The Assessment Of Social Mobility Essays - Social Inequality

The Assessment Of Social Mobility Are the 35 million Americans who fall below the poverty line there because they are lazy and have let all opportunities for social advancement pass them by? Or is there currently a social structure that successfully reproduces classes and limits upward social mobility in America? Certain institutions in American society, including education, work and occupational structure and the family help perpetuate social class stratification. These institutions widen the gap between the rich and the poor by placing inherent restrictions on opportunities for those born into different classes. Although the degree of effort put forth by each individual is critically important, their relationship to the aforementioned institutions can severely limit upward social mobility. The current educational system creates a unique contradiction. While traditionally the best way to climb the ladders of society, American schools are now reproducing social classes. Those children born into poor families and neighborhoods usually begin their school career at a steep disadvantage. Public schools that are run down and lack sufficient funding or other key resources like good teachers are endemic to these lower income areas. The idea of class reproduction, or the correspondence principle, is obviously present in education. As mentioned above, differences between schools and school districts exist. In his article on the inequalities of public education in New York, Kozol describes an elementary school in North Bronx where 63 children share an average sized classroom. The room has no windows, for the building used to be a roller-skating rink. Consisting of 90% black and Hispanics, the student body of 1,300 has only 26 computers. (Kozol, 95) On the other hand, educational s tandards in upper-middle class communities are far superior. Here in Grand Blanc, Michigan an average second grade class would have one teacher for under thirty students and more than one computer in the room. When their parents can afford it, the technology and quality of teaching is even superior for students enrolled at private schools. Although bussing and other programs aimed at leveling these inequalities have been implemented, the majority of children born into lower income families are not presented with any choices. They are confined to minimal technology and deprived of individual attention from teachers, just to name a few disadvantages. Even a student with a high I.Q. and mental capacity for college might not fulfill his potential because of these restrictions, which are also present at the high school level. Variations within schools also help to restrict opportunities for some students. Admission to certain programs like G.A.T.E. and magnet schools can be class based. Once on a higher track or in one of these programs, a student is exposed to many useful and intellectually stimulating opportunities. Unfortunately, many minority students and those from lower income households are not encouraged to enroll in these programs despite their potential. In a lower track, they are confined to remedial education and poor teachers with emphasis on basic and monotonous tasks. The differences within the classroom have also been shown to limit opportunities for some students. Depending on a student's social class, a teacher may be more apt to help or disregard that student. A student with poor mannerisms and speech pattern may be presupposed to have little room for improvement, while one from a higher class background could receive much more help from a teacher. In addition, education tends to provide a hidden curriculum promoting cultural capital. For example, a rich school might emphasize self-confidence and proper speech patterns, while a poor school might stress subordination to authority and other basic ideas that would prepare a student for a lower class existence. These inequalities in the educational system severely limit opportunities for some students, while opening up windows for advancement for others. Even with a high I.Q., a child born in the north part Flint, Michigan would have to overcome great obstacles to get on a path to college. On the other hand, the superior educational environment at a rich school, like Grand Blanc would tend to promote and foster a desire for higher education among the students, thus granting them access to upward social mobility. Another institution in this country that has a tendency to preserve the current separation between

He Got Game essays

He Got Game essays He Got Game is a good movie because it teaches a lesson, it makes us understand the tragedy of Jakes life, and it shows how Jesus has to make difficult decisions. The movie, He Got Game, teaches a lesson, especially to those people who have families on their own, that parents cant push their kids in doing what they want them to do and not what their kids want to do. Roger Ebert says that the movie is more of a heartbreaker about a father and his son. I agree because when Jake tried to convince his son, Jesus, to go to Big State University in order for him to get an early parole in prison, This movie makes us understand the tragedy of Jakes life because when Jake tried to pushed his son to play good in basketball in which Jake ended up in prison for killing his wife accidently while arguing with his son. Janet Maslin says that, Jesus hates his father and wont give him the time of day to talk to him. I feel that even if Jesus father has done something really bad in the past, Jesus shouldnt treated his father like he didnt even know him and never existed in his life and besides the incident that happened to his mother was just an accident. But no matter what Jesus do, Jake is still the person who This movie also shows how Jesus has to make difficult decision because when an agent, his coach, girlfriend, uncle, and groupies-on-call offered him money, cars, house, and more, since hes the countrys #1 high school prospect, he didnt accept any of those because its illegal for him to take it. Mike Clark says that, they just want what they perceive to be their share from the coming bounty. I feel that once Jesus gets famous they would just use him to get themselves rich. He Got Game is one of my favorite movie I have seen because it somewhat relates ...