ABSTRACT

This chapter discusses the inequality among individuals that is defined as the degree of difference in social position among individuals or classes, reflecting the combined influence of freedom, power, status, income, and psychic satisfaction. It clarifies the concept of equality of opportunity and explores its relationship to education. Higher education is a major means by which individuals seek to locate themselves and do locate themselves among the income classes, some moving up and others moving down; by which they vary their locations from those held by their parents; by which ability and interest rather than inheritance determine location. One of the main tasks of higher education in this stage is to induct many first-generation students into the secondary and higher educational systems and thus into the mainstream of American society. Higher education has the capacity to influence the degree of human equality or inequality and this capacity could be used to reduce inequality.