Alleviating Domestic Poverty through Education
America was founded on the principles of capitalism and freedom, but what happens when corporate greed and economic exploitation go unchecked? Do we now need freedom from capitalism, and how do we solve the poverty it has caused? 46.2 million American Citizens, about 15% of our population, live in poverty. Park Avenue, one of the world’s wealthiest blocks, is within minutes from some of New York’s poorest ghettos. Wealth inequality is increasing as access to basic services decreases. Obviously, poverty is a glaring issue facing our nation, and solving this issue should be of the highest priority. The first step to fix this problem should be improving our educational system. Education is not a complete panacea but it nonetheless provides its students with more opportunities than any other institution, schools partially remove children from their negative home environment, and adequate education creates a more informed electorate that will help make sure efficient policies are implemented.
Education undisputably fights poverty by opening up economic opportunities to impoverished people. Studies show stark correlations between the amount of income of an individual and their degree of education. The Georgetown Center for Education and the Workforce shows that college graduates make 84% more money over the course of a lifetime than those with only a high school diploma or less. Although many argue that any increase in the educational level of our citizens would only mean the standards of education in order to be successful raise as well, it is actually a matter of individuals being economically oppressed, due not to personal shortcomings, but to the system’s failure to provide equal opportunity. 80% of high school dropouts make less than thirty thousand dollars a year; when compared to the basic financial need of a family living in rural nebraska (one of the most affordable regions to live in the United States) is $31,080 one can conclude that dropping out of high school virtually sentences individuals to a life of poverty throughout the country. In addition, the number of high school dropouts who have gone to prison has tripled over the last forty years. Thus, the educational system’s influence during high school and college is crucial in defining what a person’s economic circumstances will be moving forward in life.
The Essay on School Choice: Public Education Vs. Home School
School Choice: Public Education vs. Home School When Americans think of education, they almost automatically think of public education. Through the years, it is slowly changing. Many parents today are deciding to home-school their children. Although most people think that a public education is better, most statistics and facts tend to show that home schooling is beneficial in more ways. It is ...
Another way education helps alleviate poverty is by providing kids with a type of haven from their home, which most of the time is not a positive influence. The opposition would state that the problems outsides the walls of the schools are bigger than the ones in it therefore education is not the issue. The parents and other institutions are the reasons why people have been subjected to a life of poverty. Science Magazine recently published a study detailing how living in poverty effectively lowers one’s IQ by nearly 13 points, which is the equivalent to the effects of alcoholism or pulling an all-nighter. The decision making of parents in poverty is already severely impaired before taking any other circumstances into consideration. These domestic inadequacies are actually even more evidence as to why schools need to offer a nurturing environment to counter the negative home effect. In doing so, students transferring the same type of resentment they have for their home towards their school can be prevented. If schools were to provide students with an atmosphere of growth and learning academic success would significantly increase.
The largest obstacle in the way of our educational system fostering a positive setting is that the schools where a haven is most vital are the schools that have the least resources. It is critical that we fix the great imbalance. All over the country our cities have developed rings of extremely rich school districts with brand new buildings around the inner city school districts that have crumbling facilities and not enough teachers. It is inequality and a definitive contradiction to our nation’s creed of everyone getting the same opportunities. The inequality is furnished by the fact that those in power and the ones making the most property tax contributions to public school’s budgets are not sending their kids to private schools instead of public which makes it especially hard to bring about reform because those in charge do not have a direct interest.
Great Depression Teachers School Education
During the Great Depression receiving an education was becoming more and more difficult for southerners. From not being able to afford the required supplies needed, to not being able to pay the tut ions, many people found it nearly impossible to attend school. The novel, To Kill A Mockingbird written by Harper Lee shows how the lack of education in society during the Great Depression affected ...
The relationship between education and poverty is a highly political issue. Improving our educational system is critical in producing a more knowledgeable electorate. The electorate is the cornerstone of a functioning democracy and when it is educated it prevents the prospect of tyranny or oppression from the government. Moreover, educated voters will vote for better politicians because they will have a greater understanding for the benefits and consequences of the policies they are enacting. In turn, the government’s policies that affect the economy will be smarter and will help change the socioeconomic circumstances that account for the poverty in the first place.
Education is not going to alleviate poverty by being general and blindly throwing money at schools, rather by being specific with our goals on how to improve the system and making sure everyone gets not just an education but the right type of education. Higher education does not always mean a college or university. It can mean many other things such as technical school, job training, or the military. In emphasizing different career pathways we are taking steps to ensure that there are adequately trained workers ready to work all the various jobs that are in demand. As long as our goals in how to improve our educational system are precise and we focus on giving kids the appropriate type of education in preparation for the careers that are in demand education will continue to provide those in poverty with the most chances at a better future, give kids a place to spend a lot of time surrounded by positive influences, and move our country politically in the right direction; therefore helping solve the problem of poverty in America. The financial inequality in New york city is explained upon examining the respective educational opportunities of those living on Park Ave versus those begging on the street, rather than an individual work ethic based rhetoric that is so prevalent in our capitalistic society. The primary source in reversing the imbalanced, oppressive, and unfair power structure currently in place will be through the proper education of all our citizens.
The Essay on Problems in the United States Educational System
Today, the way the educational system works in the U.S. concerns a large number of people in this country. "Only 25% of adults have a great deal of confidence in the people running education, according to the General Social Survey, down from 49% in 1974" (Russel 4). A lot of discussions have been held to find the best ways to improve teaching methods. At the same time, people recognize that a ...
