The Private Education System Should Be Abolished

Private schools. These institutions, known for offering a more rigorous curriculum than its public counterparts, are said to create a more enriching learning environment. For many, entrance to a private school is the ticket to securing a spot at an esteemed university or college - setting students up for a successful future.

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In the United States, the average yearly tuition of a private school (including private elementary
and high schools) is around $12,000.00 USD. However, tuition can cost as much as $60,000.00
USD. With this in mind, it is clear that the average private school student belongs to a specific
demographic: the socially privileged.

 

So, despite arguments that these schools provide a better education and offer students with more opportunities, why should we deprive families who cannot afford private school of an educationally equal playing field? I would argue that the answer is simple; we shouldn’t.

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Perhaps the most important argument against private schools is how they perpetuate divides based on income, race, and social status. In 2017, of the 5.7 million students in the US enrolled in private elementary and secondary school, 67% were white. Students who attend private school are given a variety of resources that can open doors to more opportunities in life, and increase their chances of getting into top universities, not because of academic ability, but because they are able to afford it. This ultimately reproduces cycles of inequality, where students who are equally able as their peers in private school but may not be of the same socio-economic status are limited in opportunity. Evidence supports that creating a unified education system can help close the wealth gap; Finland - a country that got rid of fee-paying schools in the 1970s, attributes their education policies to the closing of the attainment gap between the wealthiest and poorest students.

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Moreover, students who are placed into the private education system at a young age are often
deprived of the opportunity to socialize with people of all different backgrounds during their most formative years. Empathy and awareness are skills that need to be taught - and to experience something is the best way to learn. Instead, private schools have the tendency to isolate children into an echo-chamber of people who look like them, and have experienced the same privileges as them. This in turn breeds an environment of elitism and ignorance. In a world that already suffers from a lack of empathy, private schools exacerbate social divides.

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I conclude by acknowledging it is almost inevitable for families to want and provide the best education for their children if they have the means to. However, if we instead shift our focus on improving the state of public schools, and get rid of a system that provides resources and opportunities to those who are already privileged, we can start to address prevalent systemic issues. Getting rid of private schooling could be a step in ending cycles of inequality.

Picture this: me, a roguish and humble beauty, donning a get up that looks like Stevie Nicks meets Country Club mom who got lost at a dive bar, addressing my freshman year Sustainable Energy class. With conviction, I launch into my presentation, saying something to the effect of, “The fashion industry is responsible for approximately 10% of CO2 emissions...chemical pollutants in manufacturing, microplastics from synthetic fabrics, treatments for wool and leather etc. pollute our water, soil, and atmosphere... 80% of clothing produced ends up back in the landfill, a gross reflection of a quantity over quality, fast fashion, consumerist culture! Solutions for systemic change in the fashion industry include replacing current industry business operations with circular business models, putting money into research for sustainable fabrics, agricultural practices, and manufacturing processes ... there are still things that can be done on an individual level...if not, our Earth and the ecosystems within it will perish because of your Zara tees and Target impulse buys!” I take a deep breath and survey my audience, gauging their reaction. Their faces are vacant, but I know they feel grateful to be enlightened by my supreme wisdom!

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Silk scarves, vintage tea dresses, what I deem to be an appropriate amount of animal print, bell bottoms, and platform boots-- so many boots. If I like it, I wear it. I have adopted many sustainable practices into my daily life, giving my vagabond soul a sense of purpose. I would like to say I immediately went all in, never buying anything new again. Alas, the cold, clammy grip of materialism was too strong. Fortunately, I did not let the fact that I am a pawn of consumerist culture deter me. Taking baby steps, I increased my thrift finds, traded clothes with roommates, bought less impulsively and made higher quality purchases that would last longer. The ultimate goal is to decrease overall consumption. It’s not an all-or-nothing deal; it’s a collective decrease.

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While thrifting is an obvious solution, there are still repercussions. For example, fabrics such as polyester release microplastics every time they are washed. 500,000 tonnes of microfiber plastics end up in the oceans annually. And lastly, consumers and designers want to create and purchase new designs. The solution to this is sustainable textiles. Sustainable textiles are creeping their way into high fashion and name-brand companies. For example, Stella McCartney’s mushroom leather bag, or collaboration with Bolt Thread’s Microsilk; Ralph Lauren uses Mirum by Natural Fiber Works; And Dauphinette has partnered with TômTex for biodegradable leather. While I cannot stop millennials from wearing high-waisted skinny jeans, men from tucking in Chelsea boots into fugly khakis, and internet fashion girls from wearing Gossip Girl-esque opaque hosiery. I can hope the jeans are burned (just kidding, send them to Blue Jeans Go Green.), the boots are made from mushroom leather, and the tights are spider silk compounds. Fashion faux pas' deserve a redeemable quality; why not a planet-friendly twist?

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Most people will not assume that a woman with my chic and idiosyncratic tendencies can go on and on about circular business models, agricultural plans, and textile sciences, and spew the devastating statistics surrounding climate change and loss of biodiversity in global ecosystems. But they sure will ask themselves, “Why is this lady still going on about rechanneling government funds, carbon-negative textiles, and the horrors of washing polyester? I just said I liked her coat.” I never suspected my love for zebra print and shiny things would connect me to sustainability science and business. Sustainable Fashion practices are in the hands of the individual and the fashion industry. Thrifting and clothing swapping can create a sense of community on a smaller scale while making an effort to invest in eco-friendly textiles is where scientists and designers in the industry can make their creations responsibly shine. Perhaps, seeking to create and consume responsibly is the key to feeling satisfied enough to stop over consuming. It just goes to show that sustainable fashion is both intellectually stimulating and totally sexy.