Equal Opportunity and Education in US

Education is always one of the most concerns of Americans. When talking about it, people often mention its aim of equal opportunity as well as competitive and selective education system. There are so many different opinions towards these two goals.

From elementary school to college, Americans believe that everyone deserves an equal opportunity to learn. This encourages as many American as possible to express their ability. Besides, the view that education gradually help to against racial discriminations and differences in social background was and is widely accepted. For instance, schools in the US implement many programs to bring together people from various cultures, different religions and social and political background. In addition, the disabled children can attend the same school like anyone else does with the special support.

Americans also believe that higher education is very important. This is the way for them step closer to their dreams “rising in the world”. Comprehensive education must go hand in hand with an awareness that America has also needs a highly trained specialist. Therefore, it is understandable when their education system becomes increasingly selective the higher level. America’s universities all set its own admission standards so the best universities are more difficult to enter. Harvard, for example, admitted only 17.2 % qualified applicants in 1991. Because of the importance of higher education, many people who already have a job, still take classes after the work time in order to reinforce the specific knowledge. Not surprising when people say that America’s higher education system is the best in the word.

To answer the question mentioned at first, we will consider the educational ladder of the U.S, ...

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...rs who represent the aim of highly selective education think that it should be provided for improving specific knowledge and also maintaining the high position in technology and research. I tend to think it would be better if the money and efforts are spent on both. On the one hand, it will contribute to improve the quality of education for all people. On the other hand, it will encourage American to learn to get higher qualifications and participate in the specialized research.

These two goals still have the conflicts, however, maintaining both not only develops their education, but also helps solve some social problems. No matter the final goal is money, social status, or simple knowledge, all of these are usually started at the school door. This is the reason that Americans are willing to give more money to education even though the difficult economic conditions.