Needs vs Wants (university, degree, school, pay)

[FolkArtsy]

A New Study Reveals Much About How Parents Really Choose Schools : NPR Ed : NPR

I don't know why poor people are being singled out, wealthy people have diffrent priorities as well. I know plenty of people who put media room, luxury finishes or bigger lot ahead of schooling. To each its own.

[EDS_]

Errr.....I'm not trying to a jerk and all sorts of data makes the same point, why is anyone surprised that lower income parents care less about the academic side of education?

[MurphyPl1]

I'm not at all surprised by this. Lower income parents have different parameters than high income parents. If you look at the things that were prioritized over academic rating (outside of extracurriculars) they are things that are highly job dependent. Low income workers can't necesarrily arrange for child care outside of the school system. Or arrange a work schedule that is flexible enough to drive across town for school. We see many parents on here, in the higher SES that have a SAHP that can drive their kid from Plano to one of the privates. Or from Preston Hollow or Lakewood to Greenhill.

And as far as extracurriculars being a priority, for many low income families that is the only way their kid will get to go to college. Better to be awesome at football and get a decent but lower education and get someone to pay for school, than to go to a higher performing school, and still not be able to afford college even if you get in.

[EDS_]

Originally Posted by MurphyPl1

I'm not at all surprised by this. Lower income parents have different parameters than high income parents. If you look at the things that were prioritized over academic rating (outside of extracurriculars) they are things that are highly job dependent. Low income workers can't necesarrily arrange for child care outside of the school system. Or arrange a work schedule that is flexible enough to drive across town for school. We see many parents on here, in the higher SES that have a SAHP that can drive their kid from Plano to one of the privates. Or from Preston Hollow or Lakewood to Greenhill.

And as far as extracurriculars being a priority, for many low income families that is the only way their kid will get to go to college. Better to be awesome at football and get a decent but lower education and get someone to pay for school, than to go to a higher performing school, and still not be able to afford college even if you get in.

I agree with you generally. I'd argue though that when lower income families focus on sports over academics that are usually making a terrible mistake.

We all know how few kids actually play college sports via a significant scholarship.

Anyone who really wants to go to college can go assuming the requisite academic preparedness. An acquaintance just finished her degree at a fine and expensive university with practically no help from her parents.

[Waterdragon8212]

I realize that this is a 2 year old thread, but given the current issues in education, it seems relevant. I don't think the study was necessarily implying that poor people care more about football than academics (although probably some do), but rather highlighting the fact that in order to put food on the table and work long hours, they gravitate towards schools with longer hours and extended care options - which can include extracurricular activities.