This quote addresses our society's ever-changing nature, and the need for our teaching methods to change as a result. The way that our current educational institutions are structured are a sort of "one-size-fits all". However, it only fits a select group and does not take into account that people think and learn differently.

As someone who comes from a low socioeconomic background, I have experienced prejudice from peers and teachers. It is extremely difficult to thrive in school, when you feel pressured to perform well and are ostracized for struggling. When you perform well you are praised for "defying the odds" and when you face difficulties you are just another statistic. This is detrimental to mental health and can deter someone from pursing higher education.

I was unaware of this statistic, and it is interesting to see the correlation between investment in early childhood education and the amount saved on crime and public assistance. I think that this is something that should be addressed more when discussing public education and funding.

Students from low-income families don't fail just because they don't take advantage of free education. There are other social and economic issue that effect their lives. Many people fail acknowledge that issues at home effect a child's performance at school.

The policies that were once implemented by the government promoted systemic racism and continue to negatively impact certain communities to this day.

In a previous reading I mentioned the connection between Federal Redlining and public schools. People of color were once barred from residing in certain areas, and although this policy is no longer allowed, it continues to promote housing inequalities.

Children from low-income families do not fail simply because they do not take advantage of free education, they fail because the system promotes the gifted and privileged. They are not allotted the same resources and are made to feel inadequate when they do not perform at the same level of the privileged.

The belief that public education is equal for all is based in ignorance. Growing up I attended elementary school in a low-income area, and I later went on to attend school in a wealthy neighborhood. The education that I received was drastically different. The resources that were available and the environment showed me the inequalities in public education.

The notion that public education is the "social elevator" holds a lot of truth. For many immigrants' education is vital in improving social standing and providing economic stability. My parents always stressed that education would provide people with a better life.

I feel as though public officials should not only focus on the achievement of privileged children, but rather focus more on the children who truly need it. If you continue to neglect one group and promote another, you are essentially furthering the gap between the two classes.

This is such an important statement because oftentimes individuals who come from well-educated backgrounds and economically stable families do not fully comprehend the struggles of people from varying backgrounds.

Last semester I took an Urban US history course, and we discussed the impact that Ferdal Redlining has had on our communities, specifically on schools and public services. Decades ago, the government essentially put neighborhoods in different categories from A to D, and these categories were influenced by things like household income, overall safety, and race. Ethnically diverse areas were often classified as C or D which were viewed as undesirable areas to live, and federal funding was often allocated to A and B areas, promoting better public services in these areas. It is interesting to see how a policy from decades ago continues to impact our communities to this day.

As someone who is a first-generation college student and whose family immigrated to the US, I do see how the status of a person's success can help or hinder the next generation.

I feel as though this quote addresses the American ideology that is instilled in so many, oftentimes people from foreign countries associate America with "freedom and opportunity", and it is interesting to see how this ideology compares to reality. We are taught that success is everything and failure is something to be ashamed, which can create negative thoughts and emotions. This ideology can at times be detrimental.