The majority of Americans, regardless of social class, expect the nation's colleges and universities to uphold the goal of upward social mobility. Many believe that these higher educational institutions should encourage anyone with ability and motivation to succeed. Though there are many factors that affect social mobility, such as the various opportunities that arise in terms of moving within different social classes in the United States; the pursuit of education has become a primary means of achieving upward social mobility (Reeves 2014). As the income gap continues to expand between the upper and lower classes, accessibility and success in higher education is becoming a distant dream for most. Numerous prestigious colleges and universities …show more content…
obtain their students from the highest socioeconomic quintile. Opportunities to earn a college degree have and continue to become limited for the lower quintile of American families, while those in the top-earning quintile continue to increase (Kelsey, 10/07/15). Compared to children whose parents in the high income bracket are able to create the best possible opportunities to safeguard their academic success, children of lower income earning families have little to no resources to invest in higher education. As a result, students in lower social classes who live in poor neighborhoods are significantly unprepared academically. In addition, these students are unaware of the application process for enrollment and are poorly informed about the cost of attending college and the availability of needs-based financial aid. Moreover, with the increase of college prices through the 1980s and 1990s and the growing inequality of family income, the difficulty for low-income students to afford college compared to upper class students has escalated. It is apparent that America is experiencing a disproportionate expanding opportunity gap. Those born in bottom social class ranks have difficulty with upward mobility. Although the United States has believed itself to be a meritocracy, a home where anyone who attains an education and works diligently thrive, the facts tell a somewhat different story. Education has become a key factor in determining which jobs people obtain and in defining their social class status. Thus, people from privileged social classes have higher chances of embarking on a long educational career and gaining higher level qualifications than those from less advantaged classes. As stated in “Education Gap Grows Between Rich and Poor, Studies Say,” “recently published scholarship suggests that the achievement gap between rich and poor children is widening.” Meaning that low income students will continue to be deprived of the beneficial factors upper income students continue to receive through better educational opportunities (Tavernise 2012:1). I argue that education is a crucial overruling link between the social background of individuals, and this may reinforce social inequalities and reduce social mobility in various communities. However, those in the lower social classes like myself, who are able to obtain a solid educational foundation in better communities as well as attending a community college, can assist in the escape of the vicious cycle of social inequality. As well as providing an opportunity to gain positive social capital and upward social mobility. Body: The U.S. education system fails in leveling the opportunities between students from high- and low-income families. Instead, education only seems to benefit those that attend schools that are located within prosperous and well-funded school systems. Thus, the education system seems to intensify and reinforce differences in economic status. Through research found by Sabrina Tavernise, “wealthy parents invest more time and money than ever before in their children…while lower-income families, which are now more likely than ever to be headed by a single parent, are increasingly stretched for time and resources” (Tavernise 2012:2). By observing the data that compares evidence between Piedmont High School and McClymonds and their respective communities, we can see how Piedmont’s community has the necessary resources to continue investing in better education. In contrast, McClymonds low income earning families are not able to directly invest in their children’s education and have to rely on government assistance and investment which is scarce. The Piedmont community median household income ranges at $207,222 compared to the significantly lower $56,944 of the McClymonds community (CDE 2013). The increasingly prosperous higher income community of Piedmont allows many to invest time, money, and influence to ensure their children's academic success at various levels of education. As stated in lecture, public resources fund the expansion of post-secondary education (Kelsey, 9/28/15). It is obvious that investment in our public education is necessary. Communities like McClymonds require more investment in public education to level the playing field for students to perform at the same levels as those at Piedmont. There are various social policies that could have attributed to the social and educational inequality between these two communities and communities around the nation. One factor comes from the result of an expanding higher educations system between 1945 and 1970. A time where whites were able to achieve higher education that ultimately helped them move up in social class while depriving those of color with the same opportunity (Kelsey, 10/05/15). Another aspect that may have kept these two communities segregated was “redlining.” Through “redlining,” cities were divided into districts of Black/Latino/Asian neighborhoods that were “redlined” as “economically unsound” areas