The current socioeconomic climate of the United States and the world at large can best be characterized as one in which access to both opportunity and wealth is increasingly scarce for those living in poverty. While there are numerous factors that contribute to this mass inequality, the scope of this topic will focus on education. The American education system is lagging behind globally, and the current programs in place are ineffective to the point of being harmful. This document argues that specific changes to the public education system will produce positive results not only in global rankings, but will also be helpful in closing the opportunity gap and counteracting the growing culture of classism. Specifically, the argument, supported by statistics and the application of sociological principles, will support the idea that adding sociology as part of a required curriculum is a viable means of reversing the growing disparity between rich and poor. Before going into defense on the topic, it is important to communicate that the current situation requires reform. It must be understood that the state of the public school system is not simply confined to the field of education but is instead closely related to the distribution of wealth. The current opportunity gap – which gives those in the middle and upper classes greater access to higher-quality education – is the cause of the observed inequality in income distribution. “Children born in the top fifth of the income distribution are about twice as likely to become middle class or better in adulthood than those born in the bottom fifth (Isaacs, Sawhill, & Haskins, 2008).” undoubtedly a li...... middle of paper ......terparts is largely unequal access to the opportunities afforded by an unjust system. The idea of ​​incorporating sociology into the public school system seems harmless. In fact, for the ruling class, it is very dangerous. The security of the wealthy is disrupted if individuals living in poverty receive the understanding that their position in society is a constant dialogue rather than a fixed destiny. The system in place failed those who did not have the resources to participate fully; to some extent this is an intentional measure to maintain the status quo. This injustice is allowed to continue because most individuals do not fully possess the sociological imagination to perceive this injustice. If sociology were taught in all schools, people would understand the full weight of systemic injustice in society, and opportunity and greater equality would result.