Fifty Years Later: Access to Education as an Avenue out of Poverty

Abstract

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESA) of 1965 was intended to ensure access to a quality education for low-income and minority children. President Lyndon B. Johnson, a teacher himself at the beginning of his career, saw education as a critical avenue out of poverty. The Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965 was intended to do the same for college and university education. Unfortunately, fifty years later the foundation of these important pieces of legislation has been eroded through continuing attacks on public education at all levels. The doors to quality public education are being closed, not only at the K-12 level but also at the college and university level as well. Why can we not do for today’s young people what was done for those of fifty years ago? Is not a quality public education still in the best interest of the common good?

KEYWORDS:

• public education
• access
• quality education
• common good
• poverty