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Recommended: Public vs private schools
The class divide between those who attend private schools and those who attend public schools is evident, especially when looking at large heavily populated cities. Private schools are not government funded and so they rely on the donations and tuition from students and benefactors, which means that many private schools receive more money than public schools - which can be used to further the education of the students. At this time in America public schools are being constantly defunded and so, parents and students are desperate to be a part of the private school education, which relates to Marx’s statement that “The bourgeoisie keeps more and more doing away with the scattered state of the population.” Private schools can be rather expensive
The book Class matter shows the importance of how much people should value and appreciate the importance of a classroom education. How much you dedicate yourself to school can help you gain enough knowledge to be successful in the future. Having good quality education in America seems to be the closest thing to a ticket to class mobility. The book was very interesting in explaining what social class really is in America, and the way it affects people's lives on how they live day to day. The different types of social class is what shapes our society. But I think this book is more for those people who aren’t that aware of social class, or for the ones who feel that we live in a society that is classless rather then the actually people who have realized the consequence that class really has on someone’s life. Many people can relate to what stories are told in the book if not, they know of a person that can relate to these stories. As a person that grew up in the lower class, I can definitely relate to most of the stories told in this book. From experience, there is a big difference in this country between the rich, middle class, and who are the poorest that we see daily. Even those in the so called working class have to make continuous sacrifices and live very differently from those positioned firmly in the middle class. Some people may have decent jobs but the bills and other expenses people may have make it harder on people than those who are in the same class but don’t have to necessarily go through the same thing as others. The chapters that I read in this book broaden what I said to a better more clear understanding.
The fourth chapter in Putnam’s Our Kids is titled “Schooling”, and it focuses on how education plays into class inequality. The argument is that while schools do not cause the opportunity gap between poor kids and rich kids, the schools allow it to grow. Putnam claims, “schools as sites probably widen the class gap,” (182). How the schools act as these sites, is based strongly on the physical segregation of rich people from poor people.
Some people may believe that education all over the United States is equal. These people also believe that all students no matter their location, socioeconomic status, and race have the same access and quality of education, but ultimately they are wrong. Throughout history, there has been a huge educational disparity between the wealthy and marginalized communities. The academic essay “Social Class and the Hidden Curriculum of Work” by Jean Anyon, an American critical thinker and researcher in education, conveys that depending on the different economic backgrounds students have, they will be taught in a specific way. He reveals that the lower economic background a child has then the lower quality their education will be and the higher their economic background is the higher quality their education is. Anyon’s theory of a social ladder is extremely useful because it sheds light on the
America’s school system and student population remains segregated, by race and class. The inequalities that exist in schools today result from more than just poorly managed schools; they reflect the racial and socioeconomic inequities of society as a whole. Most of the problems with schools boil down to either racism in and outside the school system or financial disparity between wealthy and poor school districts. Because schools receive funding through local property taxes, low-income communities start at an economic disadvantage. Less funding means fewer resources, lower quality instruction and curricula, and little to no community involvement.
Throughout the years, many aspects of the educational curriculum have been altered and modified as it relates to the material that is being taught within schools worldwide. Some of the changes are due to new laws that are being implemented and “raising the bar” for the education of the upcoming generations. But with all of the changes being made does it level the playing field or does it make it more competitive? Which brings up the questions, “How does social class effect the quality of education and does equal opportunity in education exist in America?” Social class affects the quality of one’s education through power, social status and equality within the educational system.
How would universities be if there would take only two years to graduate? What is the relationship between class and education? And how are schools divided in terms of class? These questions might be helpful when thinking about class and education. In the essays written by a researcher in education and critical thinker Jean Anyon, whose essay concerned in research about class and work at five primary schools in different classes community in New Jersey, the founder and director of Joseph S. Murphy Institute for Worker Education Gregory Mantsios, whose essay is based on different class in America, and Philosopher Allan Bloom, whose essay is about undecided students and general education classes at universities, some of the main ideas each of
Social classes are divisions of individuals based on the amount of money one has. These classes are defined by one’s wealth and economic success. Social classes can determine what kind of life one may have and some of the obstacles they may have to deal with. The social classes are like ideas of levels, the higher the level one may be on, the more opportunities they come upon. Within the United States, there are three social classes; these are lower class, middle class, and upper class.
The Quality of a child’s education often either limits or opens up a world of opportunities. Those who study the purpose of public education and the way it is distributed throughout society can often identify clear correlations between social class and the type of education a student receives. It is generally known by society that wealthy families obtain the best opportunities money can buy. Education is a tool of intellectual and economical empowerment and since the quality of education is strongly influenced by social class, a smaller portion of the American population obtains the opportunities acquired from a top notch education. Many people believe that educational inequalities are perpetuated from the interests of specific classes, but some researchers like John Gatto believe that there are even stronger social forces in play. In the essay “Against Schools” the author John Gatto presents three arguments: (1) that are educational system is flawed, (2) that the American educational system is purposely designed to create a massive working class that is easy to manipulate, and (3) alternative teaching methods should be applied to teach children to think for themselves. In this essay I will be summarizing and relating each of these arguments to other educational essays. Also, I will be discussing the strengths and weaknesses of the author’s argument.
