Rich pull away from poor in the classroom

UK Times Online ^ | December 31, 2007 | Alexandra Frean

[Cincinnatus.45-70]

The colonisation by the middle classes of the best state schools has led to a dramatic widening of the gap in educational performance between rich and poor children in the past year, new figures indicate. [Snip]

The figures underscore the massive influence of parental background on school success.

[Old Student]

“I suspect you work at a US government school, where the central State apparatus has not yet completely taken charge from the local school board, voters, and parents. By contrast, the UK schools are entirely creations of the State apparatus. As such they are free to conduct whatever socialist experiments the educators and central government seize upon as fashionable.

What better way to eliminate economic class differences than to remove the students from the home to a central “school” environment, where the rich parents can’t interfere? (Sarcasm off)”

Well, yes. I live in Oklahoma. There are reasons why I no longer live in California, for instance. Born and raised mostly there, and left at age 18. Now that my mom is dead, I have no reason whatsoever to return.

I noted in an article I read here on FR somewhere the use of the phrase “Magna Carta is dead.” I’m concerned that we not allow that to happen to our Constitution.

[Old Student]

“A cultural anti-intellectual tradition (not necessarily ethnic , btw) is a strong barrier toward upward mobility among the poor and the unskilled.”

I’m aware of that. (I’ve either read that study, or one similar to it, but there is a lot of work to support it, too.) Also, I was born into poverty. Mom preggers at 15, and thrown out of school. Dad quitting school at 17 to support his new family. Divorced by the time I was four. Fortunately for me, although I was a little slow internalizing it, there is a family tradition of self-improvement through education.

[valkyrieanne]

Memo to wealthier parents: Neglect your kids more; narrow the gap!