Higher_Education__Privilege_or_Right_

Higher Education: Privilege or Right' Introduction “Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages”. [1] This is the opening statement of 26th article in the United Nation’s Declaration of Human Rights. The American education system has a world-dominating position and has been one of the frontrunners of public basic education as we know it today. The system fulfils the intention of this right. Furthermore, the 26th article states that “higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit”. The objective is that access to higher education[2] should be based only on the qualities of the applicants. Thus, the striking question to ask is whether higher education in America is a privilege or a right' To give a more detailed answer to this question and argue for either attitude the synopsis includes the following aspects of the issue: education as a privilege or right historically; the effects of the social heritage; and the influence of economy. From Settlers to Veterans Basic education has historically been a right to the American people. A fundamental idea of the American society is that democracy requires an educated citizenry at least at a basic level. Public education is a great equalizer that gives every man a chance to rise in society[3] and in contrast to other nations America was early to be educating the masses.[4] The aim of the non-selective system is to provide equal opportunities for everyone.[5] However, higher education still seemed a luxury and a privilege for the average American at the beginning of the 20th century. In 1944 Congress passed the so-called ‘GI-Bill’[6] which made it possible for WWII veterans to get a higher education free of charge. As many as 7.8 million WWII veterans used this opportunity offer by society[7] and as more and more students experienced equal access to colleges and universities the attitude towards higher education shifted.[8] What used to be a privilege was now being claimed as an equal right to every American and higher education in America had become mass education. Prior to the GI-Bill, civil rights movements and women’s movements higher education was restricted to students of the proper gender, colour and race[9]. With the Affirmative Action[10] applied to higher educational institution this was changed.[11] Social heritage Nevertheless, education is a dividing factor. A degree from a higher educational institution maintain its position as the most obvious and direct way of achieving a good and profitable career and much of the class division in America stems from education level of the inhabitants.[12] Yet, the most dividing educational institutions in America are private boarding schools. They educate less than 1 per cent of the country’s primary and secondary students and are the most important way for the upper class to reproduce itself.[13] Beyond doubt this depicts the impact of the social heritage as a foundation of higher education as a privilege. The lack of equality in the quality of education is another issue. The mixed system of education where both public and private funding takes place has consequences.[14] Often quality varies a lot between each institution as the prosperity of the state and the willingness of its citizens to invest in education has a great say in this context.[15] Poor communities can find themselves caught in an evil circle.[16] If you are born poor higher education is more likely to be seen as a privilege rather than a right. Economy Education is expensive. In contemporary America six in ten high school students are preparing for higher education.[17] Sending ones child to college or university is a costly affair and parents often start saving soon after the child is born. For private institution parents are advised that they will need nothing less than $200,000 per child to pay tuition fees and additional costs. The total is smaller with public institutions. Tuition is one of the factors that make higher education in America more a privilege than a right. [18] Students in America usually live with their parents until they begin their studies at higher educations. But as it is almost impossible for a high school graduate to pay the high cost of tuition and college living they remain financially dependent on their parents until they get their first job.[19] This system makes higher education a privilege. However, there are examples where the influence of economy is altered. Community colleges are run by local authorities and are virtually free of charge.[20] By offering shorter certificate programmes that are adjusted to the work-related needs of a local area they support the idea that a basic college-level education should be available and thereby a right to everyone. Economically higher education in America is not a universal right as the ability to pay decides which institutions one can attend. Nevertheless, stipends, scholarships, and low-interest government loans are made available, but only to applicants that the institution except. This again calls for higher education as a privilege rather than a right. Conclusion Basic education has historically been a right in America and public education has been the equalizer that would give every man an equal chance to rise in society. From being recognized as a privilege for the elite changes in attitude have made higher education an opportunity for the masses. The social heritage still plays an important role in the American education system, but the GI-Bill, the Affirmative Action and equal rights movements have altered its influence. The economy of the applicants and especially their parent is of great importance when dealing with higher education in America. High tuition and limited governmental economic help puts pressure on students when in the finance of their education. I final conclusion is rather difficult to give. Nevertheless, generally speaking and with reference to the abovementioned I can conclude the following upon my question stated in the introduction: higher education in America is more a privilege than a right. Bibliography American Civilization, David Mauk & John Oakland, Routledge: 1995 Contemporary American Society, David Nye, Academic Press: 2005 Contemporary America, Russell Duncan & Joseph Goddard, Palgrave Macmillan: 2005 http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/history.htm http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html http://www.oise.utoronto.ca/research/edu20/moments/1944gibill.html ----------------------- [1] http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html [2] Higher education can be specified as the educational levels above high school (Nye, p. 215) [3] Mauk and Oakland, p. 288 [4] Duncan and Goddard, p. 170 [5] Duncan and Goddard, p. 178 [6] “Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944 was the official name for what is known as the ‘GI Bill’. It offered greater opportunities to returning WWII veterans by providing tuition, books, equipment, and counselling for them to continue their education in school or college.” (http://www.oise.utoronto.ca/research/edu20/moments/1944gibill.html) [7] http://www.gibill.va.gov/GI_Bill_Info/history.htm [8] Mauk and Oakland, p. 292 [9] Mauk and Oakland, p. 294 [10] A set of public policies designed to help eliminate discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. [11] Duncan and Goddard, p. 180 [12] Duncan and Goddard, p. 171 [13] Nye, p. 218 [14] Nye, pp. 215-216 [15] Nye, p. 221 [16] Nye, p. 216 [17] Nye, p. 215 [18] Nye, pp. 220-221 [19] Nye, p. 222-223 [20] Mauk and Oakland, pp. 304-306