Research Paper Intro

One need only turn on the television, surf the internet, or check any form of social media to see what the biggest problem plaguing American society today is: inequality. From the days of institutional slavery to the civil rights movement to the protests and demonstrations happening outside our own windows, inequality and unfair treatment seem to be problems we just cannot solve. These kind of social inequalities, while partly driven by personal bias and prejudice, can also be attributed to economic, or income inequality. Every group which finds itself on the fringes of society categorically receives fewer economic opportunities, on average earns lower income, and has less buying power and financial stability. These monetary factors drive social ones and cause inequality in other various aspects of life. Solving income inequality is therefore the first step in curing rampant racism, sexism, etc. The causes of income inequality can be traced back to the classroom, as it is there where children are prepared for future careers that will provide the income they receive as adults. The income inequality reflects an educational imbalance between different groups of people. Somewhat ironically, the determining factor of one’s quality of education appears to be income itself. Poorer neighborhoods send kids to poorer schools, while those from well-off households have access to not only better school districts, but also infinitely more educational opportunities. Various, current studies and research indicate a correlation between level of income and quality of education, however my research seeks to show both causality and a cyclical pattern between how much a person makes and the education he or she receives. High paying jobs do not seek out qualified candidates from the general population of neighborhoods and schools. Instead, they seem to pull the vast majority of their employees from the same few colleges and universities, which only take students from well-performing school districts. Essays such as Cathy Davidson’s “Project Classroom Makeover,” Karen Ho’s “Biographies of Hegemony,” and Andrew Solomon’s “Son” together support the existence of this rich-get-richer-while-poor-get-poorer cycle while also providing a potential solution. If education plays such a substantial part in the level of societal inequality, can we then alter the education systems to repair the damage and promote equality instead. My research will attempt to support this claim as well.