Human Capital Theory Essay

The rhetoric of getting good grades in school will get you into a good college and get you a great job then a happy and wealthy life, is familiar to most people who ever experienced a primary and secondary education. What is this rhetoric referring to? This rhetoric is referring to an economic purpose of schooling, particularly the Human Capital Theory. Joel Spring, in his book American Education (2016), defines Human Capital Theory is that with investment in education within a community, that community will have more wealth returned to that community (p. 90). Human Capital Theory dates back as far as the 19th century, since then it has been used to justify political and economic goals of schooling. In this paper, I will look at both the political
Mann became one of the most influential educational theorist (Nietz, 1937), and who has shaped the American public education system. Mann believed that there should be a common school (schools that have common instruction) for all children. His ideal of a common school is one that will give an equal opportunity to succeed both economically and politically regardless of their socioeconomically background. It’s important to note here that equal opportunity means that people are given a chance to succeed. He also believed that schools will teach moral values to children and this will eliminate “crime and immoral behavior” (Spring, 2016, p. 5). Since public schools require public funds to operate, the public must democratically agree to fund the schools. Mann realized that not everyone within the community have children attending the public schools, and might have issues to help fund the schools; this is when he proposed the Human Capital Theory. This proposal, of community investment in public schools, they will economically benefit and will see a reduction in crime and immoral behavior (Spring,