Some time ago, there was a student blogger who was criticised due to a remark made to a man who was complaining about the facts of working life and job-hunting. Her remarks were seen as too insensitive, and she was slammed as being too "superior in her own upper class and looking down on those who are of a 'lower' status" (not the exact words, but the gist is there).
This student is from one of the top schools, with impeccable results and from an upper-class family. Perhaps that is the reason why she made those remarks, because for people who have lead comfortable lives all along, they may not be able to understand the struggles faced by those who are not of that status.
But this got me thinking : since young, our parents drilled into us to have the best results, to attend the best schools, to get the best scholarships, just so we can carve a good future for ourselves. There have been parents telling their children since young that the only way for them to be successful and rich is to go to the best school. Those who did not achieve that kind of results to warrant a place in an elite school will be scolded and insulted by the parents and relatives.
Perhaps because of this, students grow up with the mentality that only by attending the best schools can they achieve something. Thus, those who did manage to go to the better schools will always be proud and arrogant, and those who never made it will always feel lousy about themselves. Maybe that is why people then grow up thinking that being elite is all that matters, and all those that are not of the same class are not worth it.
Plus the fact that the elite schools here are all independent or autonomous that charge exorbitant monthly school fees, so only the more well-off and established families are able to send their children there. There are times when the student may be a few points off, but because the parents contributed a lot to the school, or they have some place in society, so the child got accepted into the school, and mingle around with the other rich and famous kids. Just like some of those more snooty private schools overseas.
Of course, every parent want the best for the child. And it is a fact everywhere (be it Singapore or Australia or even the United States), that private schools have the results to show, as compared to public or government neighbourhood schools.
Private school students belong mostly to the upper or middle class, take in students who are already smart, with parents who are already established, thus those who attend private or mission schools have a better-rounded education that push the students to achieve not just excellent results, but develop their leadership, sports and musical abilities, and inculcate culture and etiquette in the students. Only a minority of students who attend private schools come from very humble backgrounds, and these kids are usually ostracised by their richer classmates.
Public or government neighbourhood schools, on the other hand, take in students from all walks of life. Majority of the students come from very humble backgrounds, with working-class parents who care more for bread and butter issues and the survival of the family, rather than giving the child a better education. Some of the parents are not even able to afford school fees, and are themselves illiterate. Thus, the students there may not achieve the type of results as compared to private schools.
I am not saying that everyone from neighbourhood schools are not good. There are top scorers and scholars from neighbourhood schools who come from very humble backgrounds as well. All I am saying is that the percentage of top scorers, scholarship holders and students who manage to have good enough results to enter the better schools later on from the neighbourhood schools are fewer as compared to those from the private schools.
Maybe this is why those who manage to go to the top schools turn down their noses at those who did n0t manage to go in. Society is such that it breeds elitism without realising it. I guess it is to do with our local upbringing and the pressures from society, that always emphasises on results, doing well in examinations and having a good future, rather than values and character building. I seriously wonder how the country will be run next time if this continues.
This student is from one of the top schools, with impeccable results and from an upper-class family. Perhaps that is the reason why she made those remarks, because for people who have lead comfortable lives all along, they may not be able to understand the struggles faced by those who are not of that status.
But this got me thinking : since young, our parents drilled into us to have the best results, to attend the best schools, to get the best scholarships, just so we can carve a good future for ourselves. There have been parents telling their children since young that the only way for them to be successful and rich is to go to the best school. Those who did not achieve that kind of results to warrant a place in an elite school will be scolded and insulted by the parents and relatives.
Perhaps because of this, students grow up with the mentality that only by attending the best schools can they achieve something. Thus, those who did manage to go to the better schools will always be proud and arrogant, and those who never made it will always feel lousy about themselves. Maybe that is why people then grow up thinking that being elite is all that matters, and all those that are not of the same class are not worth it.
Plus the fact that the elite schools here are all independent or autonomous that charge exorbitant monthly school fees, so only the more well-off and established families are able to send their children there. There are times when the student may be a few points off, but because the parents contributed a lot to the school, or they have some place in society, so the child got accepted into the school, and mingle around with the other rich and famous kids. Just like some of those more snooty private schools overseas.
Of course, every parent want the best for the child. And it is a fact everywhere (be it Singapore or Australia or even the United States), that private schools have the results to show, as compared to public or government neighbourhood schools.
Private school students belong mostly to the upper or middle class, take in students who are already smart, with parents who are already established, thus those who attend private or mission schools have a better-rounded education that push the students to achieve not just excellent results, but develop their leadership, sports and musical abilities, and inculcate culture and etiquette in the students. Only a minority of students who attend private schools come from very humble backgrounds, and these kids are usually ostracised by their richer classmates.
Public or government neighbourhood schools, on the other hand, take in students from all walks of life. Majority of the students come from very humble backgrounds, with working-class parents who care more for bread and butter issues and the survival of the family, rather than giving the child a better education. Some of the parents are not even able to afford school fees, and are themselves illiterate. Thus, the students there may not achieve the type of results as compared to private schools.
I am not saying that everyone from neighbourhood schools are not good. There are top scorers and scholars from neighbourhood schools who come from very humble backgrounds as well. All I am saying is that the percentage of top scorers, scholarship holders and students who manage to have good enough results to enter the better schools later on from the neighbourhood schools are fewer as compared to those from the private schools.
Maybe this is why those who manage to go to the top schools turn down their noses at those who did n0t manage to go in. Society is such that it breeds elitism without realising it. I guess it is to do with our local upbringing and the pressures from society, that always emphasises on results, doing well in examinations and having a good future, rather than values and character building. I seriously wonder how the country will be run next time if this continues.
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