Problems with Higher Education Public education has been a staple of American society since the mid-19th century. However, in the years since, the public school system has developed many flaws. The system originally created to improve student life and a better society now causes a lot of harm. Although public education claims to be the “great equalizer,” there are many problems ignored by school reform policies that hinder children's learning. Income greatly affects a child's ability to learn. In the United States, where a child attends school depends on where he or she lives—that is, the family's income. Typically, families with lower incomes are forced to send their children to poor-quality schools. Schools in low-income areas are more likely to have unsatisfactory or inexperienced teachers due to the salary the school can offer. Although many forms of financial aid are accessible to low-income students who wish to attend college, no similar consensus exists for low-income families who would prefer to live in a higher-quality education system (Rouse/Barrow, 1-2 ). Children living in a home where money is scarce do not have as much resources as their wealthier peers. For example, many low-income families lack books, computers, Internet access, and highly educated parents who can assist their children with schoolwork. These children are behind academically and piling on standardized test after test to measure their progress and value teachers is not productive (Strauss, 2). Federal education policy has ignored the issue of poverty for years now because many school reformers argue that the effects of living in poverty... half of document... 2006: 1“Teens feel stressed, and many don't handle it well. usaday.com. February 11, 2014. USA Today. 1 April 2014.Tennant, Victoria. “The Powerful Impact of Stress.” New horizons for learning. September 2005 1-4 “The impact of bullying”. www.education.vic.gov. Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. March 12, 2014. “What Effect Bullying Has on Students and Schools.” gomasa.org. 2013. Michigan Association of School Administrators. April 3, 2014. “What's Wrong with American High Schools.” latimes.com. March 1, 2005. Los Angeles Times. April 8 2014.