In an ideal world, socioeconomic status would not affect the quality of education one would receive. Everyone would have the same opportunities to do well in life and rise up the social ladder. Durkheim (1893) asserted that with universally great public education, economic opportunities would be relatively equal. Even with equal education levels, there would still exist some inequality in the form of “legitimate” inequality (Durkheim 1893), but the excellent public education would level the playing field, so to speak. However, our world is not an ideal world. We live in a society where money talks and how rich a person is determines the caliber of their educational background. Research has shown that a child from a high income family will have a better life chance and that a child from a low-income family has less of a chance to move up the ranks. In my paper, I will argue that there is a correlation between socioeconomic status and quality of education in that the higher socioeconomic status a person has, the better education opportunities they will be able to obtain.
Statistically data from Piedmont, CA and East Oakland, CA demonstrates the idea that educational quality and opportunities is closely related to socioeconomic status. Piedmont, CA is a wealthy city surrounded by Oakland, a not so well off area. To clarify, the median household income of Piedmont is $207,222 while East Oakland’s median household income is $56,944 (US Census 2013). There is an extremely steep
Throughout decades, education inequality is still one of the most deliberate and controversial issues in the United States. Thus far, the privilege or right to receive education has not attained the level of equality throughout the nation. Poor districts obtain less educational funds while rich districts obtain more, which create an immense gap between the quality of schools in poor and rich areas. In other words, the education gap is the root of inequality in America. Inequality in education is linked to the major problems in the society. The need for studies to be done to find ways of overcoming these inequalities is very inevitable. The means of mitigating these inequalities are important for the entire world. This is something of great interest due to the fact that children need quality education which is a pillar for a guaranteed future. Generally speaking, the distinctions among races, genders, and classes in the society have caused the educational inequality in America.
Almost all the family incomes are over $100,000...The incomes in this school represent less than 1 percent of the families in the United States,” (256) compared to working-class families who earn incomes “at or below $12,000” (256). Anyon presents these examples to compare the backgrounds of each school and uses this as logos to persuasively reason her claim that quality of education is offered to people who can afford it. Public schools that working-class and middle-class families can afford do not offer the same education private schools that upper-class and capitalist families can afford. Wealthy children who are privileged get an advantage early on in their education career because they are able to afford better quality teachers and lessons. This varied quality of education found in curriculums is what creates the unequal divide between educated individuals in different social classes. An audience of scholars and teachers would be persuaded by this claim because Anyon’s data transparently shows the uneven distribution of resources and opportunity found in the social class schools.
In the article “Who Gets to Graduate” by Paul Tough examines a problem about low income students are less likely to graduate from college than students from middle class or wealthier families. In the United States, school systems are not created equally. Middle and upper class students have access to safe and modern schools equipped with everything they possibly need to stay in that high rank because they came from a family who has the money to support their studies. Students from low-income families don’t have a lot of the support, stability, and money from home that higher-income students can take for granted.
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.
Throughout the world, social classes tend to separate people into groups. Everything depends on a person’s experience with wealth and power. Therefore, the levels of education determine the value of a person. In the articles, “Blue-Collar Brilliance” and “Why Colleges Shower Their Students with A’s” by Rose and Staples, they go in depth about how education and wealth plays a significant role in today’s society.
