Education was a major part of Dr. King’s vision. He looked forward to a time when children of all races had equal opportunity to pursue their educational goals, through high school, past high school, as far as their dreams and their abilities could carry them.
Rep. John Kavanagh, on the other hand, is pushing for a “Hey, idiot, if you’re going to be a salesman, you shouldn’t waste our money by going to university” mentality in Arizona. I wrote about his jaw-dropping pronouncement Sunday, and I haven’t been able to shake my disgust with his statement since. It’s especially rankling on a day honoring the memory of Martin Luther King.
So I want to try a thought experiment, looking at the consequences of Kavanagh’s vision of restricting university education to people who will, in his view, make proper use of it.
Let’s imagine a group of 100 students at Catalina Foothills High, where 77% of the students are white or Asian and 6% are on free or reduced lunch. Next, imagine another group of 100 students at Pueblo High, where 95% of the students are Hispanic, Native American or Black and 79% are on free or reduced lunch. Let’s also imagine the 100 students at both schools are an identical mix of intellectual ability. To the extent that DNA determines intellect, the genetic makeup of the two groups covers the full gamut in equal proportions.
In other words, both groups have the same biological chance of being successful students at UA. They’re separated by geography, family income and ethnicity, not by native ability.
Now, imagine John Kavanagh is giving separate talks to both groups. Which of them is most likely to hear this speech?
“Boys and girls, I know some of you hope to go onto college, even the University of Arizona, when you leave here. And I’m sure there are a few among you who have what it takes to succeed at UA. But I want each of you to be honest with yourself. Do you really think you’re going to need a fancy university education? You know, you can be a very successful salesperson or store clerk — even store manager! — with a high school education. And you can start earning the day you get your diploma instead of spending four tough years at UA before you begin working — and don’t forget about those huge college loans you’ll be paying back for the next twenty years. Instead of that, you can take a few business training classes at community college at night to help you get that promotion while you’re pulling in a paycheck.
“Let’s be realistic. Look around you. Look at the people in your community. How many of your neighbors are doctors or lawyers or rocket scientists? Not many, right? Now ask yourself, do you have what it takes to make that giant leap from the world of your parents and your community into a university that will be far more difficult and far more time consuming than the school you’re attending now? If you’re not sure, here’s my advice to you. Get as much education as you need, work hard, raise your children with the right values, and who knows? Maybe they’ll be the ones who become the doctors and lawyers and rocket scientists of their generation.”
You think Kavanagh would give a talk like that to students in the Foothills? Not a chance. If he did, he could expect parents with buckets of tar and baskets of feathers waiting for him when he stepped out the high school’s doors. Everyone knows those kids are being groomed to pursue a higher education. The sky’s the limit for the children of the affluent and educated, who live among highly educated, highly paid professionals — the kind of people they’re expected to be.
No, a message like that would be for the Pueblo high students, whether it was stated explicitly or laid between the lines. It’s a version of the advice minority children heard in earlier generations. Don’t reach above yourself. You’ll only cause trouble for yourself and your community. You need to know your place if you want to live happy, healthy — and by healthy, I mean safe — productive lives.
Kavanagh’s message that universities are only for students who will make good use of them is more veiled than the explicitly racist messages of the past. Its assault on minorities, and on the poor of all races and ethnicities, is more subtle. But it’s exactly the kind of lowered expectations Dr. King fought against. To the extent this country has made headway in minority participation in higher education since King’s death, it’s in spite of people like Kavanagh.
This article appears in Jan 16-22, 2014.
Unfortunately sometimes it feels like any advances have been in spite of states like Arizona, where Kavanagh barely even stands out for the theories he espouses. Last Friday I heard a scholar from Phoenix speaking about race and region, and someone asked him why he lived in Arizona. He said something along the lines of “Some places are epicenters of problems with race relations: Arizona is definitely one of those places so its a good place to do the kind of work I do”….I neglected to ask him what kind of schools he sends his kids to here, because we as adults may choose to live in a state like Az., (for its beauty, its wonderful people, etc.) but why would anyone want to raise a child in a state that is typically #49 in school spending? What does that tell us about legislative focus, and legislative ability to put children and young people last?
…” but why would anyone want to raise a child in a state that is typically #49 in school spending? “
Because simply “Throwing Money” at a problem, does not automatically improve it, no matter what the “Liberal Educators” and the NEA says. We have some of the best schools around, because of Dedicated Administrations who put the Kids above their own Greed for Power, parents who get involved in their kids future, and the Teachers Unions NOT being in charge.
Wow, John Kavanagh, “Dont go brownin up our fancy learnin schools, go work at walmert” huh? Cause nobody of ethnicity from a poorer area has ever made anything of their selves huh?
What if you Irish-Gaelic ancestors lived by that theory and kept their Guinness drinking butts on bar stools, instead of college class rooms? You would still be a peasant immigrant hoping to assimilate, if you were lucky, a farmer.
How dare you sir.
You know, I am also looking forward for all children (well all the people to be more specific) to be equal. But let’s start with kids of different races and different social status. They all should have a right to study, so that everyone would be equally educated. Once everyone has such a right only then we can talk of this country becoming successful. In any case, I am still looking forward for colleges to become available for everyone who wants to get a degree
Alicia for http://essayonlinestore.com/ Web service