In 1954 the United States government the Brown v Board of Education case overruled the Plessy v Ferguson act, ruling that it was unconstitutional for black children to be denied equal education opportunities based upon their race. After the passing of this act many Americans believed that the education systems throughout the United States were equal. Almost all Americans found this good because our founding fathers did believe the key to a strong nation relied upon the education of its citizens. With Black children being allowed to attend the same schools as White children all citizens were not only given equal education, but an equal chance at academic success. The Declaration of Independence states that “All men are born free and equal” and from Brown v Board of Education the United States would see that all men have equal education. But the United States does not have equal education. Every child regardless of height, weight, race, gender, or religion has the opportunity to be educated. However, the degree to which every child is educated is far from equal.

If every high school in the United States was teaching the same things with the same qualified teachers in the same conditions and with the same technology then all children would have the chance at equal education. However, if you have been to more than one school you know these are just ideals and are far from true. Schools that are wealthier have the opportunity to have computers in every classroom and updated textbooks whenever they wish to buy them. They also tend to have better teachers because the teachers earn a higher salary and will find less stress in their job and be more effective educators. The best teachers want to be paid like their name, the best. Less wealthy schools do not have the luxury to purchase new books and updated technology in the classroom. They also tend to have less qualified teachers that earn a lower salary and will constantly be looking for a better paying job. These outdated textbooks, worse teachers, and lack of technology will naturally lead to an unequal and worse education than wealthier school students receive. This also will lead to a lack of government funding. The better the students score on tests, the more money that school will be funded to pay for these new books and technology. Naturally, the wealthier schools can overpower the poorer schools because of their better school conditions and text books. This will cause most of the money for funding to remain in the hands of the wealthy schools which will further separate the gap between the inequalities of education.

The main reason I find education to be so unequal is because of race. Today, forty-five percent of black children are raised in poverty. That is almost one in every two black children in America! Obviously these poverty stricken children will educate in the schools close to poverty. These children can be educated and have the opportunity to be very successful and wealthy in their life. However, it naturally makes sense that these black children are being educated unequally than most of the white children. This means that they have a less chance at being successful in their life. This inequality can be credited due to social class, but I believe it is highly correlated to race. I believe this is a huge problem and is what makes education in the United States unjust and something that needs to be addressed and corrected.