Article Review Focusing on Education Inequality

Article Name: The inequality of public education

Article Link: https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/the-inequality-of-public-education

Date:

1. Describe the main social problem discussed in the article

The article titled “The inequality of public education” focuses on the social problem of student discrimination based on their zip codes (Schaus, February 27th, 2022). This discrimination results in massive economic and racial segregation for most students. The quality of a child’s education is determined by where they live. A child is assigned a public school regardless of their education prowess. There is never a consideration of the school’s performance to match a child’s. Not all public schools excel, and in any given county, there will be public schools that excel and others that consistently underperform. Therefore, a student assigned to an underperforming school will not receive the same quality of education as a student assigned to an excelling school. Families that cannot move to a better neighborhood are forced to take their children to underperforming public schools or private alternatives. A private school is never an option for most of these families, and their children will be forced to attend the assigned schools. Low-income folks continue to suffer since schools in their districts do not receive the same level of funding as other districts dominated by rich white folks. The low-income families are also locked out through exclusionary zoning and invisible and impenetrable school district boundaries.

2. Identify if or how a sociological perspective is present in the way the article presents the issue or problem; if so, what is it?

Conflict theory is present in the article, and it is presented by showing how public schools discriminate against students based on their zip codes. Discrimination is a way of maintaining the status quo where children from specific backgrounds cannot receive a quality education, forcing them to struggle and not attain much in life. According to the conflict theory perspective, education does not reduce social inequality (Jasim, 2021). Instead, it reinforces and perpetuates social inequalities. By having boundaries and assigning students to public schools based on their zip codes, the system denies students from low socioeconomic status the same opportunities that students from higher status receive. Regardless of the student’s education abilities, they will be denied the opportunity to receive quality education due to their assigned school. It is unfair of the education system to keep students in school and not meet their education needs. The budgetary concerns of the education system should focus more on the underperforming schools and invest more to increase the performance of the schools.

3. Choose one sociological concept or theory that would improve the content or context provided about that issue or problem (this includes defining the concept)

Social stratification is the differentiation of a population into hierarchically superposed classes (Bögenhold & Permana, 2021). Social stratification is manifested through the existence of upper and lower social layers. The basis of this concept is the unequal distribution of duties and responsibilities, social power and influences, rights and privileges, and social values and privations. We can use this concept to explain better education discrimination based on zip codes where children are forced to attend the schools within the neighborhoods even though the schools offer low-quality education. Social stratification forces the students to remain in the same superposed class regardless of their educational abilities, and they never materialize to anything resulting in them never rising above their class. Using this concept, it becomes clear how there is discrimination of specific individuals, and they are not offered the same opportunities to rise from their social class.

4. Explain how the sociological concept you chose would improve the article’s description or analysis of the problem and why

Social stratification better explains what is happening because it indicates the different classes placed on individuals by society and how these classes determine what one can do and achieve. People living or coming from upper classes are offered better privileges and afforded much more than those from lower classes. Social stratification indicates the inequalities placed on people by society and demonstrates the impact of these inequalities. Children are forced to attend public schools that are not well funded and offer low-quality education if they come from low economic areas. Students from high-economic areas are afforded a better quality education. There is further discrimination in that students from low economic areas are not allowed to attend schools located in high economic areas limiting their opportunities to improve their lives through education.