on the students socioeconomic bearing. The insufficient availability of essential resources, opportunities, and funding creates a hurdle to access a higher quality education. This reiterates that a higher education creates a step forward in the education system to close the achievement gap.

People are told that getting an education will make them successful in life. That is not the case. Jean Anyon conducted a study on the four different schools in different social-class. In the article “Social Class and the Hidden Curriculum of Work” Jean Anyon states, “In the two working-class schools, work is following the steps of a procedure. The teacher rarely explains why the work is being assigned and how it might connect to other assignments” (2). Students are not taught to think for themselves. They are taught to follow their parent’s footsteps into the work force as very low skilled workers. Compared to the students in the capitalist class where they are taught to use their own knowledge and reason to solve problems. The students in the executive elite schools are given a better chance in succeeding in life.

These systemic obstacles that create circumstances that hinder the education attainment of the poor can be changed, their limits lessened, by positive actions to elevate living conditions – given the school system promotes and

In the modern society, people want increasing competitiveness to study through higher education; and mainstream society also pushes people to get a bachelor degree. However, when American leader claims that everyone can go university, the opponents question whether everyone should have a four-year degree and policy feasibility. Obviously, the educational system and society exposed many problems about values. In the article “Should Everyone Go to College”, Marco Rubio points out that “the country needs fewer philosophy majors and more welders”(Scott A23). People need a pertinence vocational training for individual career instead of universal higher education.

Throughout the world, there have been continuous attempts to reform education at all levels. With different causes that are deeply rooted in history, society, and culture, this inequality is difficult to eradicate. Although difficult, education is vital to society’s movement forward. It promotes “citizenship, identity, equality of opportunity and social inclusion, social cohesion as well as economic growth and employment” and for these reasons, equality should be promoted (Shrivastava,67).

One of the most well known civil rights issues of our time is the inequality of education; the problem with education is the way America has chosen to enforce education upon the people. In Leon Botstein’s proposal “Let Teenagers Try Adulthood” he chooses to fix the problems with high schools in America by abolishing them. However, the major issues in our schools are the lack of will in some students and the lack of proper education for the willing; therefore, I believe America should not force traditional education after the eighth grade and encourage equal educational opportunities for all. American school children do not desire traditional education, but they want to fast track their way into the work force. by enrolling in vocational programs.

“Prisoners have a variety of risk factors that make their transition to mainstream society more difficult. For example, 40 percent of state prisoners and 27 percent of federal prisoners have neither a high school diploma nor GED. By comparison, just 18 percent of the general population failed to obtain a GED or high school diploma”, Conis, Delisi (2013). Most convicted inmates typically don’t have any high education achievements prior to their convictions. In prison, inmates are revoked the opportunities such as work, education and social contact from the outside world. They chose this path by the actions they took to get them in a correctional facility. Prisons do offer education and vocational programs to rehabilitate them while

The association between social class and education can only be denied by those willing to contest that civilization leaves its remnants to disparate communities. We as a society place standards and expectations to education that result in potential power, wealth, and intelligence. Due to this relationship, we pertain to a society who runs on tainted mechanisms and values today. No longer are institutions preoccupied with education, but with their own success and wealth. Money is highly regarded, those of the lower class are rejected, and children are left to deal with their grievances alone.