Why Schools Are So Important

Many people do not understand the sole importance of education. Lets take a moment and talk about the benefits of education rather than the disadvantages of funding incarceration. A study provided by USC titled "Why Is Education Important For Your Future" summarizes the major points of attending school. Those who have a bachelor degree, on average, make at least eighty percent more than those who have a high school degree. Those with bachelor degrees also enjoy more assets such as cars and houses and do not worry as much about finances. They also tend to work in offices where work is less stressful on the body. Not to mention that the higher the education the better your informed choices become.

Source: Bureau of Statistics, Current Population Survey

One of the major consequences on not having an educated youth is economic stagnation and downfall. The Great Recession in 2007 could have been avoided with better consumer education. People used loans they could not pay back or had high interest rates which caused them to be in perpetual debt. Through lack of education, the United States' economy declined and had a high amount of unemployment and bankrupt corporations. 

Educating citizens also has many future benefits. Those who are educated tend to live longer lives. They also push their kids to enroll in higher education causing an exponential growth in an educated population.

By having incarceration cut into the budget of education, many of our benefits are reduced or gone. Incarceration offers only economic disadvantage and families and friends to break up. It also cuts through resources having to build and take care of inmates and also wastes priority on other more helpful programs.

Education can be an incredibly powerful tool. It can strengthen economies and expand power. To decrease its priority to have inmates locked up sounds frivolous and unwarranted. Money is just being burned when invested in the failing incarceration programs.

Source: Kezar, Adrianna, Vikki Frank, Jaime Lester, and Hannah Yang. "Why Is Education Important For Your Future." (n.d.): n. pag. USC. USC Center for Higher Education Policy Analysis, May 2008. Web. 21 Nov. 2014.