A Personal Connection

In America there is a great deal of talk in regards to equality. American's often list it as one of the key values in life.  Yet, equality is not always something that is attributed to all of the American people.

 I will be speaking specifically about the inequality that is in education systems and the way that it effects children when they grow into adults. This is an issue because in an outstanding nation such as America, the only way to truly grasp equality is through education. However, the quality of education that is performed thought our nation is not equal. Thus setting great gaps between the opportunities that are available, based on class and race.

Photo credited to Kate Ter Haar

I have come to realize through a great deal of research that where one lives has a large effect on the quality of education that they will receive. Many of those that live in areas where a majority of the neighbors have a higher income, also have access to better public school systems. 

On the opposite end of the spectrum there are those that live in poverty and the only access to a good education is through private school or using someone else's address to send their children to a school that is in a better area.

Photo credited to Paula Funell

If we were to look at this as a math problem we could simplify it by saying that better areas, have education systems with a greater quality. This is important to note because of matters such as gentrification that makes situations like this relevant. It also explains the reason that some people just cannot receive the help that they need.

Think back to when you were a child. Remember those times where you were forced to go to school. What were your parents reason behind sending you to school? For most people that answer is so that they could graduate and proceed either to college or get a job.

Photo credited to Jeff Meyer

However, the issue with this need to go to school, to be successful is useless if the school that you attend cannot provide the resources needed to be successful in life. My first experience of this issue occurred whilst I was in grade school, and no more than seven years old. My elementary school was in the process of becoming a magnet school, and they attempted to kick me out. 

My mother fought for me to stay in the school that I was in because it was one of the best schools in the school district. She believed that the school was attempting to eliminate all of those that they felt weren't worth their good standing education. 

I then had another experience during my freshman year of high school. Budget cuts. The first thing that was offered to be taken away were the school buses and new textbooks. 

Photo credited to Kevin Dooley

Never mind that the school bus was the only way for most people to get to school because of the distance from their home to their school.  I am certain that this may baffle some of you, but it is also a reality for others.  Also take note that new textbooks were another thing that were cut, even though most of the textbooks that we were using were at least a decade or so. 

This all refers back to the quality of education. There is no equality if we cannot find a way for everyone to have access to the same resources. There is no equality if the first thing that is taken away from them is their only hope of success. There is no equality if we do not find a way to help better the standards of education in low-income neighborhoods. But how do we do that?

Often times when asked for a solution in regards to education many say that the answer is in the hands of the student. Unfortunately, that is not where anyone can begin to find a solution to this issue because it is something that starts before the students are even involved, hopefully as we continue our journey we will find a way to fix this issue.