Educational Achievement
Eugene Kang
Professor Muller
English 101
March 1, 2013
Educational Achievement and Upward Mobility In many cities throughout the United States, people live in a state of poverty, lacking the basic necessities of food, clothing, and shelter needed to survive. Governments have tried numerous policies to life people out of poverty, from financial aid to affirmative action programs. Yet, Government aids are not enough to guarantee educational achievement. Educational achievement is the single largest influence on an individual’s future earning power. Education creates and shapes a person’s future. People fail to realized that the educational system has the greatest impact on the lives of American citizens. Although low income students despair about the rising cost of education and if it is truly worth the investment, given the current socioeconomic conditions, education still offers the best opportunity for upward mobility. Low income students lose interest in learning during their early teens. Their families do not have the income to provide for extracurricular activities such as music, performing arts, or sports clubs. As a result, teens stay at home where they are heavily influenced by the computer and television. American mainstream culture deters students’ interests in learning. Hip Hop culture targets young teens, influencing them to be rebels and introducing them to drugs and parties. Students are held back in school, failing to complete their education. In Hip Hop culture, success is not determined by education. This view undermines the importance of the public school education system. Successful hip hop artists and entertainers are considered successful primarily because of their ethnic and economic background. Tupac Shakur, the Notorious BIG, and 50 Cent, are known for their gang related activity while growing up in the hood. Many low income students are able to relate to these artists. They are influenced to rebel against society and the education
Professor Muller
English 101
March 1, 2013
Educational Achievement and Upward Mobility In many cities throughout the United States, people live in a state of poverty, lacking the basic necessities of food, clothing, and shelter needed to survive. Governments have tried numerous policies to life people out of poverty, from financial aid to affirmative action programs. Yet, Government aids are not enough to guarantee educational achievement. Educational achievement is the single largest influence on an individual’s future earning power. Education creates and shapes a person’s future. People fail to realized that the educational system has the greatest impact on the lives of American citizens. Although low income students despair about the rising cost of education and if it is truly worth the investment, given the current socioeconomic conditions, education still offers the best opportunity for upward mobility. Low income students lose interest in learning during their early teens. Their families do not have the income to provide for extracurricular activities such as music, performing arts, or sports clubs. As a result, teens stay at home where they are heavily influenced by the computer and television. American mainstream culture deters students’ interests in learning. Hip Hop culture targets young teens, influencing them to be rebels and introducing them to drugs and parties. Students are held back in school, failing to complete their education. In Hip Hop culture, success is not determined by education. This view undermines the importance of the public school education system. Successful hip hop artists and entertainers are considered successful primarily because of their ethnic and economic background. Tupac Shakur, the Notorious BIG, and 50 Cent, are known for their gang related activity while growing up in the hood. Many low income students are able to relate to these artists. They are influenced to rebel against society and the education