As long as we refuse to see the truth that not all people are equal we will continue down this dead end path.
Society keeps pushing the lie that all children are equal and can equally succeed if only they are given the right education. This is not just a lie, but a dangerous one.
To tell millions of people they could have been smart if only __________ had or hadn't happened is a receipt for disaster. People need to accept who they REALLY are and what their limitations are instead of blaming everyone else for their failures.
To lie to a short chubby kid who can't jump over a pencil and tell him he could be the next Michael Jordan if only he does ___________ is beyond cruel!
or to lie to some kid that is borderline retarded if only he does ____________ he can become a heart surgeon again is beyond cruel!
People need to accept the lot they have been dealt in life and be taught how to maximize the gifts they have while admitting honestly to their weaknesses instead of blaming others or society for their every failure because of their unrealistic expectations.
Re your post #7, you are right on target with your statement that society seems to want to ignore innate abilities and talent, neither of which can be manipulated by “education.” IOW, all students need do is work hard and with the right amount of coaching any of them could be academic stars. Hogwash.
As I tried to explain—in vain, as it turned out—to another Freeper, as a kid I wanted to be a major league baseball player, but, alas, I lacked the talent to do so. She maintained that if only I would have worked harder...though not expliciting stating that I would have made it, though implying that I would have. Hell, if that were the case, any of us could have been big-time singers or actors, all we need to do is work hard. No?
As one wag once put it: “If I had a mind to, I could write like Shakespeare.”