Social and Intellectual Elitism
Social and intellectual elitism has historically played an importantrole in the educational divide in England, and today continues to play arole in maintaining the social divide. Historically, schooling wasreserved for those of the higher classes, but reforms soon broughteducation to the masses. However, education soon shifted to a three-tieredsystem, where selection put the majority of students in Secondary Modernschools, and the most able students Grammar Schools. Critics argue thatthe selection process, especially when combined with the Blair government'sinitiative to allow parents to choose their child's school, results in aneffective separation of the educational system into students from the lowerand higher classes. However, in higher education, intellectual elitism is Elitism can be defined as 1) "The belief that certain persons ormembers of certain classes or groups deserve favored treatment by virtue oftheir perceived superiority, as in intellect, social status, or financialresources" and 2) "a. The sense of entitlement enjoyed by such a group orclass. b. Control, rule, or domination by such a group or class" (The
Under Tony Blair's 'New Labour' government, selection has largelyremained untouched, with the government arguing that their focus was onimproving standards of education, rather than the specific type of school. The fairest system is one in which thebrightest students are able to study at the most intellectually demandinginstitutions irrespective of their socioeconomic background" (Barr, 1). As such, thesocial elite often has privileged access to a variety of resources,including money, power, leadership, opportunity, and importantly,education. it would enable them to read seditious pamphlets,vicious books and publications against Christianity" (cited in Gillard). As such, the beliefs and values of those of ahigh intellectual that do not belong to the intellectual elite can beconsidered worthless or meaningless. These were private schoolswhere the sons of wealthy men were sent to prepare them for latereducation. Critics have argued that selection acts to inhibit educationalprogress for a number of students. However, critics argue that the type of school attended has an enormousimpact on later achievement. ThusTory MP Davies Giddy famously noted "'giving education to the laboringclasses of the poor . In conclusion, England's educational system has often been accused ofboth social and intellectual elitism. At thesame time, institutions of higher education have defended intellectualelitism, arguing that brighter students should be encouraged to study atthe best universities. As such, those who go to Ivy League schools have oftenbeen considered an intellectual elite. In the middle ages, universities were largely thedomain of ruling class boys, although a small number of boys of lowersocial classes were included.
Common topics in this essay:
England Selection,
Education Act,
Nicholas Barr,
Modern Schools,
English Language,
Davies Giddy,
Schools Critics,
Gillard Essentially,
Ivy League,
,
intellectual elitism,
intellectual elite,
social elite,
social divide,
education act,
educational system,
social intellectual,
social elitism,
choose child's,
social classes,
social intellectual elite,
secondary modern schools,
choose child's school,
lower social classes,
maintaining social divide,
|
Acceptance Essays
