I'm interested first in every student getting a level of education that is sufficient to allow them to function well in society, and secondly in equality of opportunity. I don't think everybody needs to end up at the same level of education. There's a certain minimum that is necessary to perform the tasks associated with modern Western adulthood and to engage with politics and society in an informed manner, which I'm guessing would be roughly equivalent to a high school diploma at the university prep level. Beyond that, I think some people will have the ability to become and interest in becoming better educated than others, and I'm okay with that, as long as everybody who wants a thorough education and is able to learn the required material can get it.
I don't really feel that everybody needs to end up at the same education level, especially since there are many different jobs that require a wide variety of education levels and abilities to do. Not everybody needs, would want, or would benefit from a PhD. However, people who can and want to do the work should be able to get PhDs, regardless of their parents' education level or engagement with their education.
Furthermore, to get a PhD, a strong student may need just as much support as a weaker student needs to complete a university-prep high school diploma. I feel that the strong student should get that support, rather than being left to languish at a lower level despite the desire and ability to go further. If very strong students need more advanced material to keep them engaged with school and encourage them to continue their education, they should get that advanced material even if it would not be appropriate for every student. Very bright people can often contribute more to society if they receive an advanced education (e.g. the PhD, and sufficiently advanced material at earlier grade levels to keep them engaged with school), because said education opens doors to highly responsible jobs that serve society in important ways. I don't think anyone, including bright people, should be denied the opportunity to achieve at their maximum potential.
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Date: 2011-08-16 10:41 pm (UTC)I don't really feel that everybody needs to end up at the same education level, especially since there are many different jobs that require a wide variety of education levels and abilities to do. Not everybody needs, would want, or would benefit from a PhD. However, people who can and want to do the work should be able to get PhDs, regardless of their parents' education level or engagement with their education.
Furthermore, to get a PhD, a strong student may need just as much support as a weaker student needs to complete a university-prep high school diploma. I feel that the strong student should get that support, rather than being left to languish at a lower level despite the desire and ability to go further. If very strong students need more advanced material to keep them engaged with school and encourage them to continue their education, they should get that advanced material even if it would not be appropriate for every student. Very bright people can often contribute more to society if they receive an advanced education (e.g. the PhD, and sufficiently advanced material at earlier grade levels to keep them engaged with school), because said education opens doors to highly responsible jobs that serve society in important ways. I don't think anyone, including bright people, should be denied the opportunity to achieve at their maximum potential.