Andrea Campuzzano

Period 3
Mrs. Krause
May 18, 2015

Education for All

They say that God blessed America. That the land and free was built on having
solid equality for all. Unfortunately, not everyone gets the same opportunities. When I was a first
semester freshman in high school, I received my first D grade, ever. To me, this was despicable. I
was failing Algebra 1, supposedly one of the "easiest" classes at Torrey Pines. When I reached
out to both of my parents for help, they told me they weren't able to afford a tutor or summer
school classes for me to catch up. While everyone was moving forward, I was falling behind. It
finally hit me that I had little resources for help, and with going to a public school, it was even
worse. How was I going to be eligible for college if I didn't pass one class? I soon realized that it
wasn't just me that has this problem, but so did many American high school students.
Today's American education falls behind in the global competition. After being a student
for the past twelve years, I have come to realize that education is a privilege, not a right. All
children do go to school, but only the lucky get to go to one that serves a good quality. In reality,
many low-income students are falling behind while the rest are getting ahead. Sure, we've all
heard of the "Homeless to Harvard" stories, but those chances are slim to none when it comes to
thousands of students nationally. Many believe that it is a waste to spend so much money on

education, and that it's not worth it. However, education brings many opportunities for students,
but many don't receive the resources to succeed. So why is it that not all students are getting the
same education opportunities? Why can't education be a right? Why can't all students be eligible,
not just for college, but for the global economy? Why does there have to inequality in our
education system?
Most of our education begins at birth. Where you live and how much your family makes
can determine your education path. You would think that public education all over the country
would be the same, but you guessed wrong. Unfortunately, it is determined by the time of our
births. "We need to realize that children are not responsible for the schools in the neighborhood
in which they happen to be born." Journalist John Komlos believed that the education system is
deeply unfair. In a country that purports the value of education, shouldn't we consider why we
are unwilling to pay for it?
Today, there is a huge correlation between where you live and what type of education
you're getting. It has been shown that less educated people are more likely to get involved in
violence, drugs, and are prone to a shorter life span. In a journal called "Education and
Inequality," author Andy Green writes about how data has shown how poor neighborhoods have
less academic attainments. "Analysis of linked administrative data suggests that the main barriers
to higher education participation in poor neighborhoods are not financial in nature but rather
derive from weaknesses in academic attainments in secondary schools in those neighborhoods."
Compared to the US, Finland is on top of the global competition of education. Most schools in
the Nordic countries are relatively similar. If all schools serve good quality education, then most
neighborhoods would be better to live and serve a better community.

Because your education path is determined by where you live, some families are now
considering other options for education. In the documentary "Waiting for Superman," it follows
four low-income families trying to get better opportunities for their children, while exposing the
education system in America. Director Davis Guggenheim wanted to show how much inequality
there is in our public schools. "If you want a better school for your kid, it's all about options. But
the system is confusing. Let's say you live in a district with a hundred public schools. Most are
not terrible, but not great. A fifth will be failing, and more will be hovering between mediocre
and terrible. There's usually one great school defying the odds, with a great principle and great
teachers. But you can't go there unless you live in the neighborhood. So, for years, unless you
can afford private school, you were stuck in your neighborhood school. It wasn't until the 90s
that public charter schools emerged. However, only 1 in 5 charters produce amazing results, so
the numbers of families applying there are high." In the movie, many low-income families are
placed in a lottery for charter schools. Their luck would determine their education future. For
some, it was their only chance to get a good quality education.
Because there are so many low-income students in America, many believe that the only
way out of poverty is education. In America, if you don't go to college, you can be screwed for
life. But for poor people, is spending so much on education worth it? Journalist Maureen
Conway believes that education is not the way out of poverty. In her article "Education Alone
Won't End Poverty," there is a belief that the route to a good job is education. She believes that
one reason why many people drop out of college is because of money. "Our society is unlikely to
address the inequality we face by encouraging an arms race among people desperate to gain
access to shrinking opportunities for decent work." Many question whether or not education is
worth it. If low income students are working hard to succeed in high school or college, but are

spending thousands for a decent future, then will it be worth it in the long run. College is worth
it, but it's what you make of it that can make a difference in today's age.
Everyone in America has the right to free, public education. However, only the privileged
actually get the good quality education. Imagine all public schools across the country with free
tutoring, summer school classes, college test prep, and amazing faculty and facilities. Having
these valuable resources helps students succeed for their future, but many low-income students
are left to fend for themselves. So how does this affect all of us? If most students are not eligible
to succeed at a high school level, then the national economy will not be able to compete globally.
If there were more properly educated students, then there would be more jobs and opportunities
for people. In a country the values the importance of education, shouldn't we be able support
more access towards education success?