For many students, inequality is seen everyday in the classroom when classmates gossip about who got the highest score on the math test or when that new kid that stands out because of her appearance. This makes students feel uncomfortable and lose focus while being afraid of the classroom that almost encourages inequality.
But as I’m thinking about it more and more, it’s that same institution, education, that can actually save students from inequality in the future, giving them knowledge and skills to find success.
Inequality in Class
From a young age, students notice their differences in race and culture in the classroom setting and receive criticism because of it. In “Hunger of Memory”, Richard Rodriguez remembers seeing the other children from white and educated families and seeing himself, a boy who couldn’t speak English and clung to his Spanish roots. Since he couldn’t relate to others, school became a strange and unwelcoming place, which interfered with his learning. As a child of immigrants, I experienced something similar to Rodriguez’s struggle and related to how difficult it was belonging to a world he couldn’t even communicate in. Speaking from experience, the nervousness I felt sitting in a room with kids that looked and spoke differently than I did distracted me from learning, which is exactly what Rodriguez experienced.
But, even if your class has kids that look, act and talk the same way, inequality can still exist. This was the case for Sherman Alexie, author of “Joy of Learning and Writing: Superman and Me”. Living on an Indian reservation, he fought with his classmates because, “They wanted [him] to stay quiet when the non-Indian teacher asked for answers, for volunteers, for help. We were Indian children who were expected to be stupid”.
Discouraged and outcasted, he was challenged by stereotypes that had the power to convince him to give up on school. Luckily, he fell in love with books and reading, stating, “I also knew that love only had one purpose. I was trying to save my life”. In other words, Alexie realized that although it was difficult to fit in socially, it was less important than gaining an education that had the power to help him avoid inequality later on.
What’s the Point of Going to College?
Education, specifically college, can change how inequality affects life financially. According to economic experts Becker and Murphy, “an American with a college degree earned about 30 percent more than an American who stopped education at high school” as the “premium for having a graduate degree increased from roughly 50… to well over 100 percent”.
This shows that pursuing a bachelor’s degree, compared to the alternative of a high school diploma, leads to higher wages. Even though this increases income inequality more, it means more students are motivated to reach higher income statuses. The extent of education also changes income levels since those with a graduate degree make more on average. Ultimately, what is at stake here is the potential financial benefits of all, since everyone in the U.S. has an opportunity at and deserves an education.
On the surface, financial inequality looks like a barrier, but it is actually an incentive to get a college degree. David Leonhardt, author of numerous books and articles on economic issues, believes that “many of [society’s] less-wealthy citizens quickly acquire an ephemeral but nonetheless crucial form of capital–knowledge” through education. In other words, students from a lower class become investments and improve their wealth mentally and financially. People are willing to make this investment because the return is substantial.
When people ask “Isn’t college really expensive?” or simply say “I can’t afford college”, I quickly point out that scholarships, grants, and financial aid packages exist to help students reach their much deserved education. In the end, I strongly believe that financial inequality helps students by inspiring and pushing them towards their futures.
Overall, my point is that education exists as a place with inequality and injustice, but also valuable knowledge and learning. Yes, inequality can harm students but it can also provide motivation and encouragement to escape it through education. In sum, then, everyone who dedicated themselves to school reaps the financial benefits and opportunities, helping themselves and society as a whole.
Thanks for reading!
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