Where We Live: College And Its "Degrees of Inequality"
A new book explores differences between Yale and SCSU
Could our higher education system, once seen as a great equalizer, actually be adding to the nation’s inequalities?
As high schoolers grapple with the grueling spring admissions process, one author argues that students’ true courses into college are forged by many factors other than their grades.
In her book “Degrees of Inequality: Culture Class and Gender in American Higher Education” Ann Mullen analyses two New Haven schools.
At Ivy-league Yale, the students are mostly from out of state - come from privledged backgrounds where education is all about an intellectual journey.
At Southern Connecticut State University, the students are from around here, see college as a way to get a good job and work during school to pay for it.
Today, what Mullen’s research tells us about the differences between the students, academics and admissions of two schools...only two miles, but worlds apart.
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I disagree with Ann Mullen
This was a very interesting program. I disagreed strongly with Ann Mullen's premise that the main reason that children of poor/lower middle class families achieve less is that they do not have access to all the resources that children of wealthy families do. This may be true to some extent; however, there are legion examples of poor immigrant families whose children achieve at the highest levels. While it may be true that all families "value" education, I think there is a distinct difference in some families. Some parents, regardless of their financial situation, value education, and push their children...HARD. I agree with your caller who stated that the ultimate responsibility rests with the family. It seems to me that we have reached a state where many parents feel no responsibility for how their children do in school... that's the teachers' job. Unfortunately, for many under privileged children, this is a prelude to failure.
Thank you for exploring this interesting topic.
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