for investment and the residents could not get housing loans making it harder to pay off their mortgages (Kelsey, 9/28/15). Lastly, “restrictive covenants,” prohibited the sale of hosing to people of color in the suburbs (Fischer et al. 1996). This also preserved a separation within communities and significant government investments only reached the new suburbs which is reflected through the difference in house values. In the Oakland Hills, houses were valued over $1 Million while East Oakland valued at $366,400 (CDE 2013). Glaring differences in academic investment and performance is also reflected by the dropout rates of each high school where McClymonds reaches 17.5% to Piedmonts .50% (CDE 2013). The statistics above illustrate how certain aspects to this day still deprive those of lower class and benefit selected communities. The road that provided me the opportunities to gain admittance into the University of California, Berkeley is a little unorthodox compared to most people. Growing up in Richmond, California where the median household income and poverty levels are similar to that of East Oakland, I can attest to similar detriments of poor education and little upward social mobility in my community. From the violence that surrounded the mainly Hispanic and black city and the poorly funded educational system, I was lucky to avoid being put into the detrimental education system within the city. My parents, who were immigrants from Central America and had little to no education, always emphasized the importance of education. Fortunately, they were able to provide a vast amount of opportunities for my brother and I. By opening up their own flooring business and making a little over $70,000 annually, they made enough money to put us through private schools located outside the dangerous area we lived in. Although living in Richmond, my parents were fortunate enough to put me into a private catholic elementary school in middle-class El Cerrito, called St. John the Baptist. Because of St. Johns I was able to learn proper English and basic learning skills, a teaching curriculum that my preschool in Richmond lacked. Research has found that “children who moved at a young age from a low-mobility area to a high-mobility area did almost as well [in the future] as those who spent their entire childhood in a higher-mobility area” (Leonhardt 2013). Although, we did not move out of the Richmond area, I was able to attain beneficial education and social capital of the middle class by joining the El Cerrito community and its private education system. St. Johns prepared me in getting high enough results on the high school entrance exam to qualify me in being admitted into a catholic high school known for its solid educational background. As a result, my parents were able to enroll me into Salesian High School, which is a private high school in the neighboring city of San Pablo. This opportunity had enriched me with social capital of the middle class, which was lacking in the educational institutions within Richmond. My high school had a graduation percent of 99% which is similar to Piedmont, while also offering 18 AP classes (CDE 2013). There were also many extracurricular activities including an opportunity for me to play on the boys’ football, basketball and soccer team. Ultimately, I attended a community college after high school due to the lack of financial aid and economical resources, which would have allowed me to go to a state or UC university.
Although I attended a community college after high school I do believe attending a private school outside of Richmond provided me with the necessary “middle-class cultural capital”: general knowledge, tastes and dispositions as well as the skills which are passed on from one generation to the next (Bourdieu 1996:13) that helped me succeed. Community college served several important functions in my postsecondary education. Community college provided a key access point to higher education for nonwhite and Latino students. Emile Durkheim noted, “That accessible public education would be the first step that allows for equality of opportunity in society” (Kelsey, 9/02/15). The primary social mobility role of community colleges lies in its affordable tuition and their ability to raise college transfer eligibility into 4 year colleges. As stated by Claude Fischer, “The expansion of higher education increased equality of opportunity” (Fischer et al.:793). Community college leveled the playing field for me in my attempt at applying to the University of California, Berkeley and allowed me to save up enough money to pay for my last two years of tuition, something that was almost impossible coming straight out of high
school. Conclusion In summary, social mobility is linked to education. To improve the chances for low- and middle-income children to succeed in terms of higher education, the current education system must be readdressed. The education system should invest in more opportunities to the lower class as well as effectively informing them of those opportunities. Although my situation is unique compared to other minorities who are not as fortunate as me, I believe the biggest key factors in my admittance into the University of California, Berkeley were my participation at a community college and education outside my home community. Community college provided me with affordable education while also connecting me with the necessary people who helped me get into Berkeley. Community College can be a second chance at helping you enter a prestigious university and if you utilize the resources it provides for you, it can be an educational sanctuary. Through all the evidence provided it is evident that education is a necessary key in attaining upward social mobility.
