On Sun, Sep 28, 2008 at 12:17 AM, Ingrid <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > [snip] > We asked if disadvantaged children could even dream > of accessing the kind of education that they take for granted. Should not > children who are poor or discriminated find admission to their school, to > study shoulder to shoulder with them? We were bemused by how few thought > this was a good idea: separate evening schools for 'them' were all right, > but not sharing the same classroom in which they themselves studied.
Its not surprising to see that reaction from an elite CBSC/ICSE product. Having studied in a normal state board school which admitted children from all strata of society .... yeah, some of my schoolmates lived in slums...., but I cant remember a single student making fun of them or their status or ignoring them for it (but that is Mumbai for you). Rather the opposite was true - an arrogant rich kid would be put in place pretty quick. IMO, the family and the (typical middle-class) values they follow plays a role in children learning to be accommodating of people who are not _like them_ (this can mean many things, so add your <choice here>). Elitism breeds elitism and is rooted in money, status and corruption. Maybe the government should make it mandatory and ensure education for all by going the German way - Free state education for every kid, irrespective of gender, right up to the PHD level. Reservations would never ensure equality in the minds of people so the best way would be to eliminate the competition among schools to charge crazy amounts as donation to gain entry in the exclusive club by making education free, sponsored by the state, available for all. Maybe the fault also lies with the parents who fuel this craziness by willing to pay any amount for their wards to gain that elite alumni status. .
