Post 3) The Unfortunate Poor

Forgetting about the facts and making decisions based on politics has a deep effect for the education system in America. In addition to the politically colored suggestions to fix the education system there are already many policies in effect, which contribute to the inequality in education. Usually it is the low-income students that suffer from educational reforms and changes, and the resent history proves no different.

Rebecca Strauss the author of the article, “Schooling Ourselves in an Unequal America,” argues that all the resent changes in the American education system have only benefitted the students that are already on their way to success. The gap between successful and low performing students is widening. According to Strauss the low performing students are performing lower and lower all the time. This is a result of granting educational funds away from the low performing students that are usually also the low-income students. With all the talk about the importance of education this should not be happening. How does it even benefit the politicians to forget about the needs of so many people.

The problem, as Strauss states, is not the amount of money that is put into education but rather that the funds are not used effectively. Education budget per pupil is on line with other western nations, but the allocation of the funds is not. Other western nations allocate more funding for schools districts with high concentrations of low-income students, whereas the American system gives the most for those who already have it all. The question is, how is this possible? I think it would benefit everyone to give better educational opportunities for those who can’t go and school shop in the private sector. The reason for this is because the school funding comes from the local property taxes. It is obvious that the wealthier communities have better funding for their schools. This creates a circle of poverty especially for the African-American students, many of who come from low-income families.

Although some things seem to have changed for the better, it is not always the case. Government policies have gotten more minority and low-income students to attend college, but at the same time drop out rates are increasing. Strauss points out that drop out rates are increasing especially in those colleges that minorities and low-income students attend college. So right now the system is only hiding the failure on higher levels.

Another problematic issue is that funding for programs that have been successful earlier are facing budget cuts. Pell grant has worked decently towards its purpose to provide college education for low-income students, but now it is facing decreased funding by the government.

The only real way for America to provide equal education for everyone is to make sure that the low-income students reach same levels with wealthier peers. Right now it isn’t happening. Politicians are just throwing out comforting speeches about the importance of education.

Work Cited

Strauss, Rebecca. “Schooling Ourselves in an Unequal America.” The New York Times 16 June (2013). The New York Times. Web. 17 Apr. 2014.