Education: A Social Problem or Opportunity for Development? - Essay Sample

Introduction

Education is intended for societal and individual development but often becomes a social problem. The inequalities in educational attainment due to social class differences, the politics of school financing, and mediocrity in the system often cause problems in society. For instance, students from lower socioeconomic classes are often intellectually disadvantaged owing to the diverse issues associated with their backgrounds (Lauer et al., 2018, 335). Nonetheless, there are several public policies and private actions that could be taken to counter this problem.

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The reformation of school financing is critical to address the inequities between different school districts. Schools that receive lower funding have poor physical conditions and hire low-quality teachers; hence learners in such institutions are disadvantaged (Lauer et al., 2018, 338). There is a need to implement policies that will equalize the money available for all schools. The government should increase the proportion of state finances channeled to public education (Lauer et al., 2018, 343). Besides, private bodies should increase their efforts in supporting disadvantaged school districts to enhance equality in education.

Several measures should be put in place to enhance the quality of education offered in different institutions. Social background factors such as ethnic origin, socioeconomic status, and race often determine the quality of education that a learner receives (Lauer et al., 2018, 328). Besides, the standards used across different schools differ with black and lower strata schools being subjected to lower tests compared to those in affluent neighborhoods (Lauer et al., 2018, 331). There is a need to establish standards-based learning where minimum standards are set for all schools. The standard number of students per classroom should also be set to avoid overcrowding, which is common in poor students’ schools (Lauer et al., 2018, 344). Moreover, the government should improve the school atmosphere to ensure they are safe and free of drugs and guns to promote learning.

Compensatory programs could prove valuable in reducing inequalities in education. These plans target disadvantaged students and focus on skills such as speech and reading for such learners to be at par with the rest (Lauer et al., 2018, 346). In many schools, such students remain unattended since teachers cannot relate with nor assist them. Instead, they place lower expectations for these learners, which further detriments their educational attainment (Lauer et al., 2018, 338). The use of compensatory plans, such as remedial classes would be highly beneficial for disadvantaged learners. Such programs will ensure these students learn the necessary social and verbal skills to be at the same level as the other students.

The reduction of racial and ethnic inequalities is essential in the education system. The racial or ethnic identity of a learner has a significant impact on a learner’s chances of educational achievement (Lauer et al., 2018, 326). Minority groups are often disadvantaged, which is evident from their low numbers in colleges and universities. These inequities are also seen from the SAT scores with Hispanics and blacks, often registering lower points than whites (Lauer et al., 2018, 342). These problems can be traced to the segregation of institutions. Efforts on de-segregation should, therefore, be executed to curb these disparities (Lauer et al., 2018, 346). State and local governments should work toward ensuring all learners receive an equal and quality education.

Conclusion

Overall, education becomes a social problem when it fails to achieve its core goals, which include creating productive citizens and facilitating personal development. Some of the social issues linked include racial and ethnic inequalities, disparities in financing across different districts, and inadequate care for disadvantaged learners. The government and private bodies should chip in to counter these issues and therefore ensure education achieves its intended objectives. While America has become progressively educated, there is a need to ensure that schooling improves society.

Reference

Lauer, Lauer, J. L., & Lauer, J. C. (2018). Social problems and the quality of life (14th Ed.). McGraw Hill.