Question

Following the social-conflict approach, what are the problems with the U.S. educational system? Consider quality of public schooling, inequality among schools, and access to higher education. Also consider class, gender, race, and ethnicity in your essay.

Answer 1

Social- Conflict approach is based on the view that there is conflict of interest between different groups in the society. Education mostly serves interest of upper class and helps in maintaining class difference

Quality of public school is inferior when compared to quality of education provided in private schools, thus upper class or middle class who can afford costly private schools are at advantageous position right from the starting.

This is a fact that property tax is used to fund public schools, so more schools are concentrated in affluent areas which are predominantly white.

Access to higher education comes with opportunity cost of student debt and remaining in education system for longer duration of time, which means not earning lncome for longer duration. This opportunity cost becomes higher for students from weak economic background. They usually opt for vocational training courses to start earning income as soon as possible thus missing higher education.

Race and Ethnicity

Sometimes educational curriculum has prejudice against certain races and ethnicity which are shown in bad light, while glorifying white. It leads to strengthening of white supremacy.

Class

There is direct relationship between education attainment and family background. children from upper and middle class are likely to remain in educational system for a longer time. Opportunity cost for children from lower economic background is high. Thus education reproduces inequality in the society

Gender

School education sometimes strengthen gender stereotypes. Certain lessons use female examples as nurse or receptionist while male as scientist or businessman.