Community Redevelopment: A Look at the Educational System and its Impact on Work

Abstract

Providing access to equal educational opportunities is vital to the survival of our communities, and society as a whole. Access to better educational opportunities would assist in creating viable pools of qualified workers. These individuals could contribute to the work force in many ways, as engineers, designers, service providers and entrepreneurs. This pool of workers would help to create and sustain economic power and stability. Statistics suggest that in the 21^st century, underrepresented populations will encompass a large portion of the population. If our society is to remain competitive, not only will it be necessary to better develop the concept of equal educational opportunity, but it will also be imperative to put these ideas into practice. The lack of achievement in the elementary and high schools is beginning to manifest itself as seen in the college admission rates, college retention rates, as well as America's unemployment lines. The lack of foundation is creating a very unstable situation – the educationally disabled child, who will evolve into an adult who is unable to succeed on his or her own. This can lead to an individual who is outside the system – an individual who creates havoc in our communities. These problems are cyclical and, for the most part, each feeds on the other. In other words, the history that created a state of inferiority for these groups has created the inaccessibility to resources, that, in turn, evolved into the larger problem of low academic enrollments, high drop out rates and low/no employment. This conceptual paper attempts to address this issue of education and how it impacts the working environment.