Education is recognized as one of the most important functions within the state and federal governments. However, in the United States, students from poor neighborhoods do not have access to equal learning opportunities compared to their counterparts in privileged schools. In the case of San Antonio vs. Rodriguez (1973), demonstrate how the majority of students from underfunded learning institutions are deprived of the chance to thrive socially and economically. The existing disparities in the acquisition of quality education expose students to unfair socioeconomic conditions, which deny them equal opportunities to contribute to the social, political, and economic sectors in the country.
Why Education is a Fundamental Right
Depriving children of equal academic opportunities minimizes their chances of succeeding. Economically disadvantaged children are forced to attend public under-funded institutions, which are incapable of providing them with quality education. According to Sracic (2006), educational deprivation stems from the lack of sufficient learning resources and support among school districts in poor neighborhoods. The inferior public school system discourages students from disadvantaged communities from attending their classes as required. As a result, these students may end up dropping out of school and becoming lower-income earners within the workforce. Moreover, low educational levels have been associated with poverty as individuals that have not completed their high school education or lack a college diploma have minimal chances of being employed.
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Lack of essential academic skills creates substantial disparities in the economy and population. Individuals that have the opportunity to attend privileged schools have the upper hand in succeeding economically compared to those with an inferior education. Education level affects how an individual is perceived in society by others and organizations. For instance, employers use the academic achievements of an individual to determine which positions they should occupy, and the amount of salary and individual is entitled to. Consequently, the level of income influences a person's lifestyle and socioeconomic status. An individual whose annual income is insufficient to sustain their daily needs, such as quality healthcare coverage, improved housing and food – automatically leads to poor quality of life. Such an individual struggles to make ends meet since they are subjected to low economic and social status because of their inferior academic achievements. Thus, it is evident that education plays a critical role in the overall development of a person's life as it influences the opportunities available to them within the society.
Children that lack access to quality education lack basic skills and knowledge to be good citizens. The inability of many underfunded school districts to effectively educate their students has contributed to the development of a section of the population that is ignorant. According to Goldstein (2018), students in wealthy neighborhoods have an extensive curriculum and extra-curriculum activities that teach civic education compared to schools in poorer localities. Therefore, students fail to learn about important elements that contribute to their development as adults. For instance, the federal lawsuit against Rhodes Island revealed that the school district was unable to equip students with the necessary skills to become good citizens. As a result, the failure of the school to prepare children to become responsible U.S citizens is a violation of their rights.
Unequal education opportunities are a form of social injustice since the school systems oppress some children while others benefit. For instance, children from poor families are marginalized by the education system since they are only expected to attend schools with inadequate resources. Therefore, the cycle of poverty and uneducated population only affects deprived communities, whereas others continue to thrive under the same state and national government. The public education system creates social inequality, which is against the U.S constitution. According to Sracic (2004), the public school system in the U.S was established to ensure that the republic government would create an opportunity for all citizens to access education that qualifies them to participate in the civic and social duties. However, in examining the current public education system, it is evident that it defies the constitution by failing to provide each child with the chance to develop the basic civic skills that will enable them to practice their freedom of speech.
The American education system has been developed to equip children with the ability to become independent adults that contribute to the socioeconomic development of their communities. Therefore, the unavailability of equal access to education for children from all demographics creates disparities in ethnic groups, races, and communities. According to Sracic (2006), minority communities such as immigrants and people of color are the most affected individuals in the public education system. This population consists of children that face social and economic constraints, which prevent them from attending privileged schools. For example, the lawsuit against Rhodes Island public school system revealed that Latino immigrants and children with special needs are the main populations that were denied the opportunity to obtain basic academic skills and exercise their civic rights and freedom of speech.
Conclusion
Every individual in the United States has the right to access the same education opportunities irrespective of their economic, cultural, or social background. Failure by the government to declare education as a fundamental right has subjected children from poor neighborhoods to low levels of education. As a result, these children grow up to be adults that are not only disadvantaged but contribute to the poverty levels in society. Individuals with inferior education struggle to exercise their civic rights and do not understand what being a good citizen entails. Moreover, quality education will contribute to minimizing the socioeconomic inequalities in America.
References
Goldstein, D. (2018). Lawsuit Says Rhode Island Failed to Teach Students to Be Good Citizens. New York Times. Retrieved from: https://www.wral.com/lawsuit-says-rhode-island-failed-to-teach-students-to-be-good-citizens/18027098/
San Antonio Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Rodriguez, 411 U.S. 1, 57 (1973).
Sracic, P. (2004). The Brown Decision's Other Legacy: Civic Education and the Rodriguez Case. PS: Political Science and Politics, 37 (2), 215-218. Retrieved from www.jstor.org/stable/4488808
Sracic, P. (2006). San Antonio v. Rodriguez and the Pursuit of Equal Education . Lawrence: University Press of Kansas.
