EDUCATIONAL INEQUALITY ALONG RACIAL LINES

Evaluating Educational Inequality along Racial Lines



Evaluating Educational Inequality along Racial Lines

Introduction

In this paper, we are going to discuss the role of education and its equality in the majority and minority. Two theories on the role and causes of education inequality are functionalist (cultural deprivation) and conflict (cultural bias). Cultural deprivation can be defined as the non presence of certain expected and acceptable cultural phenomena in the environment. As a result, of this phenomenon individual fails to communicate with the society in an appropriate manner. Here, we relate these phenomena to education. The inequality of education in the United States within minorities and racial lines has to do with income, cultural and behavioral factors.

Functionalist (cultural deprivation theory)

The cultural deprivation theory is not as significant, as it was before. It explains about the culture of the working class as well middle class people. It further denotes that work class people have a culture which is different from the middle class people. According to theorists, working class people belong to culture which is inferior to middle class people. Culture deprivation tells the reason due to which the working class pupils achieve less than middle class (Conyers, 2003). The assumption made up about middle class is that they were brought up with a negative attitude towards education. Cultural deprivation theory focuses on providing on time satisfaction. As a result of it, working class deprives with low self esteem, and they cannot meet their expectations. The role in working class also cannot be defined due to this factor. In the case of males, it was characterized by resistance to school. In school, the background of the child view as inferior in comparison to middle class who are aware of the significance of education. Theorist focus on the key role of parental aspirations, claiming that working class parents are less interested in formal education of their children, and hence in their success. Similarly, the difference in attitudes towards education emerges due to it as lower value placed on education by the working class. Furthermore, this affects children's education and achievements.

Conflict (cultural bias)

Conflict theory is based on maintaining the social inequality which prevails in the society. It preserves the power of those who dominate the society. The theorists view the education of conflict theorists similar to those of functionalist which is discussed above. Conflict theorist view educational system considers lower class as obedient workers. Functionalists claim that schools sort based upon merit; conflict theorists argue that schools sort along distinct class and ethnic lines. Conflict theorists see education neither as a social benefit or opportunity but as a powerful means of maintaining power structures and creating a docile work force for capitalism (Farley, 1995).

Role of funding

Educational inequality occurs when the student's education is closely related to their students or social class. Conflicts theorists point that the property taxes fund school the most. Therefore, they claim that schools in affluent districts have more money (Farley, ...