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Social Mobility

“Most people are caught in the socioeconomic strata into which they were born, and the political-economic system ensures that they remain there.”(Gollnick,2002) A person born into to poverty will most likely live a life of poverty. Impoverished people work in low-paying manual jobs, at best, or will not hold jobs at all. Education is seen as a means to overcome poverty and lead to more social mobility between classes. Since the 1960’s, there have been many educational reforms intended to overcome the effects of poverty on students. These reforms have had very little affect, test scores from low-income groups have not met the expectations.
The reforms focused on bringing more money and jobs into low-income groups. These are both necessary but not sufficient to overcome the effects of poverty. School curriculums need to reflect on the in-equalities in class structures. Social mobility needs to be seen as achievable. Low-income students need the resources and a clear vision of ho...

Posted by: Jessica Linton

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