The bourgeoisie "produces its own "gravediggers" by means of the inherent contradiction that lies in the manifestation of capitalism. According to how Marx has defined the progression of capitalism, the growth of capitalism will lead to further exploitation and subjugation of the working class. Here, the working man intends to find work as long as the work that his labor contributes to some kind of increase in capital. The bourgeoisie intends to increase capital through the rule of new markets and competition. By the nature of this capitalistic economy, capitalists will request more labor for insufficient wages in order to increase profit. Then, the proletariats are to become more and more impoverished, "...as the repulsiveness of work increases,
Social class has effects on student’s education in the lower class. As we see Henry in “Two Students, Two Schools” students do not receive equal educational opportunities. Henry attends Jefferson high school where mostly Hispanic students attend. As Mitchell Landsberg says “Today it is a landing pad for the children of immigrants. Nearly half the students learn English as a second language. Free lunch is available to anyone willing to stand in line. About 800 freshman arrive each year, most ill-prepared for high school. Four years later, about 200 pick up diplomas.” (7) Educational opportunities
Many people in today’s society believe it’s wise to send their children to private schools. In making the decision on whether to put children in public or private schools, they look to four main factors: curriculum, class size, the graduation rate, and cost. When people have to pay for something, their first thought is, “Will I be getting what I’m paying for?” With a private school education, the amount you have to pay is usually well worth it. Public schools offer diversity. Here students can find people who are just like them and can associate better. Wherever you live, you have to send your child to the closest school. There’s no choice on what public school you can send your child to, whereas for private schools you can pick to send your child there. It’s not an easy choice for parents to decide, but many factors point toward a guarantee that a good education would be achieved, which is most important.
In today’s society, we focus so deeply on moving up in a social class that some of the real issues at hand blind us. A social class defining a person’s education, medical care, or acceptance in society is unacceptable. As Americans, we have struggled throughout history to overcome segregation between races, fought for gender equality, and we are making a stride to prevent biases towards sexual orientation. Yet, we still are separated by social class more now than ever before. The “Upper class” which is considered the elite, receives a more productive education along with higher education because they can afford schools that are more prestigious. A person’s life is valued higher if they have money and power. Money and power ensures the capabilities of obtaining an abundant amount of assets, while enjoying a luxurious life. Does being a part of the elite class, come with a racial identification card? Race, ethnicity, and gender seem to be obsolete when considered part of the elite class. This paper will show the research of a person’s social class, and how it has become an identifier in everyday descriptor around the world, as well as discrimination being less if belonging to the
Separation in schooling first accord in 1852 when the first private school was established. In today’s school system attending a private school is statistically more beneficial than attending a public school. In some states, a private school can receive some state funding. However, for the sole purpose of this argument, I will refer to private schools as schools that get their funding from sources outside of the government and will determine public schools as schools that receive funding solely from the government. Private schools should be abolished because they do not allow equal opportunities for students and the education provided is not equal.
In an education journal, Anyon (“Social”) provides the reader with the concept that there are four different types of schools, working class schools, middle-class schools, affluent professional schools, and executive elite schools, after observing five schools. The working class schools are made up of parents with blue-collar jobs, with less than a third of the fathers being skilled, and the majority of them being semiskilled or unskilled. “Approximately 15 percent of the fathers were unemployed… approximately 15 percent of the families in each school are at or below the federal ‘poverty’ level…the incomes of the majority of the families…are typical of 38.6 percent of the families in the United States” (Anyon, “Social”). In a more recent study conducted by Anyon (“What”, 69), she states that,
For some parents, deciding on a school for their children can be a difficult decision. Many parents do not spend much time thinking about it; they place their children into the local school designated by where they live. Others attended a private school themselves and found that it was a beneficial experience and therefore want the same for their kids. But which is better: private schools or public schools? While there are many advantages and disadvantages in each (nothing is going to be absolutely perfect), we are going to focus on the benefits of an education in the public school system, or in other words, schools funded by the government that are for anyone to attend. An accurate definition found in the Encyclopedia of American Education (1996) states: “Any elementary or secondary school under control of elected or appointed civil authority, supported entirely by public tax monies, and, with few exceptions, open to all students in a designated district, free of any tuition charges.” (780) These include elementary, secondary schools and vocational schools. Public schools are a good choice in education because they provide a wide variety of subjects to study, are diverse in their student body, available to everyone, yet can sometimes be misunderstood.