The Education of the Lower Class: A Perpetual Problem

The United States of America has been touted as the land of opportunity. The American dream was the reason many immigrants moved to this nation, all hoping to rise from rags to riches. Although likely at some point, the current situation exudes a different result. The problem in the United States is that there is a class divide that gives advantage to those who already have sufficient lifestyles over those who constantly face adversity. This situation causes a loop where the children of the educated get educated while those without are never given the opportunity to receive.

Class for the purpose of this paper is the concept that those who are better off are of what can be considered to be upper class and those that lack financial means are of the lower class. Mantsios says that there is an absence of discussion in reference to the distinctions of classes (697). In a study performed by Susan Ostrander, in regards to the term “upper class” one woman responded “‘I hate to use the word ‘class.’ We are responsible, fortunate people, old families, the people who have something’” (697). Yet it appears to be opposite that those who are in this lower class realize the plight they suffer. As one student from Fremont High School noted, “‘The owners of the sewing factories need laborers. Correct…It’s not going be their own kids… You’re ghetto,’ said Fortino unrelentingly to her. ‘So Sew!’”(Kozol 645). The student who knew that he was more than likely to be stuff in his place was willing to point out this fault of the system. This topic which more than likely the well-off woman would stray from rather because she had life easier than Fortino will in his lifetime.

How far a student goes in their schooling, up towards university level ...

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...fe of privilege. Education as well is more accessible to the privileged and becomes harder to succeed as one goes down the hierarchy of wealth. This higher education to the higher class allows them to continue to build whatever wealth they have which can be passed down to their children who will as well live a privileged life. This horrendous cycle unless stopped will simply keep the children of poor also poor. This is the United States of America, and this nation promotes an educational system which in turn promotes a class system where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

Works Cited

Kozol, Jonathan. "Fremont High School." 2005. The Norton Field Guide to Writing. 2nd ed. New York: W. W. Norton &, 2010. 641-48. Print.

Mantsios, Gregory. "Class in America." 2003. The Norton Field Guide to Writing. 2nd ed. New York: W. W. Norton &, 2010. 697-716. Print.