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The Need for Educational Attainment through College

Does Education Lead to Poverty or Success?

In the two graphics presented below, the success of educational attainment is contrasted with the class system currently in place in the United States.

Educational_Attainment_in_the_United_States_2009.png (787×621)

High School or Beyond?

What I find interesting about this is simply getting a high school diploma no longer guarantees meaningful employment that will help individuals change and improve their social status. High School attainment, or the credential of a high school diploma, does lead to working class, or working poor status, as seen in the lower table. This is also dangerously close to poverty.

Academic Class Models

References: Gilbert, D. (2002) The American Class Structure: In An Age of Growing Inequality. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, ISBN 0534541100. (see also Gilbert Model); Thompson, W. & Hickey, J. (2005). Society in Focus. Boston, MA: Pearson, Allyn & Bacon; Beeghley, L. (2004). The Structure of Social Stratification in the United States. Boston, MA: Pearson, Allyn & Bacon. 1 The upper middle class may also be referred to as “Professional class” Ehrenreich, B. (1989). The Inner Life of the Middle Class. NY, NY: Harper-Collins.

Do We All Need to Go to College?

The take-away is that some college education is needed to climb out of poverty, or not to live so close to poverty. When more than 50% of the current K-12 population in public schools, approximately 25 million students, are at risk, we need to reform K-12 schools to provide quality and equity, a chance for all students to make it to college and succeed at attaining this important credential.

Dr. Robert A. Southworth, Jr.

Dr. Robert A. Southworth, Jr.

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