Evan Moskal Carrie Sippy English 1102-014 30 March 2012

Academic Conversation: Draft 2 (Essay)

Availability is arguably an obstacle when it comes to education, however, affordability is a much more apparent issue. The role money plays in schools and education of all levels is becoming increasingly prevalent. Public schools remain free to taxpayers while families can also choose to send their children to private schools for a variety of reasons as well. Some argue that the tightly wound and tangled relationship between money and education is a good thing and encourages competition and with that competition, drive. Others suggest that measures need to be taken now to solidify free education for our worlds adults of tomorrow, especially with average family income only at $65,000 a year (Denavas-Walt). Who is right? Is anyone right? Is it fair to charge American families for the best education that are available, free or not? The age-old issue is still relevant and as controversial as ever in todays society. In America today, the education system is undoubtedly divided. Different groups would argue which division, specifically, is more important, but when it comes to monetary differences the words public and private come to mind. Better education not only meant higher-quality traditional schooling, but also different types of schoolingmore or less structured, more or less emphasis on one subject or another, and

so forth. (Benveniste 5) This is the modern stereotype of private education. It is important to note that this quote is from a summary of an essay written in the mid 1950s. This suggests to me that the idea of a division not only between money in education, but also in quality of education has been apparent for some time. There are claims circulating both supporting and refuting the stereotype, but ultimately the writers of the book All Else Equal: Are public and Private Schools Different? Did their best to present the facts, and I support their thoughts and position on the issue. They believe, with several studies, tedious research, and personal findings, that there is evidence supporting both main ideas, but that because of that no one conclusion can be drawn about which one is better. I agree with the book entirely. The neutral approach to the issue seems to be the only one that gives all of the information. The real fact of the matter is, private school does not guarantee you a better education than a public school, but it does offer selectivity. Public school does not guarantee that you will be entirely motivated to do all of your schoolwork, but it is free. The decade after decade battle between public and private at the surface is a poplar topic in educational institutions as well as with the general public. The details are the roots of the controversy, and are burrowed so deep into the ground that no one has really been able to pull them all the way out to replant the education system in a new, more controllable environment. One of those details that is less revealed involves the relationships between entitlement and motivation. Susan Adams, a columnist for Forbes.com, suggests that paying for a childs education gives them a skewed perspective on the world and clouds the reality of how fortunate they really are. it turns out that students whose educational costs are paid for entirely by their parents, engage in more

leisure activities. In other words, they party instead of study. Most students dont party so hard that they flunk out of college, but they do damage to their academic performance (Adams 1). She would blatantly refute the findings in All else equal She would say that public schools offer more of a motivation for a better life. This is a curious perspective. I personally know of several students I went to high school with who took advantage of their families money and completely blew all of their potential through drugs and other not so redeeming paths. However I know of many others, including myself, who are making the most of the opportunity and fortune that they have been given by focusing on their studies and blocking out negative influences. She may be right, but in my opinion she is only half right at best. In some cases, she will be right, but because in the others that she has neglected she will be wrong, it is hard to fully support her ideas. Free education would solve it right? All teachers of all education levels and skill are equally distributed into one education system that is available to all without any private funding. That seems pretty ideal doesnt it? Im not so sure. Gary Matkin, Dean of Continuing Education at University of California Irvine, suggests it is entirely possible. He uses the University of the people as a selling point for how successful a free tuition based college can exist (Matkin 133). However Richard Rothstien, the rest of the authors of All Else Equal, and myself would argue that if the University of the people is so successful and innovative, why isnt it thriving. I unfortunately have to question this utopian idea, because I am not entirely convinced that todays society and job market would support and hire someone from such an institution. I have personally never heard of it, and I am certain I am not the only one. Credibility definitely comes into play. I think everyone would love to see a world where education is free, but because of the way

education is now, and how deep the roots are, straying from current ways that drastically will ultimately cause a total collapse. Gary Matkin is on the right track though. I do think that some professionals would suggest that we as a nation to stray from the current education system. They would advertise that reconstruction must happen because of how far behind the United States is in education in the world. I am not confirming or denying any of those claims, however a complete transition to a new education system immediately is not only impractical, but its impossible. It is undeniable that the current education system has holes. In some areas, it has craters. However, reform of or current structure is the key to long term success. Public and private schools are not going anywhere. All of my sources would at least support that claim, at least for the time being. Even Gary Matkin, who is entirely for free education, knows that the transition must be subtle and long term to create a better education system. The surrounding issue is that no one knows how to take those baby steps. I wish I could finish this essay with a completely drawn out plan to reform the United States education system flawlessly, but thats impractical. I will claim this. I think that awareness is the first step. Being conscious of the way education currently works and understanding and analyzing its flaws is something that every American should do. This research I have done has made me aware. Are you?...

Works Cited: Adams, Susan. Want your Kids to Succeed? Dont pay for their education. Forbes. Forbes.com LLC, 16 Jan. 2013. Web. 12 Mar. 2013. Benveniste, Luis, Martin Carnoy, and Richard Rothestein. All Else Equal: Are Public and Private Schools Different. New York: RoutledgeFalmer, 2003. Print. DeNavas-Walt, Carmen, Bernadette D. Proctor, and Jessica C. Smith. Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2011. Census.gov. 2011: 6-17. United States Census Bureau. PDF file. 12 Mar. 2013. Matkin, Gary W. Meeting the Challenege of Free Education: How to Make Money When the Competition is Giving it Away. Continuing Higher Education Review Fall 2011: 130-37. ERIC. Web. 28 Feb. 2013.

Public vs. Private Schools. The New York Times. The New York Times Company, 19 Jul. 2006. Web. 12 Mar. 2013.