David Greenblatt (University of Maryland-College Park) on Educational Opportunity
April 2, 2012
Does Educational Opportunity Remain the Key to Success in the United States?
There are a great many professional and technical skills that are undervalued. Many careers that are vital to the American economy do not benefit from the a traditional liberal arts education—indeed, the opportunity cost of acquiring an education is far to great for many individuals. For these people an education is economically inefficient and without value. Perhaps, politicians push education at the expense of professional training and job skills. Education is not the only key to success and educating those who do not possess the drive and motivation to complete their work and study hard can be both detrimental to the educational system and the American economy.
However, what politicians fail to realize is that educational opportunity and academic success are two different issues. All Americans regardless of geographic location, socioeconomic status, and cultural or ethnic background deserve the same opportunities to choose their path for success. If a dedicated or motivated individual prefers to seek success through education then that person ought to have the same opportunities as any other regardless of background. Choice and motivation rather then test taking ability and privilege should determine whether a student would continue their educational studies. It should be the prerogative of the student to determine what career path to take independent of financial hardship or other extenuating factor.
However, the modern educational system is unsustainable. It is far too costly and excludes many people who would otherwise receive an education. College admissions have continued to award standardized test performance—which advantages some at the expense of others—over classroom performance and life experience. If the American people can demand changes to these imbalances from their policy makers then society would become more efficient. By allowing all interested people to receive an education it would place the best-suited people within their most efficient niche, thus relieving inefficiency in the marketplace and inequality in society.
However, the modern educational system is unsustainable. It is far too costly and excludes many people who would otherwise receive an education. College admissions have continued to award standardized test performance—which advantages some at the expense of others—over classroom performance and life experience. If the American people can demand changes to these imbalances from their policy makers then society would become more efficient. By allowing all interested people to receive an education it would place the best-suited people within their most efficient niche, thus relieving inefficiency in the marketplace and inequality in society.
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