Economic Disparity

As each week passes by, another few hours are added to the total for service learning. Though, patience is something that is constantly being tested, it is more of the small interactions that I leave remembering. For this particular visit for this entry, the topic of college arose. With no surprise, the kids that attend each week are curious about who we are, and where we come from; it is only human nature to be inquisitive about people you’ve never met before. Any minor chat about college always begins with discussing graduation year and major, and this was no different. What caught me off guard by this exchange was the young girl, who wanted to know everything and anything, later mentioned she wouldn’t go to college because her parents …show more content…
Elmwood Gardens, involved in the Manchester Housing and Redevelopment Authority, specifically caters to low-income families, adults with disabilities, and the elderly. In relation to the economic disparity, I see a connection to the concept of distributive justice; the fair allocation of resources within society. Many of the members of the Elmwood Gardens community work several jobs, usually in low-paying sectors, just trying to make ends meet. Nonetheless, there are people who work less hours, living lavishly, simply because they possess the funds to acquire a college degree. In the parable of the day laborers, an owner of a field would set off into town and get laborers, who all were being paid the same one-day wage; regardless of how long they labored. However, it is not fair to compensate laborers the same amount if they did not put forth the same effort. Distributive justice would maintain that it is based on ability; if you put in one hour, that is your wage. Putting political opinions aside, if culture today is basically “requiring” a college education to be successful, they need to “distribute” the benefits of a higher education to all citizens who wish to pursue