""Two boys are running. One is doing his very best at 8 sec. per 200 yards. The other needs to learn proper form but is doing his best at 8 1/2 secs. Which one gets the chance to be coached by the best?"
Gold and Silver at the next Olympics, and a pair of faces on Wheaties with a $40 million Nike contract.
My first reaction. too, (World record : 100 meters in 9.79 seconds)
The "coaching" bit is a narrow analogy for education, where the "potential" argument might apply -- if you could prove that the faster runner had zero potential. (Which you can't, since he is seeking improvement [education]. )
Unfortunately, afirmative action is also used for employment, where the high achiever is penalized to make room for an underachiever, which is just plain wrong!