What “Class” You In?

SUBMITTED BY: DIANE MAPP 

 

In relation to education and race, class divides children in society. Many students live in urban areas where the property taxes are higher. This leaves fewer expenses to go towards education. Some students do not want to attend school because they do not feel they deserve it. Children are forced to learn in hazardous conditions. Children of wealthy families go to schools with plenty of funding for books and materials, while children of poor families attend schools with less money to spend on education and the maintenance of their school. This causes their school to deteriorate. This also forces children to try and learn under these circumstances. This is a major and sensitive issue in society. Most people rather not address the situation, since segregation is supposed to be over. 

 

Children remain segregated by social class. In class we read the article “Still Separated, Still Unequal” by Jonathan Kozol. He discusses how children are exposed to the high stake test. In some of the urban school systems, this is what determines whether students pass to the next grade. Children who have attended those baby genius preschools prior to school, they are required to take the same test as children who haven’t. However, the children who had two years of extra learning will get the higher scores. Those children had access to trained teachers, who read good storybooks and introduced them to numbers, colors, shapes and a variety of solid objects. Schools officials in lower class schools have to make decisions that other officials in the upper classes don’t have to make or think about for that matter. Does social mobility determine a person's success? Children in poor neighborhoods have a  disadvantage. They end up in the worst schools and achieve the worst results. There needs to be a better strategy, to help poor families. This is the society we live in. The doors are closed on children. They don't qualify for school lunch. Poorer children perform worse on both cognitive test at an early age. So the focus should be on social mobility. It should mean helping those in poorer backgrounds succeed.

 Children are isolated in unequal institutions because of their social status. Not having clean bathrooms, parks, and any libraries, music or art subjects is an issue that should affect everyone in society. The purpose of education is to teach children how to be citizens, follow rules and be good workers. The curriculum is supposed to teach basic academics. Also, the values and beliefs that is important to society. However, a person’s social status comes in between that and it’s unfair. The Declaration of Independence was a good idea. It guaranteed equal rights for all men. But, some might argue that they are imprisoned by the very circumstances of their birth and they have not be treated equally.

(TEARS)