On the Value of 'Equality of Educational Opportunity' as a Guide to Public Policy

Author/s
Eric A. Hanushek
John F. Kain
Editor/s
In Frederick Mosteller and Daniel P. Moynihan (ed.)
Published Date
1972
Publication
On Equality of Educational Opportunity
Details
(New York: Random House)
Pages
pp. 116-145
Equality of Educatiollal Opportunity has been part of the public record since July, 1 96(l. The best known "finding" of the report is that quantity and quality of school inputs (facilities, curriculum, and personnel) have little or no bearing on achievement; home environment and the student's peers are what really count. Obviously, such a finding has far-reaching implications for educational policy. At the very least, it raises serious questions about the efficacy of the billions of dollars now spent on public education. Yet in our opinion, serious doubts must be raised about this and several other "findings" attributed to the Report. These doubts result both from the methods of empirical analysis and their interpretation.