Human Capital Theory Essay
The rhetoric of getting good grades in school will get you into a good college and get you a great job then a happy and wealthy life, is familiar to most people who ever experienced a primary and secondary education. What is this rhetoric referring to? This rhetoric is referring to an economic purpose of schooling, particularly the Human Capital Theory. Joel Spring, in his book American Education (2016), defines Human Capital Theory is that with investment in education within a community, that community will have more wealth returned to that community (p. 90). Human Capital Theory dates back as far as the 19th century, since then it has been used to justify political and economic goals of schooling. In this paper, I will look at both the political
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and economic goals for Human Capital Theory as well as historical and my personal interpretation on it. ADD THESIS STATEMENT HERE ¶ Human Capital Theory was first proposed by Horace Mann in the 19th Century as an economic purpose for schooling (Spring, 2016).
Mann became one of the most influential educational theorist (Nietz, 1937), and who has shaped the American public education system. Mann believed that there should be a common school (schools that have common instruction) for all children. His ideal of a common school is one that will give an equal opportunity to succeed both economically and politically regardless of their socioeconomically background. It’s important to note here that equal opportunity means that people are given a chance to succeed. He also believed that schools will teach moral values to children and this will eliminate “crime and immoral behavior” (Spring, 2016, p. 5). Since public schools require public funds to operate, the public must democratically agree to fund the schools. Mann realized that not everyone within the community have children attending the public schools, and might have issues to help fund the schools; this is when he proposed the Human Capital Theory. This proposal, of community investment in public schools, they will economically benefit and will see a reduction in crime and immoral behavior (Spring,
2016). There have been few studies that support Human Capital Theory, one of the most well-known studies is the 1962 Perry Preschool Study. This study followed at risk African American children through the ages of 8 to 19 (typical ages for children in preschool - high school). The Perry Preschool Study found that those who attended a quality early childhood education (preschool) are more likely to attend college, earn higher wages, have lower teen pregnancies rates, and less likely to have a criminal record than those who did not attend a preschool (Spring 2016). The study reports that “these benefits considered in terms of their economic value make the preschool program a worthwhile investment for society,” and the students of these programs will also have a personal lifetime economic benefits (Spring, 2016, p. 102). In a 2004 follow-up study of the Perry Preschool Study, from High/Scope Foundation, it founded that this study the community had a return on investment of every tax dollar returned 16 dollars back into the community.
and economic goals for Human Capital Theory as well as historical and my personal interpretation on it. ADD THESIS STATEMENT HERE ¶ Human Capital Theory was first proposed by Horace Mann in the 19th Century as an economic purpose for schooling (Spring, 2016).
Mann became one of the most influential educational theorist (Nietz, 1937), and who has shaped the American public education system. Mann believed that there should be a common school (schools that have common instruction) for all children. His ideal of a common school is one that will give an equal opportunity to succeed both economically and politically regardless of their socioeconomically background. It’s important to note here that equal opportunity means that people are given a chance to succeed. He also believed that schools will teach moral values to children and this will eliminate “crime and immoral behavior” (Spring, 2016, p. 5). Since public schools require public funds to operate, the public must democratically agree to fund the schools. Mann realized that not everyone within the community have children attending the public schools, and might have issues to help fund the schools; this is when he proposed the Human Capital Theory. This proposal, of community investment in public schools, they will economically benefit and will see a reduction in crime and immoral behavior (Spring,
2016). There have been few studies that support Human Capital Theory, one of the most well-known studies is the 1962 Perry Preschool Study. This study followed at risk African American children through the ages of 8 to 19 (typical ages for children in preschool - high school). The Perry Preschool Study found that those who attended a quality early childhood education (preschool) are more likely to attend college, earn higher wages, have lower teen pregnancies rates, and less likely to have a criminal record than those who did not attend a preschool (Spring 2016). The study reports that “these benefits considered in terms of their economic value make the preschool program a worthwhile investment for society,” and the students of these programs will also have a personal lifetime economic benefits (Spring, 2016, p. 102). In a 2004 follow-up study of the Perry Preschool Study, from High/Scope Foundation, it founded that this study the community had a return on investment of every tax dollar returned 16 dollars back into the community.