Knowledge is power. Wisdom is power. Education is power. Being able to gain knowledge through free schooling is a right everyone is entitled to. The United States offers free public schooling from kindergarten to twelfth grade. Although, schooling is provided, there is a huge flaw in the education system when it comes to proper schooling for minorities. Unequal opportunity in education was the effect of segregation ending in schools. Schools aren’t physically segregated, but mentally it’s happening because of the unfair treatment of Caucasians and minorities. Many people think minorities have the same equal opportunities in education as Caucasian people, however it is important that everyone understands that Caucasians have more advantages in life when it comes to education than minorities, because of unequal access to educational resources, socioeconomic status, and by being white.
Caucasians have a better playing field in school over minorities, due to them having proper resources, while minorities go through the hardships of having less in the classroom. “There’s such a distinct disadvantage to begin with,” said David Hawkins, an executive director at the National Association for College Admission Counseling. “A cascading set of obstacles all seem to contribute to a diminished representation of minority students in highly selective colleges.” The same set of obstacles apply to grade schools, and high schools around the United States. Schools made up of mostly African-Americans, and Hispanics which are located in inner-cities that have lower graduation rates compared to suburban schools that are made up of mostly Caucasians. The problem isn’t that minorities aren’t smart enough, the problem is lack important resources such as qualified teachers, Advanced Placement classes, and a set curriculum. Minorities suffer in silence when it comes to their education. This isn’t fair, because the true potential and knowledge of a minority wont ever be shown unless everyone is capable of coming together to help fund inner city schools.
Many Caucasians think that everyone is granted with the same resources throughout schools in the United States. Linda Hammonds from Brookings.edu expands on the reality of minority schools being low-funded “Two thirds of minority students still attend schools that are predominantly minority, and most of them are located in central cities and funded well below those in suburban districts.” It’s proven that in most states, the poorest school district gets the least amount of funding. Schools which are predominantly Caucasian, and more suburban are thriving due to it being a wealthier area. The schools are granted with more opportunity, and resources such as school counselors, AP classes, and qualified teachers. Inner-city classrooms are over filled, but understocked with valuable materials that a student needs to obtain knowledge. In Suburban districts with higher-funded schools which are majority Caucasian, students are granted with the privilege of receiving teachers who are more experienced, and are also granted the decision to place their selves in honors classes. Caucasian students are also privileged with being able to learn in a stable environment, small sized classroom, and classes that don’t struggle with behavioral problems. Benefits as such are a huge advantage when it comes to learning.
Furthermore, Caucasians also have a better shot at education due to their social status. Data scientist David Mosenkis states “If you color code the districts based on their racial composition you see this very stark breakdown. At any given poverty level, districts that have a higher proportion of white students get substantially higher funding than districts that have more minority students.” No matter how rich or poor the school is, the funding is based solely on racial composition.” Problems such as being a low social class citizen can affect a child’s behavior. Students with behavioral problems in school don’t get attention from their teacher that they need due to the overcrowding of inner-city classrooms. Problems such as lack of attention from the teacher causes them to act out and seek attention in a negative way, which leads to suspensions and expulsions, something that is very common in inner-city schools, compared to suburban schools. Caucasians have a privilege that minorities don’t have in life. White privilege, which is a system of advantages that benefit a group of people is something hat every Caucasian has. White privilege in education is a fearful factor to minorities because it pushes all opportunities out of the window for them. Being white automatically puts them in a position of power and makes it easier for them to go through life not having to jump over the hurdles minorities have to deal with day by day.
