Present Post 4

In chapter three of American Education, Joel Spring depicts issues in regards to a school’s ability to give their students an equal chance to obtain wealth, social class, or have a successful future. In this chapter there were a few quotes that stuck out to me that helped give a better understanding of this issue happening in today’s world.

“Most school systems are test driven. In the United States, life-determining standardized testing begins in elementary school and extends into the workplace. Most states now require passing a state test before receiving a high school diploma….It is now a test-happy world!” (pg. 72)

This quote stood out to me because it is one that I agree with. In today’s worlds there is a large emphasis placed on doing well on standardized tests. If a school district is ill-prepared for this type of testing, it could set a child up for failure. School districts that struggle economically don’t have as much access to proper resources compared to those of wealthier areas. According to our class readings, discussions, and my own experiences at a wealthy school, wealthier districts tend to do better on standardized testing than districts that struggle economically. I believe that students should have equal access to preparation, but unfortunately economic situations have a drastic impact on this matter.    

“More than half (61%) of Americans said that the economic system favors the wealthy, while just 35% said it’s fair to most people….A similar share (66%) of Americans said the gap between rich and poor had increased in the past five years; nearly three-quarters of respondents said that rich-poor gap with either a “very big” (47%) or “moderately big” (27%) problem.” (pg. 78)

I found this quote interesting because it lays out the facts about the rich and poor gap. In class we have had frequent discussions that agree with this gap. Our readings demonstrate how the economic systems favor the wealthy as they have access to academic resources. My high school, BBHHS, always had us preparing for standardized test which is why we would perform well and were prepared for college. Those districts that aren't as fortunate don’t necessarily have this type of preparation, which sets them up for a challenging future. I believe that these numbers should be lower, and I am hoping that over the years this will happen.

“Ask any real estate agent in your area to name the best local school district. Most likely the real estate agent will name school districts with wealthy households and a high percentage of college graduates. Often the housing in these districts...is beyond the purchasing power of low-income families.” (pg. 79)

When looking at finding a place to live, most families want a location that provides a good education system. My parents wanted to live in Brecksville because my dad had a good job nearby and they were well aware of the excellent school district that Brecksville had to offer. However, some cities, such as Brecksville, are not cheap to live in and some might not be able to afford to live in these cities that provide a better education. Income has a major impact on housing location, and some families may only be able to afford living in a city that doesn’t provide educational opportunities. Our class discussions about location and school districts line up with what is stated: wealthy locations have wealthy school districts, and vice versa. Low-income families are not granted the same opportunities as high-income families.