Inequality has been present since the beginning of civilization. Education has played into this since schooling began; only boys were allowed to be educated while the girls would stay at home. During the early years of the Americas, minorities, such as blacks, Latinos, etc. were excluded from receiving an education as well due to racism, a result of slavery. C. Wright Mills goes into how society and history affects people, and education, today in his The Sociological Imagination. Although education has progressed since then, it is seen in Ann Ferguson’s Bad Boys, Conley’s Education and Jonathan Kozol’s Still Separate, Still Unequal that inequality within punishment, funding/resources and tracking, especially amongst minorities, is still present
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Students are placed in educational pathways based off of a test they take. According to Conley “they test students for ability, talent, and social and moral character. Then they eliminate students who aren’t up to snuff while promoting the best and brightest… tracking is intended to create a better learning environment, because students’ goals are matched to their curricula.” (Education, Conley). Tracking has its advantages and disadvantages. The fact that it prepares a portion of students for a higher education can be considered an advantage. However, it essentially confiscates the possibility of other students that are not on that track to receive a higher education. If a student is on lower education track, it lowers their possibility of receiving admission to a higher ranked college and receiving an advanced education. Certain tracks prepare students to become doctors or lawyers, other prepare students for a trade such as an electrician or construction worker. In my county, Nassau County, there is a program called Boces. Boces is a track for students who plan on pursuing a certain trade. A segment of my classmates went there due to the guidance counselors advising them to switch schools. A portion of students went for cosmetology, or electrician, while others went for piloting or personal training. Another option for students in my high …show more content…
Wright Mills’ The Sociological Imagination, society is what influences people how to act and “enables us to grasp history and biography and the relations between the two within society.” (The Sociological Imagination, Mills). The inequality within the education system can be related back to the beginning of the enslavement of Africans. Due to slavery, the idea that Americans are superior to all other nationalities was implemented. Although America has come a long way since then, some people still do believe this. Society in America was built on a racist idea, and it still lingers. For example, at Binghamton University several racial and ethnic groups are underrepresented, salary inequalities amongst teachers based on gender and race, lack of diversity amongst staff in certain areas, etc. To be more specific, only 2.2% of the staff are black males, compared to 51.5% of faculty that are white males. (Report of the HarpurFaculty Committee for Diversity and Inclusion, West and Wheeler). There is inequality amongst the student population as well. Just last semester, Spring 2015, a group called SFC (Students For Change) was advocating for equality for the minorities of Binghamton University. They would hold random movements during class where they would stand up and shout random facts and quotes of discrimination and lack of diversity. Within Binghamton University it is also known among students that science introductory classes, such as biology or chemistry, try
Students are placed in educational pathways based off of a test they take. According to Conley “they test students for ability, talent, and social and moral character. Then they eliminate students who aren’t up to snuff while promoting the best and brightest… tracking is intended to create a better learning environment, because students’ goals are matched to their curricula.” (Education, Conley). Tracking has its advantages and disadvantages. The fact that it prepares a portion of students for a higher education can be considered an advantage. However, it essentially confiscates the possibility of other students that are not on that track to receive a higher education. If a student is on lower education track, it lowers their possibility of receiving admission to a higher ranked college and receiving an advanced education. Certain tracks prepare students to become doctors or lawyers, other prepare students for a trade such as an electrician or construction worker. In my county, Nassau County, there is a program called Boces. Boces is a track for students who plan on pursuing a certain trade. A segment of my classmates went there due to the guidance counselors advising them to switch schools. A portion of students went for cosmetology, or electrician, while others went for piloting or personal training. Another option for students in my high …show more content…
Wright Mills’ The Sociological Imagination, society is what influences people how to act and “enables us to grasp history and biography and the relations between the two within society.” (The Sociological Imagination, Mills). The inequality within the education system can be related back to the beginning of the enslavement of Africans. Due to slavery, the idea that Americans are superior to all other nationalities was implemented. Although America has come a long way since then, some people still do believe this. Society in America was built on a racist idea, and it still lingers. For example, at Binghamton University several racial and ethnic groups are underrepresented, salary inequalities amongst teachers based on gender and race, lack of diversity amongst staff in certain areas, etc. To be more specific, only 2.2% of the staff are black males, compared to 51.5% of faculty that are white males. (Report of the HarpurFaculty Committee for Diversity and Inclusion, West and Wheeler). There is inequality amongst the student population as well. Just last semester, Spring 2015, a group called SFC (Students For Change) was advocating for equality for the minorities of Binghamton University. They would hold random movements during class where they would stand up and shout random facts and quotes of discrimination and lack of diversity. Within Binghamton University it is also known among students that science introductory classes, such as biology or chemistry, try