Minorities aren’t lazy, or stupid just because they don’t have the same benefits white Americans have. In some instances, minorities work ten times harder than a lot of white people by actually trying to maintain a focus in an environment where it’s already difficult to succeed for their color. Most minorities come from poverty, and being in poverty and not having anything positive to look forward to causes young men to become criminals, and young women to shift their attention to other things that are less important besides their education. Minorities that come from low socioeconomic communities develop academic skills at a much slower pace than children that are ranked in higher socioeconomic groups. Public schooling in communities that have low social statuses are mostly low on resources, which doesn’t display a positive effect on a students’ attitude, and their academic progress in school. High school dropout rates affects academic progress, which reflects on the low social status of the communities of which minorities come from. Furthermore, the argument that ‘everyone has the same opportunity” should be diminished because the system wasn’t created to work in favor of minorities. If the system was in favor of minorities less people wouldn’t have to experience what it’s like to live in poverty.
By simply being white, it also plays a huge role in the reason why Caucasians have more opportunity in education than minorities. Plenty of colleges, and jobs around the world don’t offer jobs to a minority who is just as qualified as a white male who’d get the exact same offer instead. Instances as such happen in colleges where a black male who qualifies for college gets overlooked due to a white person who would be deemed as a “better fit” for the school, due to his skin color. Affirmative action increases the numbers of African American and Hispanic students attend at many colleges, universities, and also in the workplace. The Act isn’t to pick one race over the other, but to take race out of the mix. Randall Hellmer, writer on The Collegian explains how the act is purposeful in making education and work equal for minorities and Caucasians, “Affirmative action is necessary to help make up for the loss of equality in the education system.” Affirmative Action is helpful, and gives minorities a chance to experience equal opportunity. It is also helpful in grasping the concept of not everything that is “fair” for white people is “fair” for minorities. The action is also needed, because equality has yet to come in the flawed education system. An African American or Hispanic individual who is denied opportunities countless times will become consistently less qualified to take advantage of opportunities and won’t have the desire to be able to fulfill his or her full potential in life. When knocked down numerous times, many people will take it as a loss, and lose motivation to want to keep on striving.
White Americans argue affirmative action isn’t fair to them, but in reality, affirmative action is the only fair trade minorities get. Daniel Golden, writer on The Pacific, and minority student states the reality of discriminating against minority students “By giving more slots to already advantaged students, these preferences displace more deserving candidates from other backgrounds, without achieving the goals of affirmative action, such as diversity and redressing historical discrimination.” White Americans who aren’t as qualified as minorities aren’t placed ahead of more deserving students to create a balance of equality in the system. Affirmative Action was passed in 1961 by John F. Kennedy to allow minorities to seek opportunities and not be denied access over the color of their skin. (Wikipedia) Colleges have took a stand on the position and opened up to seeking out more minority students. This will create equity throughout the school. Many people call the act “reverse discrimination”, but it is necessary to consider the fact people of color are in need of an education to. The act is also necessary to make sure there is diversity in the workplace and classrooms. Times have changed and things have come a long way since in 1954 when the Supreme Court in Brown vs. Board of Education cancelled out the “separate but equal” bill. The bill established segregation, but made sure to make things equal under the law to minorities and Caucasians. Many white people tend to be upset over the act that wasn’t created in their favor. Although, what isn’t fair is an act had to be passed due to minorities not being accepted over a white person who is less qualified but a better fit for the placement due to the color of his or her skin.
In all fairness, the racial matters debate in education isn’t complex to understand. Minorities don’t get the equal education they deserve in America. Caucasians have a better chance at being successful due to a better, and well set education in kindergarten through twelfth, and then on to higher education. Everyone is entitled to their right of knowledge. So many people of color don’t get to show their full potential due to issues as little as their skin color. If everyone understood the difference between minorities and Caucasians in education things would soon be equal, and opportunities for minorities would arise tremendously. Lack of resources, socioeconomic status, and by being a white person are all obstacles minorities have to face in order to receive a quality education. From the time minorities are born they’re in a race with Caucasians who already have had a head start. The race only gets harder for minorities, while it’s smooth and steady for Caucasians. If given the chance to excel, African Americans, and Hispanics could actually thrive, and the poverty rate could possibly decrease, because where there is success, wealth follows. Knowledge will take people places no one has imagined. Being able to have an education is something anyone would be thankful for in the long run.