America’s education system is a fine exemplar, as the growth of inequality has greatly affected its learning environments and the students themselves. According to Greg J. Duncan and Richard J. Murnane, the difference between math and reading scores between low- and high-income families have been growing tremendously compared to several decades ago (“Growing Income Inequality Threatens American Education”). A main cause of this is the stress low-income families suffer, as they continue to struggle with food, housing, and learning supplies. Higher-income children have no such concerns and only focus on their education, creating misconceptions of low-income students, such as being lazy and unintelligent. Higher tuitions and student supplies also aid social inequality, as they discourage lower and middle-class individuals from learning due to exorbitant cost, which has more than tripled over the past 50 years for both private and public colleges (“Tuition and Fees and Room and Board over Time”). Inequality has so much free reign over America that low-income individuals have less than a 10% chance to escape their current social position, and their children have even less than that (“Mobility, Measured”). As a result, social inequality forces America’s citizens to remain socially and economically stagnant, devoid of any opportunity to change in
America faces a wealth gap. Those born in the lower class struggle moving up. Although the United States has long thought of itself as a nation where anyone who gets schooling and works hard can move ahead on the basis of their achievement, the facts tell otherwise. Children born into high-income families have about twice as much chance of becoming middle class or better in their adult years as those born into the lower classes. A way in which the lower-income kids can beat the chances is by getting a college degree. Those who earn a degree have a better chance of becoming middle class or better than those who don’t, although still not as good of a chance as the
While America continues to battle racial inequality, the education gap in our country continues to spike. The most influential growth has been the importance of education over the years. A high school diploma will not allow an individual to climb the ladder of success without attaining a Bachelor’s degree or some form of proper education. Education in America is considered to be valuable and an important dimension of one’s life. Researchers state that there is a definite link between the individual’s zip code and their chances of success (Ireland, 2016). Individuals are often ranked based on the kind of degree and education one possesses. In America, researchers have stated in order to be “accepted” as a member in a status group it requires certain credentials (Ireland, 2016). Several see education as a key to maintain status and prestige, because individuals believe by attaining an education allows them to advance in society. Researchers then state that attaining a proper education benefits the class structure by
Education still remains the institution that indorses equality of opportunities in America society as the textbook explains. Even though education diminishes inequality among individuals with different backgrounds, inequality still exists in the sense that not everyone who graduates from high school has the same opportunity to attend college. Individuals born into wealthy family will have more opportunities in attending college compared to someone born to a poor family. Although, opportunities are more limited in America, having education will compensate those that do well in school by rewarding them with life opportunities. Social class, race, and gender play a major role for education success, experiences, and outcomes.
1. In my understanding, education is the greatest challenge in Mexico; improving the overall health of its education scheme and getting rid of a highly politicized panorama should be primary goals to set on the national agenda. It is well known that education sets the foundation for a flourishing society, hence the importance of educational quality in promoting economic growth.
Education and wealth have a big impact on income inequality. Education and wealth go hand in hand when talking about income inequality. When a family is more wealthy, they can afford a better education. One article from ACE states that “currently in America, getting a postsecondary degree—in particular a bachelor’s degree—generally results in higher incomes, greater job choice, satisfaction, and security, as well as other outcomes considered good for our society, such as voting and community service.” This is important because if
Have you ever heard of people saying no matter where you come from as long as you put in the effort to succeed in your education? Well that saying isn’t completely accurate because not everyone in the world is born in the position or ready for higher learning. Certain people are born in a position where they are properly prepared and financially set to pursue their education. Your education is the key to your wealthy lifestyle. Kids all have their own type of opinion on how they feel about education. But the real question is why they have the tendencies to feel that way about education. My essay and research I did will explain why people from different social classes will experience different educational
In both rich and rich and poor countries, high inequality has led to diminished social mobility. In these countries the children of the rich will largely replace their parents in the economic hierarchy, as will the children of those living in poverty. In countries with higher levels of inequality it is easier for parents to pass on their advantages to their children; advantages that less wealthy parents cannot afford (Stiglitz 2012). An example of this is expenditure on education. Wealthier parents often pay for their children to attend expensive private schools that then facilitate their entry into elite universities, which in turn help them secure higher paid jobs. This is reinforced by other advantages, such as the resources and social networks that richer parents share with their children, which further enable employment and education opportunities. In this way, the richest have access to opportunities, which are not accessible for those who do not have the means to pay Corak
A new study found that 38 of America’s most elite colleges contain more students in the top 1% compared to the lower 60% of the income scale (Aisch). The relationship between Socioeconomic Class and higher education choice has a correlation one might miss. To know the effect class has on education and certain standings in society, one must know what this type of class is. Collegiate educational choices are influenced by Socioeconomic Class and class factors.
Moreover In many countries the connection between family wealth, family background and education opportunities is still very powerful. Because people from high class in society tend to receive advantage to support them self in term of long period educational career and qualification better than low class societies, Due to the power of wealth. (Shavit and Blossfeld, 1993). For some reason when the education people enter the labour market. Because education qualification that a person acquiring seem to be advantage for that person if the qualification of education is high. In addition education qualifications seem to be relating to the social background of each person and their later social class background. Therefore the education qualification might be one the reason that support social inequalities and decrease social mobility.