Megan Greenhouse

      11^th Grade

      Berkshire High School

Why is high quality education necessary for the public good?

      Education is essential to achieve success in today’s world. The only way a society can function and prosper is if it is run by qualified individuals. These individuals, however, only become qualified by receiving a high quality education. As Peter Senge of "The Learning School" states, "All human beings are born with unique gifts. The healthy functioning of our community depends on its capacity to develop each gift." The community itself is responsible for preparing younger generations for the future and providing them with the best possible education. This is the only way to ensure the future of that same community is successful.

      It is the duty of the community as a whole to properly fund schools. The society’s young should not suffer because of lack of funds; they should have the same opportunities as everyone else. Money should not be the deciding factor between an adequate education and a high quality education. A student cannot support their own education as a minor. Society has to take charge and use money where it is most needed. With proper school funding, students can receive the educations they deserve. Doesn’t everyone deserve that same opportunity to better him or herself in life? A school’s funds should not be a hindrance to a person’s goals.

      Having a college degree is a necessity in the present day. It is very difficult to get a high salary job without receiving a postsecondary education. A high quality education opens many doors and can allow you to pursue any career you desire in any field of interest. These high-salary jobs are also very important jobs. A profession in the medical field puts you in charge of people’s lives everyday. A business person can be in charge of several people’s finances. All of these people make up a community’s population. Everyone contributes to society. The better educated the society is altogether, the better society will function.

      Imagine a world where nobody received a high quality education. There would be no new inventions, no poetry or stories, and no doctors to cure the sick. These professions need to have educated people. You would not have an uneducated physician performing surgery or an architect designing your house when he or she has never attended college. A high quality education is necessary for the public good at all levels. If children did not have the necessary classes available to them, they might not want to pursue a higher level education. A school is responsible for providing its students with the necessary tools to survive in life. The next generation will have a lot of problems to solve. Within the next twenty years, a cure for cancer could be found or space travel could be made more accessible to the general public. Without the proper educations, present students may never be able to achieve these goals and society will never progress. A community’s survival relies on change; this will never happen if children do not receive a high quality education.

      If society lowers educational standards because of depleted funds, the effects will be irreversible and continue to affect further generations. For example, if future teachers and professors do not get a high education, they will in turn inadequately educate the next generation and the regression will progress. Education is vital to the future of generations. A student must have the ability to reach his or her full potential and not be discouraged, or the chance to achieve their dreams could be sacrificed. Children are the future of our world, therefore, the future of our world depends on the education provided to them