As the back-to-school ads roll in, parents anxiously prepping for their children's return to school, high school seniors about to embark on college apps, and college freshman moving in on their respective campuses, it is most appropriate to reflect on education in the current American society. Some children have been brought up in wealthy, suburban neighborhoods where the schools are the best of the best and have immersed themselves in any extracurricular activity you could imagine. Others, are not as lucky as the wealthy because they may have grown up in a poor neighborhood where the schools aren't the best and don't receive as many resources. The gap in education right now is very wide and it is shocking to see how it is not a top priority issue.
No matter the situation of the economy, health care, or military, education is the most important issue in our government and we as people should strive for its equality. Why is it the socioeconomic status of the school's neighborhood dependent upon the success of the students' education? If anything in every single person's life that should be guaranteed a quality education. The idea of equitable education is a prevalent topic in the current election through discussions about college tuition and student loan debt. Money should be out of the equation is someone is seeking a degree. Money creates a barrier between those who seek schooling. It is possible to resist such barriers because countries like Germany and Finland have proven tuition isn't necessary for a college education.
In fact, the University of California (UC) system use to be tuition free for California residents up until the 1970s. Now, the UCs have been under scrutiny for accepting more out-of-state students because of their higher tuition. Many Californians find this unfair considering their tax dollars are going towards the universities and yet their own children or they themselves are finding it more difficult to be accepted into the schools.
2016 is the time to take off the price tag of education and let everyone have the resources they need. Not just the wealthy need SAT prep classes, but those from lower socioeconomic classes as well. If there's anything we can agree on in this current political climate, it's education is the most vital issue of the all.
