Education/Incarceration what is more important?

Isaiah Gay-Beal                                                                                  December 2, 2011

Education/Incarceration what is more important? 

What is more important than a child taking their first steps into a world full of knowledge? A world, in which, a child is able to explore the wonders of their young imaginary minds. With that said, what can be more important than a child’s education? Well, someone may say nothing is more important than a child’s education; however, another person may say education is only as good as the funding behind it. Furthermore, shouldn’t education in schools be where most of government funding should go? Yet, when we take a look at the criminal justice system, we see exactly how much money is placed into it and not in our schools.

The criminal justice system today has too much money placed into it. For example, according to The New Jim Crow, by Michelle Alexander, “Hundreds of millions of dollars are invested in incarcerating people”, this is money that could easily be spent on purchasing up to date text books, up to date technology (lap tops, computers), and extracurricular programs. More importantly, it seems as though America’s young youth are being left out. Why would or should these kids be left out of the equation? There’s no reason or explanation at all to explain this. Take my high school experience for example; when I was in high school, I often noticed teachers leaving left and right. I now know the cause of teachers leaving had to do with lack of funding. The ironic thing about that is the teachers that were being cut weren’t the history teachers or theology teachers; it was the art teachers, and language teachers. So, not only are children being hurt by lack of government funding, but so are teachers. Without teachers, how are children suppose to get a proper education? In addition to that, in Houston, according to The New Jim Crow, “ In the 2009-2010 academic year, State budget cuts forced the Houston Independent School District to manage a projected 10 million shortfall.”, ten million dollars is a lot of money to fall of short. So, where could all of this money have gone to? It is obviously not going to this school in Houston. Yet, in the same time frame 175 million was the amount of money that the state of Texas paid to lock up people in their community, according to Michelle Alexander. The fact that were even considering putting out that much money into a system that has been flawed for many of years is bewildering to me. It just doesn’t make sense.

           Education is important for our young youth. This is what prepares them to go out in the real world to

lead a way for the future. Also, teachers are necessary for a child’s learning. If there is lack of teachers how

is this youth movement suppose to ever amount to anything. In my personal opinion, I feel as though too

much money is spent into incarceration. Yes, it is great to keep criminals of the streets; however, it is also

great to help these schools out as much as possible. We shouldn’t be too concerned with filling up our jail

cells to maximum capacity, when most are already over crowed as we speak. So, why not take the initiative

to use the money that was spending for these people to stay in jail, and actually use it on our schools? In

conclusion, education is important and in order for our youth to have a great one, we must consider less

spending on incarceration. 



This is the headline that should be mailed to Washington today.