For those that could not undergo the college experience otherwise, doors leading to opportunity are opened. However, I do not share Addison’s view that attending community college is the best method for anyone. Whether college or community college is chosen, comparisons cannot be properly made. It is difficult to determine which of the two choices is better because every person and their situation is different, requiring different methods. I gravitate towards the position of avoiding community colleges if possible, but as stated before, college is not always possible. Private colleges tend to have higher academic standards, for everyone earned the right to be admitted. This community of common ground and similar academic ability creates an atmosphere that is comfortable, yet motivated. I agree with Addison and Hacker and Dreifus in the sense that education needs improving, but I do not agree with their entire view. It is impossible to create a perfect form of education because not every student is the same. A different education than the current is not always the answer because someone will always be placed at a disadvantage. In conclusion, I strongly encourage the option of attending private college; however, community colleges can serve as a wonderful, life-saving alternative for those who desire the college experience, but are unable to attend
In the essay "The Danger of Telling Poor Kids That College Is the Key to Social Mobility" written by Andrew Simmons, he states that poor and wealthy college students should both be "sold" the same motivational idea. His idea is that rather than poor people focusing of making money, they should focus on an intellectual awakening similar to what wealthier students are able to focus on. Although Simmons raises a strong argument, I do not believe it is effective when trying to motivate poor students such as the black and Latino kids that live in Inglewood and West Adams in Los Angeles. Throughout my essay I will discuss why poor students and wealthy students motivational factors differ greatly.
Because universities are extending the number of applicants they are accepting, a lot of people question whether community colleges still matter. Personally, I share Liz Addison, for¬¬¬mer Southern Maine Community College student and graduate of Royal Veterinary College in London, opinion that appears in her essay “Two Years Are Better than Four” published in 2007. In her essay, even though Addison rebuts Rick Perlstein’s perspective that community colleges no longer matter as they once did, explains the philosophy of community college, and recounts her college experience, she mostly focus on proving her opinion, stated in the last paragraph of the essay, that “college does still matter”(258). In other words, Adison thinks that college still
One major decision one must make after exiting high school is whether to go to a university or go to community college. In the article “Two Year Are Better Than Four,” written by Liz Addison. She expressed her opinion on the significance of community colleges in comparison with the university. She stated that community college do not receive the acknowledgment and appreciation that they deserve. “what’s the matter with colleges?,” (Addison 255). although, there is a lot to agree with within the article there are some faulty statements that two year colleges don’t offer the best education possible and that community college are more engaging and individualized for a student and the price is also much less expensive than a university education.
The right and privilege to higher education in today’s society teeters like the scales of justice. In reading Andrew Delbanco’s, “College: What It Was, Is, and Should Be, it is apparent that Delbanco believes that the main role of college is to accommodate that needs of all students in providing opportunities to discover individual passions and dreams while furthering and enhancing the economic strength of the nation. Additionally, Delbanco also views college as more than just a time to prepare for a job in the future but a way in which students and young adults can prepare for their future lives so they are meaningful and purposeful. Even more important is the role that college will play in helping and guiding students to learn how to accept alternate point of views and the importance that differing views play in a democratic society. With that said, the issue is not the importance that higher education plays in society, but exactly who should pay the costly price tag of higher education is a raging debate in all social classes, cultures, socioeconomic groups and races.
Obtaining higher education is regarded as the ultimate symbol of status in the United States (US). Access to a college education in this country is seen as an expression of academic excellence and can provide access to unlimited possibilities. In the US, Ivy Leagues are considered the elite and represent the most powerful ideogram of educational opportunity. According to the National Center for Education Statistics [NCES] (2012), from 1999–2000 to 2009–10, the percentages of both master's and doctor's degrees earned by females increased from 1999–2000 to 2009–10 from 58 to 60 percent and from 45 to 52 percent. The NCES report (2012), found that in 2009-10, of the 10.3 percent Black students who earned Bachelor degrees; 65.9 percent were women. Of the 12.5% of Black students who earned Master’s degree in 2009-10, 71.1 percent were women; and of the 7.4 percent of Black students who earned doctoral level degrees (this includes most degrees previously regarded as first-professional, i.e. M.D., D.D.S., and law degrees), 65.2 percent were women (NCES, 2012)...
