{"id":1568,"date":"2016-05-23T20:36:03","date_gmt":"2016-05-23T20:36:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontosociology-waymaker\/?post_type=chapter&p=1568"},"modified":"2016-07-20T12:48:22","modified_gmt":"2016-07-20T12:48:22","slug":"reading-universal-access-to-education","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/sanjacinto-introsociology-1\/chapter\/reading-universal-access-to-education\/","title":{"raw":"Reading: Universal Access to Education","rendered":"Reading: Universal Access to Education"},"content":{"raw":"
<\/figure>
<\/section>
\r\n

Access to Education<\/h2>\r\n

Another global concern in education is universal access<\/span><\/strong>. This term refers to people\u2019s equal ability to participate in an education system. On a world level, access might be more difficult for certain groups based on class or gender (as was the case in the United States earlier in the nation\u2019s history, a dynamic we still struggle to overcome). The modern idea of universal access arose in the United States as a concern for people with disabilities. In the United States, one way in which universal education is supported is through federal and state governments covering the cost of free public education. Of course, the way this plays out in terms of school budgets and taxes makes this an often-contested topic on the national, state, and community levels.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"500\"]\"A How has your state\u2019s revenue affected your educational opportunities? (Graph courtesy of Census of Governments: Survey of School System Finances 2012)[\/caption]\r\n\r\n<\/figure>\r\n

A precedent for universal access to education in the United States was set with the 1972 U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia\u2019s decision in Mills v. Board of Education of the District of Columbia<\/em>. This case was brought on the behalf of seven school-age children with special needs who argued that the school board was denying their access to free public education. The school board maintained that the children\u2019s \u201cexceptional\u201d needs, which included mental retardation and mental illness, precluded their right to be educated for free in a public school setting. The board argued that the cost of educating these children would be too expensive and that the children would therefore have to remain at home without access to education.<\/p>\r\n

This case was resolved in a hearing without any trial. The judge, Joseph Cornelius Waddy, upheld the students\u2019 right to education, finding that they were to be given either public education services or private education paid for by the Washington, D.C., board of education. He noted that<\/p>\r\n\r\n

\r\n
Constitutional rights must be afforded citizens despite the greater expense involved \u2026 the District of Columbia\u2019s interest in educating the excluded children clearly must outweigh its interest in preserving its financial resources. \u2026 The inadequacies of the District of Columbia Public School System whether occasioned by insufficient funding or administrative inefficiency, certainly cannot be permitted to bear more heavily on the \u201cexceptional\u201d or handicapped child than on the normal child (Mills v. Board of Education<\/em> 1972).<\/div><\/blockquote>\r\n

Today, the optimal way to include differently abled students in standard classrooms is still being researched and debated. \u201cInclusion\u201d is a method that involves complete immersion in a standard classroom, whereas \u201cmainstreaming\u201d balances time in a special-needs classroom with standard classroom participation. There continues to be social debate surrounding how to implement the ideal of universal access to education.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/section>

\r\n
\r\n

Further Research<\/h3>\r\n

Though it\u2019s a struggle, education is continually being improved in the developing world. To learn how educational programs are being fostered worldwide, explore the Education section of the Center for Global Development\u2019s website.<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/section>

\r\n
\r\n

Think It Over<\/h3>\r\n
\r\n
\r\n\r\nDo you believe free access to schools has achieved its intended goal? Explain.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
\r\n

Practice<\/h3>\r\n
1.\u00a0The 1972 case Mills v. Board of Education of the District of Columbia<\/em> set a precedent for __________.<\/div>\r\n
\r\n
\r\n
    \r\n \t
  1. access to education<\/li>\r\n \t
  2. average spending on students<\/li>\r\n \t
  3. desegregation of schools<\/li>\r\n \t
  4. teacher salary<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
    \r\n
    [reveal-answer q=\"621331\"]Show Answer[\/reveal-answer]\r\n[hidden-answer a=\"621331\"]a[\/hidden-answer]<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/section><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n[reveal-answer q=\"243014\"]Show Glossary[\/reveal-answer]\r\n[hidden-answer a=\"243014\"]\r\n
    \r\n \t
    universal access:<\/dt>\r\n \t
    the equal ability of all people to participate in an education system<\/dd>\r\n<\/dl>\r\n[\/hidden-answer]\r\n

