From Macro to Micro: Experiencing Education (In)equality in and beyond Schools

In American society a paradox exists: education is both a conduit of mobility and inequality. Schooling offers the potential for greater opportunities; yet the disparate nature of school-communities often compound disadvantages for others. In this course, we explore the complex “ecology” of educational inequality, from macro- to micro-dimensions, exploring economics, housing, intergroup dynamics, race and racism, gender and sexism, poverty and class, and other phenomena. It will provide students with a basis for understanding the relationship between education and society, and we will explore the intersectional ways that group distinctions, material and political realities impact people’s lives.