Success. Society tends to correlate “success” with the obtainment of a higher education. But what leads to a higher education? What many are reluctant to admit is that the American dream has fallen. Class division has become nearly impossible to repair. From educations such as Stanford, Harvard, and UCLA to vocational, adult programs, and community, pertaining to one education solely relies on one’s social class. Social class surreptitiously defines your “success”, the hidden curriculum of what your socioeconomic education teaches you to stay with in that social class.
John Marsh, Ph.D., shares his epiphany, that his sharing the popular belief that higher education was the answer to bringing about economic equality and curing poverty, was in fact wrong; in this short selection, “Why Education Is Not an Economic Panacea”, taken from his book, “Class Dismissed: Why We Cannot Teach or Learn Our Way Out of Inequality”. Marsh had felt that gaining a higher education himself worked to bring him to a level of economic equality, so, it should work the same way for everyone else. His change of heart comes after perhaps stepping down from the pedestal that many, with lots of letters after their name, sit on, or are put upon by others, and witnessing first-hand the dismal rates of graduation of students in the single course he teaches for The Odyssey Program. Serving as good Public Relations for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the program’s purpose was two-fold; it was to provide, at no cost, college level course(s) for low-income adults and look good for the University. In this excerpt, Marsh’s narrow vision seems to have opened up somewhat, however, it does not demonstrate that his visual field widened enough to see that there is much, much more than simply economics or education that is at play in determining where people end up in the spectrum of being considered successful in the United States. (Marsh 914)
In “The Case Against College” Linda Lee tells us exactly who belongs in college, they are “the high-achieving student who is interested in learning for learning’s sake…. And those who seem certain to go on to advanced degree’s in law, medicine, architecture, and the like,” (670). But just because there are certain people who belong in school does not mean that those are the people that attend. Those who are more privileged just happen to be in a position that allows them to partake in certain amenities, one of them being a higher standard of
...accessible for all students. In his article, Murray states, “Employers do not value what the student has learned, just that the student has a degree.” (Murray 233) Similarly, employers often do not value where the degree is from, just that one has been achieved. Thus, community college is the quintessential choice to not only “break the norm” of a B.A., but to aid in financial stability while doing so. Addison’s counterargument strongly disagrees with Murray’s overall argument, that college is not necessary.
Community colleges have been tool used by many American students and families as a means of affordable education for better life for themselves and their children. Community colleges has played a big role in helping middle and lower income families who can 't afford to go to 4 years colleges ,the chance to educate themselves and their children. Community college was created in order to give basic liberal , technical and vocational education to all willing to be educated.
With more Americans falling to the lower middle class, (Curtis) action needs to be taken to ensure that young Americans are not priced out of college because the price of tuition is so high. In addition, many of our top private universities are in danger of being accessible only to those from the most affluent families.
As the high school chapter is coming to a close, many students have to make a decision that will affect the rest of their lives. Hopefully, for many that decision is to enroll in a college and attain a higher education. However, as tuition costs rise, students have to take a second look at their options for a better future. A community college is that second look for many because it is the less expensive option. From 2007-2009, enrollment for community colleges has increased by 24 percent (“College costs and the CPI”). Students aren’t choosing a college for educational purposes because they are overwhelmed by financial issues. They are attending community colleges so they will be able to graduate with a lower debt. Some seniors have wanted to attend a certain university all their life and they work toward that goal through grade school; however, they are hindered by soaring tuition for that college. Students should be able to attend a private university if they mee...
The argument for free higher education is not only an economic issue but a moral one as well. Currently, social mobility in the United States is at or clos...
Rich people assume that College is important, but it is not a one way ticket to success, and happiness. However, Middle class people believe that education is important to be successful in the future. Education for middle class student is an important tool that is applied in the modern world to succeed, as it reduces the challenges, which are faced in life. “With nearly half of the nation 's undergraduates enrolled in community colleges,…….are playing an increasingly important role in higher education.”(David Hosansky). The information gained through education allows individuals’ future life to be optimally utilized due to training of the human mind. This eventually opens doors of opportunities for individual to achieve better chance in career growth. Education has played a major role in the modern industrial world. “This is attributed to the fact prospective employees must be qualified adequately to perform various tasks effectively.”(David Hosansky) Industries entail resources that are sufficiently equipped with the modern technology to suit the needs and wants of the society. This makes education to become a norm for services in all industrial