Sorry for not getting back to you on this one sooner.
What you say about elitism in education is spot on, and I imagine the words elitism and egalitarianism in the teaching profession you are likely to land a very hot potato in the lap. I am frankly appalled at the PC nonsense spouted - it doesn't work in athletics or science or even the arts and the same is true in education. The point I did want to make though is that elitism in education shouldn't mean that the less academically gifted be abandoned - rather that resources should be used more efficiently such as through vocational training - refusing to acknowledge differences in ability actually works against this goal.
Just to be clear - my comment mainly referred to elitism in general and in society. It is often the case that there are glass ceilings for people in public life and politics - unless they are truly exceptional, whilst others get ahead by knowing the right people and having the right background. Other professions are different - and will tend to promote talent and ditch the dross - this is where elitism works better - the issue is not whether we should have elites, but rather how they are selected - and I wanted to say that the more meritocratic a system is, the more we should rely on and encourage elitism - the less so, the more egalitarianism is required.
So going back to education, I think it is fair to say that there are differences across the system - where families with money can send their kids to the best schools who give them the improved facilities and (perhaps?) a more elitist ethos (good thing - as discussed) that gives them more chance to access the best universities and the best jobs. Thus an equally talented kid in a state school has to work that bit harder against a system run by wooly hand-wringing lefties who don't like the fact he or she wants to do better than everyone else. It is here where I think an egalitarian approach would be most appropriate - to level up the playing field a bit by accounting for different standards people face - does that make sense?
It makes perfect sense. I think we are pretty much in agreement:)
The sad thing is that the way the system works now is that the weakest ones are written off with meaningless qualifications like GNVQs and Key Skills and the strongest ones have nothing to work for.
You picked an ideal day to reply - A level result day.
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Re: A bit of a rant
What you say about elitism in education is spot on, and I imagine the words elitism and egalitarianism in the teaching profession you are likely to land a very hot potato in the lap. I am frankly appalled at the PC nonsense spouted - it doesn't work in athletics or science or even the arts and the same is true in education. The point I did want to make though is that elitism in education shouldn't mean that the less academically gifted be abandoned - rather that resources should be used more efficiently such as through vocational training - refusing to acknowledge differences in ability actually works against this goal.
Just to be clear - my comment mainly referred to elitism in general and in society. It is often the case that there are glass ceilings for people in public life and politics - unless they are truly exceptional, whilst others get ahead by knowing the right people and having the right background. Other professions are different - and will tend to promote talent and ditch the dross - this is where elitism works better - the issue is not whether we should have elites, but rather how they are selected - and I wanted to say that the more meritocratic a system is, the more we should rely on and encourage elitism - the less so, the more egalitarianism is required.
So going back to education, I think it is fair to say that there are differences across the system - where families with money can send their kids to the best schools who give them the improved facilities and (perhaps?) a more elitist ethos (good thing - as discussed) that gives them more chance to access the best universities and the best jobs. Thus an equally talented kid in a state school has to work that bit harder against a system run by wooly hand-wringing lefties who don't like the fact he or she wants to do better than everyone else. It is here where I think an egalitarian approach would be most appropriate - to level up the playing field a bit by accounting for different standards people face - does that make sense?
Re: A bit of a rant
The sad thing is that the way the system works now is that the weakest ones are written off with meaningless qualifications like GNVQs and Key Skills and the strongest ones have nothing to work for.
You picked an ideal day to reply - A level result day.