What a great essay. As someone from a working-class background I've always wondered why I struggled in school and at university. After many failed attempts at trying to finish a degree, and after many years of trying to figure out why, the last few years it all made sense when I discovered the IQ and heritability literature. At first it was hard to accept that I wasn't bright enough to finish higher education - it's a uncomfortable realisation to accept that there are limits on one's own abilities - but I've now accepted the reality and found some peace with that fact. I just wish cognitive ability, which is mediated by genes, and it's correlation with life outcomes was more commonly accepted in society, we then would have less talk about "privilege", "systemic racism", etc.
Oh boy, I had issues with some of the points made in the article but this is just heartbreaking. I've only got this one comment to go on but you seem intelligent and clearly have a good measure of self awareness, albeit coming to a set of conclusions that won't serve you well. As someone who's also from a working class background who went on to get a university degree I would urge you to not give up on it and to strive to fulfill your potential. Have a think about where you were in life at the time and the course of study you were pursuing. While there might be a sliver of truth to genetics predisposing one to certain fields it needn't have the final say.
The US also asks the impossible of its public schools. My hope is that we will follow the science--gwas studies--and eventually come up with more realistic goals for public education.
Excellent essay.... But while we're busting deeply entrenched myths, here's another. 'Education' - at its tertiary and later secondary stages - has long been sanctified on both Left and Right but in truth - and for many of the reasons you adduce - it is in fact a bit of a racket. Albeit it is a seemingly pious and noble one. I myself was part of the racket for 13 years - as an FE college lecturer. By the time I got out it was clear to me that the chief beneficiaries of our teaching were not our students.....it was ourselves. Working in 'Education' is a bit like with wedding organisers and funeral directors....nobody dares call it to account for its dismal cost/benefit performance because it SOUNDS so noble and worthy. Bryan Kaplan's The Case Against Education is basically the truth. https://grahamcunningham.substack.com/p/invasion-of-the-virtue-signallers
I think this has rather been debunked by the natural experiment of the pandemic. The drop in scores caused by school closures showed us that parents can't actually replace the formal education system, on average.
Ironically it rather showed me the difference in class. My daughter and another little boy in her class were on the bottom reading level when schools closed. Zoom school was not working for her (to which the other boy never even showed up to once), so I bought a phonics curriculum (highly recommend Alphablocks!) as well a bunch of early readers (Elephant & Piggie by Mo Willems is great). We worked at it every school day. When my daughter returned, the teachers were amazed at her progress. The other little boy, who lived in council housing? Still couldn't read.
I'm actually quite convinced a genetic effect is very strong, nonetheless. My older boy is autistic, which is genetic. It's insurmountable. But it did rather illustrate that both can have impact, especially when it comes to literacy.
Unfortunately this is a way too complex subject to do justice to in a comment thread like this. Your 'drop', your 'scores' and your 'caused' would each need long-form essay to really get to the bottom of. Remember also that all big institutions inevitably steer narratives in directions that serve their interests.. .. Education is no exception.
What a great article. I have never seen the last 80 years of our education system laid out so concisely and clearly. It's heartening to know that such people are still at the heart of the discussion over education, even if all the right people fail to listen to them. I'm especially disappointed with Michael Gove. I thought he at least would know better.
Great article. It's amazing how similar the social thinking and policies regarding education that you summarize are to here in the U.S. Billions of dollars spent on special education since the Johnson era have accomplished nothing. And no politician dares to challenge this.
Because equality is the core myth of the modern political world. The rationalists and scientists pretended that they bucked religion, but really the modern secularized worldview is just another religion with equality, rights, etc stamped on as the beliefs that must be taken on faith.
I don't say this to denigrate our modern world - I think equality, human rights, and all the rest are important and incredible improvements on past religions. However, you can't question the core beliefs of a religious group and expect no pushback. People won't hear the truth on this issue for the same reason Christians generally don't appreciate when people tell them Jesus rising from the dead is impossible.
Thanks for your comment. I agree with what you wrote but I am still flummoxed by the fact several million (?) very bright, scientifically-minded, Leftists still purport to believe in the equality of all groups. I think many entertain doubts but fear being ostracized for voicing doubts--especially in this woke environment.
I had never heard of "Aporia" until about an hour ago, and I was congratulating myself on the discovery until I read something about my "subscription" lasting only an hour or so. Please explain.(12/27/23)
In the US we have similarly gone down the dead end road of affirmative action. With the sweet irony of Harvard which so earnestly defended that dead end all the way to its demise at the Supreme Court and has now become a national laughing stock precisely because of its affirmative action hiring of its plagiarizing president. She clings to power after her stupefying testimony before Congress on the antisemitism at her august university and the revelations concerning her lack of academic qualifications. Why can’t we just establish color blind merit as the only criteria for advancement?
We have to care about "potential" if we are serious about equality of opportunity. We focus on "attainment" instead because that is much, much easier to measure and also more bears more closely on improving productivity, efficiency, and overall societal well-being.
What a great essay. As someone from a working-class background I've always wondered why I struggled in school and at university. After many failed attempts at trying to finish a degree, and after many years of trying to figure out why, the last few years it all made sense when I discovered the IQ and heritability literature. At first it was hard to accept that I wasn't bright enough to finish higher education - it's a uncomfortable realisation to accept that there are limits on one's own abilities - but I've now accepted the reality and found some peace with that fact. I just wish cognitive ability, which is mediated by genes, and it's correlation with life outcomes was more commonly accepted in society, we then would have less talk about "privilege", "systemic racism", etc.
