The foundation for success later in life is a quality education. If this were not true, nobody would be attending college and taking on enormous sums of debt. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, people with "a master's, professional or doctoral degree earned an average of $79,946, while those with less than a high school diploma earned about $19,915."
Poverty, education and race are all intertwined issues that the American society attempts to separate. Americans truly believe that upward mobility in the social classes is determined by the amount of hard work exerted. However, not everybody has been awarded the same economical, and therefore educational, opportunities granted to others. In order for people to pull themselves up by the bootstraps, they must first be afforded the straps.
In Muncie this past fall, Southside High School was forced to cancel classes due to extreme heat. Yet, the uncomfortable temperature did not affect Delta High School students because of air conditioning. Does anything seem wrong with this situation?
Funds for public schools are distributed unevenly. Currently, money that school systems receive is largely based on local taxes. The federal government only provides approximately seven percent of total funds for public schools. Ultimately, the quality of each school is a reflection of that particular community.
A recent U.S. Census Bureau report indicated 32.6 percent of individuals in Muncie live below the poverty line, which is $10,294. This percentage could be inflated because the study included college students. Granted, students attending college are more likely to fall into this category; however, "The Star Press" also reported an increased rise of use for poverty assistance facilities like soup kitchens and food pantries.
The point is this: a community like Muncie cannot provide the same quality of education like affluent suburban school corporations. One fundamental source of the achievement gap for students and the uneven distribution of wealth in society is the public school system.
There is no guarantee to equal education in America. Jonathan Kozol, author of the book "The Shame of the Nation," reports that schools today are more segregated now than schools prior to the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954. This great civil rights achievement which prohibits racial segregation of schools in America has been ignored.
Due to the makeup of inner city neighborhoods, which is also a strong indicator of income levels, many minority students are attending poorly funded schools. One example Kozol highlights is the greater Chicago area. The Highland Park and Deerfield suburban district are predominately Caucasian while the inner city Chicago district is predominately African-American. Highland Park and Deerfield can spend $17,291 per pupil, but the Chicago district can only afford to spend $8,482 per pupil. The current education policy is ultimately saying that student A is worth more than student B. Though all students should be invested in equally, the reality of the situation is sadly otherwise.
Another irony of American public education is how students obtain diplomas. Every student, no matter the district, is required to pass a standardized test that contains the same caliber of material. It is unfair that the standard for assessment is the same for all students but that the quality of education is not. It seems awfully hypocritical that lawmakers hold students accountable for performance on high-stakes tests but do not hold themselves accountable for providing an equal playing field.
Schools reflect the realities that children live in everyday. Not everybody will have the same advantages as others, but the quality of public education for all children should be equal. America cannot focus on schools as if they exist inside a bubble, but must view them as a larger picture of society. Muncie, like the rest of America, is just a byproduct of a flawed educational system.
Write to Travis at tjoneill@bsu.edu
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