    Self-Check: Global Education<\/h2>\r\n

    You\u2019ll have more success on the Self-Check, if you\u2019ve completed both Readings in this section.<\/span><\/p>\r\nhttps:\/\/assessments.lumenlearning.com\/assessments\/1040\r\n\r\n<\/section>","rendered":"

    <\/figure>\n
    <\/section>\n
    \n

    Access to Education<\/h2>\n

    Another global concern in education is universal access<\/span><\/strong>. This term refers to people\u2019s equal ability to participate in an education system. On a world level, access might be more difficult for certain groups based on class or gender (as was the case in the United States earlier in the nation\u2019s history, a dynamic we still struggle to overcome). The modern idea of universal access arose in the United States as a concern for people with disabilities. In the United States, one way in which universal education is supported is through federal and state governments covering the cost of free public education. Of course, the way this plays out in terms of school budgets and taxes makes this an often-contested topic on the national, state, and community levels.<\/p>\n

    \n
    \"A<\/p>\n

    How has your state\u2019s revenue affected your educational opportunities? (Graph courtesy of Census of Governments: Survey of School System Finances 2012)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

    A precedent for universal access to education in the United States was set with the 1972 U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia\u2019s decision in Mills v. Board of Education of the District of Columbia<\/em>. This case was brought on the behalf of seven school-age children with special needs who argued that the school board was denying their access to free public education. The school board maintained that the children\u2019s \u201cexceptional\u201d needs, which included mental retardation and mental illness, precluded their right to be educated for free in a public school setting. The board argued that the cost of educating these children would be too expensive and that the children would therefore have to remain at home without access to education.<\/p>\n

    This case was resolved in a hearing without any trial. The judge, Joseph Cornelius Waddy, upheld the students\u2019 right to education, finding that they were to be given either public education services or private education paid for by the Washington, D.C., board of education. He noted that<\/p>\n

    \n
    Constitutional rights must be afforded citizens despite the greater expense involved \u2026 the District of Columbia\u2019s interest in educating the excluded children clearly must outweigh its interest in preserving its financial resources. \u2026 The inadequacies of the District of Columbia Public School System whether occasioned by insufficient funding or administrative inefficiency, certainly cannot be permitted to bear more heavily on the \u201cexceptional\u201d or handicapped child than on the normal child (Mills v. Board of Education<\/em> 1972).<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

    Today, the optimal way to include differently abled students in standard classrooms is still being researched and debated. \u201cInclusion\u201d is a method that involves complete immersion in a standard classroom, whereas \u201cmainstreaming\u201d balances time in a special-needs classroom with standard classroom participation. There continues to be social debate surrounding how to implement the ideal of universal access to education.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

    \n
    \n

    Further Research<\/h3>\n

    Though it\u2019s a struggle, education is continually being improved in the developing world. To learn how educational programs are being fostered worldwide, explore the Education section of the Center for Global Development\u2019s website.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

    \n
    \n

    Think It Over<\/h3>\n
    \n
    \n

    Do you believe free access to schools has achieved its intended goal? Explain.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

    \n

    Practice<\/h3>\n
    1.\u00a0The 1972 case Mills v. Board of Education of the District of Columbia<\/em> set a precedent for __________.<\/div>\n
    \n
    \n
    \n
      \n
    1. access to education<\/li>\n
    2. average spending on students<\/li>\n
    3. desegregation of schools<\/li>\n
    4. teacher salary<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n
      \n
      \n
      Show Answer<\/span><\/p>\n
      a<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
      Show Glossary<\/span><\/p>\n
      \n
      \n
      universal access:<\/dt>\n
      the equal ability of all people to participate in an education system<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

      Self-Check: Global Education<\/h2>\n

      You\u2019ll have more success on the Self-Check, if you\u2019ve completed both Readings in this section.<\/span><\/p>\n

      \t