After reading the Marxian Perspective on Education essay, I am reminded of the work carried out in Harlem where Geoffrey Canada is commandeering a foundation known as the Harlem Children's Zone. This program is a comprised of a series of charter schools aimed at making a change in the Harlem education system and providing the youth of Harlem with an opportunity to learn and change their lives.
Beginning in early childhood, Canada's program offers multiple educational experiences, including a free course for expecting parents. By helping these children develop intellectually from birth to age eighteen, Canada's program increases the likelihood that these students will go to college, be prepared for college when they get there, and eventually make something of themselves and leave Harlem. To me, Canada's program illustrates Marx's ideals that education can change social status. With education comes power and opportunity, both of which are withheld from those who do not seek educational opportunities. Studies have shown that children who group up with parents with less education are likely to go to school less prepared than others and will continuously fall behind. While there are many exceptions to this claim, the research has given us enough evidence to predict the most probable outcome.
How can our country better prepare children for public school so that their social class does not predict their future success?
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