In
class we engaged in a debate about the article, “In the Basement of the Ivory
Tower”, in which the discussion was very opinionated. The article gives the
audience insight to the adversities an older woman faces as she attempts to
make her return back to a university. After reading this article, it led us to
ask “is everyone worthy of having the opportunity to go to college?” and with
that opportunity being presented, “does everyone have the ‘equal' opportunity
to go to college?” I concluded that everyone does deserve the opportunity to go
to college but a university may not be fit for everyone. One’s ability to learn
is dependent upon the level of education and the pact that they are learning at.
Some people may learn and adapt to certain environments at a fast pace while others
may learn and adapt to that same environment at a different pace. We could see various
positive effects from someone who is granted this opportunity. Being educated could
enable one to positively contribute to their community. I believe that
knowledge is power and by applying what you have learned you surely affect the
people around you.
Moreover,
I also believe that everyone has an equal opportunity to go to college, but
everyone may not have been equally prepared to go to college. This becomes evident
as we focus on social classes. As we discovered in the “Social Class and Hidden
Curriculum of Work”, most schools are divided by class. We can conclude that
students with different economic backgrounds are being prepared differently for
college. It is implied that “everyone has an equal opportunity to go college”,
but when certain adversities within one’s race, gender and social class comes into
effect, we then become aware that everyone is not being equally prepared to go
to college. A child who lives in a two-story house in Rochester, New York will
most likely have an advantage over a child, who lives in public housing in New
Orleans, Louisiana. The different resources, teaching methods, and at-home
support these children receive become factors of these children’s preparation.
Brian, I really enjoyed reading your thoughts on this subject. I feel that we have a very similar take on it. College is important in today's society, but it is not for everyone. Students from a working class school may not be as prepared as a student from a higher class. I met a girl during SOAR that I kept in touch with last semester. She came from a very poor area near where I am from, and found it highly difficult to keep up with the work load here at this university. She would tell me that all the other students completed their assignments with no problem, while she was just completely overwhelmed. She ended up not coming back this semester and is going to a community college. I think this helps explain that a university is not for everyone, and sometimes there are better options based on what you come from.
ReplyDeleteI agree that college should be available to everyone, but maybe everyone shouldn't take advantage of the opportunity. Sometimes people just aren't prepared well enough to go to college or they just aren't willing to put in the work that college requires.
ReplyDelete