At the core of the American dream lies the belief that each succeeding generation will enjoy a richer, more fulfilling life than those that came before--but the results of the most recent Heartland Monitor Poll challenge this ideal. According to the poll, many believe that the youth of today will face more risks than their parents and that getting a college education will become unattainable for the middle class. On September 20, the Newseum hosted a program, Childhood in America,┬" to discuss these results.
By the numbers: Education and class mobility
The experts assembled at the program focused on the role of education as a guarantor of opportunity. Every aspect of the student lifecycle was examined, from early childhood education programs all the way through the postsecondary level. Ronald Brownstein, Editorial Director at the Atlantic, cited a study by the Brookings Institution which indicates that big differentials in test scores are evident as early as pre-K “ gaps that tend to become more apparent as children grow, seriously affecting the eventual opportunities that disadvantaged populations can avail themselves of.
A number of recent research projects have highlighted the related advantages of completing a college degree “ improved workforce skills, higher job satisfaction, greater income stability, improved self-esteem and healthier living," said Jay Goff, Vice President, Division of Enrollment and Retention Management, Saint Louis University, when asked for reaction to this report. "Those benefits have not changed over the past few years and are not likely to change in the future.┬"
And the value of higher education is becoming increasingly unclear, according to poll results. Both teenagers and parents feel that college, either two- or four-year, is the next step after high school (75% and 96%, respectively). However, while teenagers overwhelmingly view a college education as a good investment in their futures, parents have become more ambivalent. Only 53% view it as a ticket to the middle class, while 39% view it as a burden that requires excessive debt to pay for.
Other interesting results from the study:
- 60% of teenagers and believe it was better to be a parent in the previous generation than now, and 72% of parents affirm this belief.
- Only 18% of parents feel that their children will have more opportunities to get ahead than they currently enjoy.
- 66% of both teenagers and parents feel that today's youth are faced with more challenges than opportunity.
The affordability of a college degree has long been a challenge," Goff added. "It is encouraging to see how many universities are thinking outside-the-box and developing new systems for students to complete a college degree. A quick content review of the past AACRAO SEM conferences reveals a significant number of US colleges have embraced enrollment planning efforts focused on improving degree completion levels and providing financial aid packages with reasonable student loan debt loads.
Keynote: Education cuts hard┬"
In a keynote-interview at the event, Congressman Miller expressed broad support for both California Governor Jerry Brown and President Obama's proposals to tie funding to performance. When asked for comment on tying federal financial aid to a new rating system, Congressman Miller replied I think [President Obama] is right. If the institution isn't serving you very well, why would you keep it open? Why would you borrow money to go to it? Why should you be ignorant about what you are doing with that borrowed money? We need to have a system of education that is based upon excellence. We have the information and the technology to really make that determinative.┬"
Panel: Childhood development
Later that morning, a panel sat down to discuss childhood development as it pertained to educational pathways. Veronica Conforme, Vice President of the College Board's Access to Rigor Campaign, talked about what the College Board has been doing to address the concerns many Americans have about the lack of opportunity for today's youth, especially from underserved and disadvantaged backgrounds.
These low- and middle-income students and families have not been able to access the opportunities that they have earned,┬" said Conforme. We [College Board] know who these kids are, so we partner with their schools and help propel them to success “ not only enrolled, but graduated from college.┬"
While much of the discussion about the poll revolved around the importance of early childhood development, the overarching message that the final panel tried to impart was that a child cannot be split up; their health, safety, and education are intricately tied together. In a similar vein, participants admonished the live and streaming audience to think of education in a continuum rather than in parceled segments, as the gaps tend to widen rather than shrink as time presses on.
For more information, stream the program from AtlanticLive.