Bored of Studies - View Single Post - Private school students scoop scholarships. BIG surprise, huh?

Ali - · 22 Dec 2008, 8:06 PM

Hi, Pineapplebaby. Yes, it has turned out to be an interesting thread.

Inequalities do exist all around us. Sometimes they are even desirable as it provides individuals with ‘incentive’ to strive towards achieving a better standard of living for oneself or family. Equality in all realms of society is not only impossible due to various factors, including but not limited to, the I.Q. bell curve of the population, but undesirable, as we not only need a population of professionals, but also para-professionals, production-line workers and the like.

When it comes to education, I believe that inequalities not only exist, but are ‘undersirable’. Without a doubt, many parents of private school students work hard to pay tuition fees, and some were born into money due to the business acumen of their forefathers. But what of the capable student born into a single parent family struggling to pay the rent or put food on the table? That student is more than capable of achieving excellent grades just from his/her genetical make up for intelligence. But let’s remember that to MAXIMISE one’s potentional, not only do you need ‘nature’, but you also need ‘nurture’. This is the “comparative advantage” that private schools offer over public schools.

This thread is not addressing other advantages a public school may offer such as the development of better social skills between the sexes, but was limited by this thread’s originator to the achievement of ENTER scores.

Although I believe that a stark disparity exists between the private and public educational systems, it is at least not as pronounced as it is in the United States. I put forward to those who contend that the educational institution has no bearing on academic achievement that they go and attend a public school in the Bronx, U.S. where they will realise that “success” in such public schools is measured by limiting teen pregnancy and reducing gang-related murders not by invitations to Harvard.

Will an equivalent to a 99.95 ENTER be as easily achievable in such an environment?

22 Dec 2008, 8:06 PM	#24 (permalink)
Ali - Junior Member HSC: N/A Gender: Male Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 40 Last Activity: 29 Dec 2008, 1:15 PM	Re: Private school students scoop scholarships. BIG surprise, huh? Hi, Pineapplebaby. Yes, it has turned out to be an interesting thread. Inequalities do exist all around us. Sometimes they are even desirable as it provides individuals with ‘incentive’ to strive towards achieving a better standard of living for oneself or family. Equality in all realms of society is not only impossible due to various factors, including but not limited to, the I.Q. bell curve of the population, but undesirable, as we not only need a population of professionals, but also para-professionals, production-line workers and the like. When it comes to education, I believe that inequalities not only exist, but are ‘undersirable’. Without a doubt, many parents of private school students work hard to pay tuition fees, and some were born into money due to the business acumen of their forefathers. But what of the capable student born into a single parent family struggling to pay the rent or put food on the table? That student is more than capable of achieving excellent grades just from his/her genetical make up for intelligence. But let’s remember that to MAXIMISE one’s potentional, not only do you need ‘nature’, but you also need ‘nurture’. This is the “comparative advantage” that private schools offer over public schools. This thread is not addressing other advantages a public school may offer such as the development of better social skills between the sexes, but was limited by this thread’s originator to the achievement of ENTER scores. Although I believe that a stark disparity exists between the private and public educational systems, it is at least not as pronounced as it is in the United States. I put forward to those who contend that the educational institution has no bearing on academic achievement that they go and attend a public school in the Bronx, U.S. where they will realise that “success” in such public schools is measured by limiting teen pregnancy and reducing gang-related murders not by invitations to Harvard. Will an equivalent to a 99.95 ENTER be as easily achievable in such an environment? Last edited by Ali -; 22 Dec 2008 at 8:12 PM.