Childhood Reflections on Class and Education

Growing up in the 1970s, the speaker experienced a more robust working-class culture in America compared to the austerity faced by younger generations today. Attending public school in a suburban area near New York City, the speaker recalls the availability of music lessons and well-resourced classrooms, highlighting how public goods were once prioritized. However, the decline in investment in public education due to tax revolts and austerity measures has led to a significant deterioration in resources, particularly in art and music programs. This transformation reflects broader societal shifts away from supporting public goods, which the speaker views as a profound loss of social democratic ideals.