Probability of Succers

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Social class and education go hand in hand and almost always accurately predict ones level of success. The higher ones standing on the economic social ladder, the more likely they are to receive a good education and seek a high paying career path. The works of Kozol, Anyon and Mantsios provide a solid stance on the issue of lower class not receiving a solid education and identify specific key factors that prove this to be true. Through each author’s unique approach, they mutually reflect the linkage between social class and education by usage of statistics and naturalistic observation to reveal the segregation, unequal opportunities, and limited resources that many schools are faced with. Kozol focuses on the lower class school systems and proves that minority groups are not treated equally in regards to their educational opportunities. The students are not encouraged to seek a successful career path or have high hopes for their future. He speaks with a student who wanted to be a doctor or social worker; however, her school required her to take classes irrelevant from her desired career path such as, Sewing and Life Skills This exemplifies the government’s role in the school systems and their underlying motives to maintain working class jobs in society (Kozol 469). He elaborates on the ineffectiveness of SFA, a program designed to “improve” the quality of learning at impoverished schools, and visit’s numerous inner city schools to hear what would normally be left unsaid by the students. His essay reveals their unhappiness toward their schooling system and desire for equal treatment in society. Many of these schools, which are built in low-income areas with a high percentage of minorities, are named after civil rights activi... ... middle of paper ... ... Mantsios provides the most statistical evidence and has the strongest stance on the realities and myths of each level of social class. Kozol and Anyon seek change in society while Mantsios offers nothing further than facts and evidence. The ties between social class and education are undoubtedly apparent and can be seen in the everyday lives of Americans. Despite the many cries for change and equality in schools, the division of classes maintains the economic infrastructure of our nation. Kozol, Anyon and Mantsios each focus on separate aspects of social class and education, but manage to tie in the same overall concept of equality being desirable yet not always attainable. The three authors do an excellent job of not only recognizing this relationship, but also portraying the evidence through statistics and first hand knowledge from the students themselves.

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