Public Education

I do not believe all citizens receive the same education. In wealthy neighborhoods schools often receive donations that are tax write offs for citizens. Elementary and secondary schools receive a lot of their funding from property taxes. This leads to inequality because of the wealthier neighborhoods paying more into property taxes and thus the poor neighborhoods with less funding. I have personally observed classrooms in wealthy neighborhoods and poor neighborhoods. They did not have the same resources. Also teachers often depend on parents to donate things to the classroom, an easier task for wealthier families.  Most children’s education begins before public school with daycare or preschools. The quality often depends on the price and daycare is expensive. When it comes to college the playing field is even more unfair. In wealthier neighborhoods going to college is a norm and your parents probably have a college fund set aside. People with a higher SES may have sent their children to prep schools or private schools and prepped them to get into a good college. For young adults with parents who are struggling financially your only option to go to college is taking out loans or working full time while trying to maintain your GPA. Often work takes priority over school when students don’t have the opportunity of their parents helping them financially.