Advantages and disadvantages of egalitarian education

Children’s intelligence, musical ability, physical endurance vary enormously from individual to individual: some children are musical geniuses at the age of 4 or 5, and others are what is generally called tone-deaf; there ate mathematical geniuses, and children who are hopeless at maths.

Some experts claim that most of these differences are born in the child; others say that they are the result of early experiences. The most sensible attitude is that they are partly the result of heredity and partly of the cultural and social background.

There is a wide range of ability between different children in a large number of different skills and abilities, so the scholars worldwide are preoccupied what to do about it in the schools.

Some scholars believe in an egalitarian approach – which presupposes giving all children equal opportunities in all subjects regardless of their abilities. Others come out for an elitist approach, which means to encourage those who are outstanding in a particular thing.

It’s hard to say which of the approaches is more beneficial for society; each has both positive and negative sides.

Egalitarian education is designed to enable everyone to pursue subjects that they are good at, and at the same time to encourage social cohesion. But there are those who believe that the comprehensive system holds back the very bright children on whom the community will depend heavily in the years to come for inventiveness, decision-making ability and intellectual endurance which enable the country to compete successfully in the world of advanced technology.

As for selecting gifting children at a very early age (an elitist approach) and then sending them to schools in which they are given intensive training, it is also not a perfect way out. As a result of this selection, some children may slop through the net, and others may drop out before the end of the course.

It should be pointed out here as well, that success of education does not depend completely on the system of education chosen by the Government. The development of children’s abilities is influenced to a great extent by the society and family. In a society in which some children are so underfed that their brains do not receive enough protein to develop fully, or in which parents are so busy earning a living that they are unable to spend time stimulating their children’s brains, equal opportunities for all do not exist.

Children’s intelligence, musical ability, physical endurance varies enormously from individual to individual. Some experts claim that most of these differences are born in the child; others say that they are result of early experiences. The most sensible attitude is that they are partly the result of heredity and partly that of environment.

Aim-to diminish differences in ability that are already deeply rooted between children from advantaged and disadvantaged backgrounds.

Egalitarian approach- giving all children equal opportunities regardless of their abilities

Elitist approach -to encourage those who are outstanding in a particular thing

Egalitarian edu-to enable everyone to pursue subjects that they are good at, to encourage social cohesion

1. developing each child’s abilities to the full for the good of the community

2. giving all children equal opportunities to develop their special gifts

3. providing equal opportunity for all to show their particular abilities

4. to give each group a different sort of education which suits it

methods: selecting gifted children at a very early age, sending them to schools in which they are given intensive training

Minuses: selection cannot be perfect, some children can just slip through the net or later drop out before the end of the course

Comprehensive system holds back the very bright children

Much depends on the society the child live in and the family. The brains should receive enough protein to develop fully, the parents should stimulate their children’s’ brains