Education and equality of opportunity

Education and Equality of Opportunity

The issue of equality in access to education has been a long running argument and each time legislations are passed and initiatives invented towards trying to make education actually equal and accessible, there are gaping gaps that still make these efforts run short of their target goal. There are several terms that are used in the education department that need to be well understood since most have been misused and hence leading to either a stereotype view of education, or a skewed perspective that only helps to make the situation worse than it already is.

The achievement gap; this is often referred to as the disparity or difference in the performance of students in various groups. From the surface of it, it looks justifiable definition, however, these groupings that are use to measure the academic performance are quite stereotyped and the academic achievements have nothing to do with the genetics of the students (Reardon S.F., 2011). The groupings used are like race, gender, disabilities and the language primarily spoken. These are used and a comparison based on their graduation rates, the tests passed, opportunities accessed are the parameters used in gauging the achievement and determining the achievement gap.

White privilege; this has a historical perspective and historical connotation where the whites received better platforms to access education and the fact that one was white was enough to guarantee them a bright future and a license to getting ahead. This meant that the other races were left behind and when finally the society opened up and education was given to all, the other races had to work several times harder to achieve the same standards as the whites since they had already enjoyed the 'white privileged' and had the better of the society (Teachers College Columbia University, 2005).

Asian advantage; this is a stereotype that that is based on a cultural upbringing among the Asian community, both living within the USDA and even back in Asia. Asian advantage is the overriding presumption that Asians are better in math oriented subjects that the other races. This achievement is not genetically initiated but a long running culture that Asians have inculcated into their society and each parent will strive to ensure their children grasp the best as far as math is concerned.

Social and Cultural Capital; these are the values that one gets in line with the social and cultural connections that they form over a period of time. Apparently, those who grow up in wealth and those who grow up in poverty do not have the same social connections. Here, those who grow up in plenty will have a better social connections hence giving them and the subsequent generation a better chance of moving higher in the socioeconomic status ladder as compared to the poorer society. The cultural capital is such that the people who are poor will have cultures that are not in line with the positive values of the society due to the absence of parents who should mentor children and instead are busy trying to fend for the family throughout the month. This results in gangs taking root in such societies as a rebellious and digressional cultural offshoot. This then means that even the culture of education and passing it down to generations to come may be a challenge in the poorer societies.