A paradox of the American education system is that education is:
A) the only social institution that not all people have access to even though all people pay for it.
B) a social institution that provides everyone with equal opportunities even though students come from a variety of backgrounds.
C) a social institution that stratifies students based on the characteristics of their backgrounds even though it is intended to provide equal opportunity.
D) a social institution that reinforces existing social inequalities of race and ethnicity but equalizes opportunities for male and female students and for students of different socioeconomic backgrounds.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The American education system is intended to provide equal opportunity to all students, regardless of their background. However, research has shown that students from different socioeconomic backgrounds, races, and ethnicities tend to have different levels of access to resources and opportunities within the educational system, which leads to stratification and reinforces existing inequalities. Therefore, option C is the most accurate paradoxical statement about the American education system.

A Paradox of the American Education System Is That Education