Inequality in K-12 education is a major issue within numerous poor communities across America. The disparity in the quality of education between privileged and underprivileged populations is disturbing but real. There is a significant gap in educational achievement when comparing students from wealthier communities and children from low-income communities. This is due to the difference in the quality of education being offered to children from certain racial and economic backgrounds. According to theedadvocate.org, “The socioeconomic status of children and their families has a profound effect on the children’s education, even in a country that prides itself on equal opportunity and fair treatment for all” (2016).
So how does money play a role in the quality of education a child receives? Its really quite simple. Wealthier community=high tax base=more funds for schools. Poor community=low tax base= very low funds for schools. Alana Semuels from The Atlantic states, “schools serving poor kids tend to have fewer resources, both economic and social capital resources” (2016). Unfortunately, money talks even for our basic right to an education.
The Atlantic presents evidence from the National Center for Educational Statistics stating, “about three-fourths of both African American and Hispanic young people (compared to about one-third of white students) attend schools where most of their classmates qualify as low income” (2016). Hence, children from poor backgrounds do not have the means to receive the same quality of education as their wealthier counterparts.
This issue is important to me because I am a woman of color and come from a low-income family/community as well. I attended poor public schools my whole life. Much of my resources were limited. Unfortunately, my race and class status as a affected the quality of my K-12 education as well as my path to higher education. Keeping our children from earning a quality education is just another form of oppression based on race and class. How can we expect success from these students in their academic careers if the same cards aren’t being dealt equally across the board? This plays a large role in why I plan to become a teacher. I believe in equal education for all, despite one’s socioeconomic status.
For this civic engagement project, I spoke to members in my community and asked if they were willing to share their views on this topic. I asked these three individuals the following questions:
1. Do you believe there
is difference in the quality of education privileged children receive compared
to underprivileged children?
2.
3. Is there anything
that can be done to help this issue?
Jesus Medina
1.) I agree that the
wealthier communities have much better learning environments than inner-city
communities. But, that being said, I don’t believe that just because the
wealthier kids are in a better learning environment they are better or smarter
than children in poorer communities. So I don't view this as an inequality.
3.) This issue can easily be
resolved by the parents in poorer communities putting more attention and
interest as the parents in wealthier communities do. It is not the child’s fault they
are attending a poor school. It doesn’t have to be about money. It is about the
difference in the parents' involvement in their child’s education.
Peggy Flores
1.) Yes, I believe there is a difference in the quality of education
in underprivileged areas plays a part in the outcome of that
area's future growth and progress.
I'd guess its caused by poor managing of funds and continued
reductions in education programs, low teacher salaries, more
students per teacher per classroom resulting in less
individualized attention for these children. For decades this
has created a cycle of ignorance in these areas which
geographically show, poorer, less educated parents, single-
parent homes, having to work multiple jobs or long hours
and leaving their children alone and many times not present
to discipline or monitor the child's activities.
3.)Yes, this issue can only be resolved if both the
underprivileged communities and entities in power work
together. Education is the key to changing this problem, not
just for the kids, most importantly it must start with the adults,
educating themselves and becoming more involved in their
child's education. Community involvement is a must. People
must know what's going on in their schools and in their local
government in order to hold those in power accountable
and ensure that resources available are put into the programs
and the schools that need it. Create more programs with
incentives for parents and schools to work together.
Roxana Adame
1.) Yes, I do.
2.) Yes, it's an inequality. It's a disadvantage for those who
are in low income schools, not receiving equal textbooks,
the support from the school, materials. A lot of low income
schools lack materials and lacking materials means
lack of education the kids are receiving.
3.)The government needs to release some more money for
it to all be equal as far as education. For those in K-12 to
have the same amount of supplies and resources.
Peggy Flores
1.) Yes, I believe there is a difference in the quality of education
based on social class. There are more students per class in
underprivileged areas, more pressure on underpaid teachers to
meet specific quotas with less individualized education and
attention which is crucial to a child's development and for a
professional educator to truly access a child's needs and
educate accordingly.
2.)Yes, it is a form of inequality, the lack of resources in schools in underprivileged areas plays a part in the outcome of that
area's future growth and progress.
I'd guess its caused by poor managing of funds and continued
reductions in education programs, low teacher salaries, more
students per teacher per classroom resulting in less
individualized attention for these children. For decades this
has created a cycle of ignorance in these areas which
geographically show, poorer, less educated parents, single-
parent homes, having to work multiple jobs or long hours
and leaving their children alone and many times not present
to discipline or monitor the child's activities.
3.)Yes, this issue can only be resolved if both the
underprivileged communities and entities in power work
together. Education is the key to changing this problem, not
just for the kids, most importantly it must start with the adults,
educating themselves and becoming more involved in their
child's education. Community involvement is a must. People
must know what's going on in their schools and in their local
government in order to hold those in power accountable
and ensure that resources available are put into the programs
and the schools that need it. Create more programs with
incentives for parents and schools to work together.
Roxana Adame
1.) Yes, I do.
2.) Yes, it's an inequality. It's a disadvantage for those who
are in low income schools, not receiving equal textbooks,
the support from the school, materials. A lot of low income
schools lack materials and lacking materials means
lack of education the kids are receiving.
3.)The government needs to release some more money for
it to all be equal as far as education. For those in K-12 to
have the same amount of supplies and resources.
Sources
Semuels, A. (2016, Aug 25) Good School, Rich School; Bad School, Poor School. Retrieved from https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2016/08/property-taxes-and- unequal-schools/497333/
Lynch, M. (2016, Feb 6) Poverty and School Funding: Why Low-Income Students Often Suffer. Retrieved from http://www.theedadvocate.org/poverty-and-school-funding-why-low-income-students-often-suffer/
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