The United States spends more money on imprisoning citizens than it does on educating youth. Some states spend nearly four times as much money on inmates as they do per student (U.S. Census). As the government continues to neglect its students, they ultimately show that housing inmates is their first priority. Students are constantly being reminded that education is the key, while governments put their money behind bars.
Many states, including Pennsylvania and Delaware, spend more money on their correctional facilities than on their colleges. This seems to suggest that investing state money in correctional facilities will reduce the amount of crime. The murder and violence rate in Philadelphia has increased over the last year (6abc). The lack of educational support contributes to this upsurge. Investing money in schools would likely bring the prison population and crime down and the rate of graduation would improve. Only 64% of students graduated from Washington D.C. public schools in 2015. D.C. and other states still fall behind the national graduation average of 81%. In 2012 alone, 37 public schools were shut down in Philadelphia. The city is running out of schools and money at a rapid pace while the pipeline to prison is growing strong. If schools cannot afford supplies, how are they supposed to teach students? Thousands of students aren’t receiving enough education, setting them up to fail.
Some poor and disenfranchised citizens can receive a “better” education incarcerated than one in failing school systems. Inmates’ education is paid for them at the expense of the state. Perhaps this money could be spent on the front end. It’s sad to think that a crime has to be committed to access higher education.
Various studies have shown that the betterment of the community lowers the amount of crime. Educational opportunity must be at the forefront of any attempt to change any community’s economic status. Individuals need a safe place to learn. Only then will an individual be able to really pull him or herself up by their bootstraps.