The Uneven Playing Field

I think that a majority of people want to believe that education levels the playing field, but it does not. From my own experiences and what can be seen, money seems to level the playing field of education. Many students can have the opportunity to get an education, but the quality of the education depends on money. Lower class families do not always have the means to access private schools, charter school, etc. They may have access to advanced level classes, but do they compare to the advanced level classes at a private school a few blocks away? Usually in lower income areas, the schools do not have the funds to get new books or technology and rely on poor quality versions of Romeo and Juliet.

Although I came from a middle class family and went to a public school, my school was not the best. By the end of our senior year, our school was considered a “failing school” due to the poor results of our standardized tests. Colleges and universities should not base a student’s acceptance on their secondary schooling, but it does come into play. I could receive the same education at my high school that another student got from a private school in the same local area. I could have the best grades, best extracurricular activities, etc. as well as another student from the private school. If we both applied to the top university chances are that she would get in over me because she had the means to afford a secondary education other than public school. I am not saying that I am upset that I ended up at Bryn Mawr, because I am sure I would have been here private school or not, but I always wonder if my acceptances would have been higher if I went to a private school.   

It is hard to accept that money levels the playing field, but it does. Education seems to come second on the playing field. No matter if the education is the same or even better at one school, the income of another school seems to prevail.