Berkley Center

Picture Jessica, a nine-year-old girl living with her struggling family in the urban neighborhood of West Philadelphia. Jessica’s parents together work four jobs to support a family of five and their oldest daughter often serves as a babysitter for her siblings. She attends a local public school that is, as it has for her entire life, feverishly preparing its students for a statewide standardized test. However dull the reading and math assessment is, the instructors at her school cannot afford to skimp on practice: if the scores fail to adequately improve, the school will be declared failing and funding will again be slashed. Jessica is tired of arriving at school every day only to complete more multiple-choice questions and be sent home with another set. She is not motivated to complete her schoolwork and is intellectually stagnated; after reaching sixteen, she is relieved to formally end her schooling and begin work at a local grocer.

Jessica’s story does not have to end this way, though sadly it does for millions of children across the nation. A different approach to education could have challenged, nurtured, and motivated Jessica to take another approach. A more diverse curriculum could have introduced Jessica to a hidden passion, writing. A well-trained and passionate group of educators could have honed her talent and encouraged her to persevere. Extracurricular activities could have united her peers with similar interests into a poetry club or a school newspaper. A resourceful school could have explored her options and helped her apply to college for journalism or to a training program. Jessica could have graduated from high school with an active mind, tangible goal, and a clear set of skills to help her find a fulfilling career with a guaranteed income.

As long as the second story is the exception rather than the rule, progress in America towards equality will remain paralyzed. The only way to further American society is to ensure every child in the nation has the opportunity to receive a quality and diverse education of some kind, whether it is academic, pre-professional, or skills-based. Higher-level education is not the only path to success, but everyone should be given the choice and the chance to study what he or she wishes from plumbing to Shakespeare. Otherwise, poverty will continue to be systemic and the next generation will find itself woefully unprepared to confront the challenges of the modern world.