Education and Social Unrest Essay example -- Educational Educating Ess

Education and Social Unrest Introduction Society has long expressed its frustration in forms of visual protest, the most basic being deviant crimes and violent acts against others. This action is a way to draw attention of others as well as vent aggressions. This violence is often found in lower social groups as they feel the burden of financial problems and a lack of social mobility. It has become a growing epidemic in America; the growth of poverty stricken neighborhoods is now at an all time high. Since 1970 the population of high-poverty tracts (with poverty rates of 40 percent or more) has increased from 4.1 to 8.0 million (Ludwig 147). These growths have increased the size and number of struggling communities in urban areas. These areas have many problems that must be addressed involving youth related problems. The adolescents that grow in these areas do not receive the proper tools needed to achieve social mobility and so are left in a vicious circle of poverty. This loss of hope and desire for change leads t oo many social problems the major one being youth violence Over one-half (53%) of the respondents [adolescent males in high-poverty communities] have been in at least one type of violent behavior in the past year, and almost one-quarter have engaged in repeated hitting of family members or acquaintances. Once in four (23%) have been involved in at least one type of serious predatory violence, including carrying a hidden weapon, gang fighting, use of strong arm methods, or assault. (Saner 97) These youths need a way to escape this circle of poverty. To overcome the social limitations placed on this community of people it is crucial that they are offered every tool that can help them succeed. This... ...ensah, Addae. Africa News Service. â€Å"Male Dropouts Go Into Crime.† p1008290u0298. Oct 17, 2001 Brooks-Gunn, Jeane, Greg J. Duncan, and Lawence Aber. 1997a. Neighborhood Poverty, Volume I: Context and Consequences for Children. Russell Sage Foundation. Lewis, Oscar. On Understanding Poverty: Perspectives from the Social Sciences. â€Å"The Culture of Poverty.† Pg. 187-200. Basic Books, 1968. Greene, Jay P.; Winters, Marcus A. When Schools Compete: The Effect of Vouchers on Florida Public School Achievement. New York, Center for Civic Innovation. 2003. Meeks, Loretta F., Wendell A Meeks, and Claudia A. Warren. Racial Desegreration: Magnet Schools, Vouchers, Privitization, and Home Schooling. Chicago, University of Illinois. 2000. Ludwig, Jens, Helen F Ladd, Greg J. Duncan. Urban Povert and Educational Outcomes. Raleigh, Duke University. 2001