Oh boy, I had issues with some of the points made in the article but this is just heartbreaking. I've only got this one comment to go on but you seem intelligent and clearly have a good measure of self awareness, albeit coming to a set of conclusions that won't serve you well. As someone who's also from a working class background who went on to get a university degree I would urge you to not give up on it and to strive to fulfill your potential. Have a think about where you were in life at the time and the course of study you were pursuing. While there might be a sliver of truth to genetics predisposing one to certain fields it needn't have the final say.
The US also asks the impossible of its public schools. My hope is that we will follow the science--gwas studies--and eventually come up with more realistic goals for public education.
Excellent essay.... But while we're busting deeply entrenched myths, here's another. 'Education' - at its tertiary and later secondary stages - has long been sanctified on both Left and Right but in truth - and for many of the reasons you adduce - it is in fact a bit of a racket. Albeit it is a seemingly pious and noble one. I myself was part of the racket for 13 years - as an FE college lecturer. By the time I got out it was clear to me that the chief beneficiaries of our teaching were not our students.....it was ourselves. Working in 'Education' is a bit like with wedding organisers and funeral directors....nobody dares call it to account for its dismal cost/benefit performance because it SOUNDS so noble and worthy. Bryan Kaplan's The Case Against Education is basically the truth. https://grahamcunningham.substack.com/p/invasion-of-the-virtue-signallers
I think this has rather been debunked by the natural experiment of the pandemic. The drop in scores caused by school closures showed us that parents can't actually replace the formal education system, on average.
Ironically it rather showed me the difference in class. My daughter and another little boy in her class were on the bottom reading level when schools closed. Zoom school was not working for her (to which the other boy never even showed up to once), so I bought a phonics curriculum (highly recommend Alphablocks!) as well a bunch of early readers (Elephant & Piggie by Mo Willems is great). We worked at it every school day. When my daughter returned, the teachers were amazed at her progress. The other little boy, who lived in council housing? Still couldn't read.
I'm actually quite convinced a genetic effect is very strong, nonetheless. My older boy is autistic, which is genetic. It's insurmountable. But it did rather illustrate that both can have impact, especially when it comes to literacy.
Unfortunately this is a way too complex subject to do justice to in a comment thread like this. Your 'drop', your 'scores' and your 'caused' would each need long-form essay to really get to the bottom of. Remember also that all big institutions inevitably steer narratives in directions that serve their interests.. .. Education is no exception.
What a great article. I have never seen the last 80 years of our education system laid out so concisely and clearly. It's heartening to know that such people are still at the heart of the discussion over education, even if all the right people fail to listen to them. I'm especially disappointed with Michael Gove. I thought he at least would know better.
Great article. It's amazing how similar the social thinking and policies regarding education that you summarize are to here in the U.S. Billions of dollars spent on special education since the Johnson era have accomplished nothing. And no politician dares to challenge this.
The article answers the question in its title. People will not tolerate hearing the truth on this issue.
Why don’t they?
Because equality is the core myth of the modern political world. The rationalists and scientists pretended that they bucked religion, but really the modern secularized worldview is just another religion with equality, rights, etc stamped on as the beliefs that must be taken on faith.
I don't say this to denigrate our modern world - I think equality, human rights, and all the rest are important and incredible improvements on past religions. However, you can't question the core beliefs of a religious group and expect no pushback. People won't hear the truth on this issue for the same reason Christians generally don't appreciate when people tell them Jesus rising from the dead is impossible.
Thanks for your comment. I agree with what you wrote but I am still flummoxed by the fact several million (?) very bright, scientifically-minded, Leftists still purport to believe in the equality of all groups. I think many entertain doubts but fear being ostracized for voicing doubts--especially in this woke environment.
The author provides an explanation. Read the paragraph beginning “ For the best part of thirty years …”
I had never heard of "Aporia" until about an hour ago, and I was congratulating myself on the discovery until I read something about my "subscription" lasting only an hour or so. Please explain.(12/27/23)
Not entirely sure what you mean.
Okay, let me ask this: will I be able to continue reading articles in Aporia without enrolling in a paid subscription plan?
Indeed. Only a rare few will be Paywalled.
In the US we have similarly gone down the dead end road of affirmative action. With the sweet irony of Harvard which so earnestly defended that dead end all the way to its demise at the Supreme Court and has now become a national laughing stock precisely because of its affirmative action hiring of its plagiarizing president. She clings to power after her stupefying testimony before Congress on the antisemitism at her august university and the revelations concerning her lack of academic qualifications. Why can’t we just establish color blind merit as the only criteria for advancement?
1. How do you measure potential?
2. Why are grammar schools a grift?
3. What on earth are you talking about?
Maybe if you sat and thought for a minute it might
> None of your questions are even serious never mind relevant.
Calling something "not serious" is what leftists do when they can't answer it.
We have to care about "potential" if we are serious about equality of opportunity. We focus on "attainment" instead because that is much, much easier to measure and also more bears more closely on improving productivity, efficiency, and overall societal well-being.