A Thought Experiment on Education

Now, I know that this is a hugely unpopular question. The main reason is, as far as I suspect, most of the feminists would like to eat me alive, simply for posting this, so I hope at least Triond will keep my identity a secret.

Now, as I have promised, first of all, a thought experiment.

Say you have a healthy mixed group of 100 children.

Image via Wikipedia

Now, you divide them into two groups.

The first group receives all of the standard training. Nothing too bad, nothing too good. Just the bare average. Their education will be sufficient, if not a little bit over the average.

Now, the second group, let’s call it “The privileged ones”, they receive a special education. They get awarded more attention, receive extra training, are told that they can be whatever they want to be, and are constantly monitored, measured, and improved. If there seems to be an opportunity for them to learn more, somebody will take them by the hand, and show them.

Clearly, the second group seems to have a hugely popular focus, and a very huge advantage over the first group. Let’s just for the sake of science say, the usual is true.

10 % of a group are exceptional

40 % of a group are average, but could be better

40 % of a group are below average, but care enough to learn

10 % of a group are just hopeless cases.

Now, In the first group, the average one, the results will be as following:

The 10 % exceptional children will continue to stay exceptional, no matter what

The 40 % that are above average will slowly decline , from both sides, towards the average. After all, why should they care?

The 40 % below average will split up evenly. 20 % will make the jump to average, while the other 20 % will decline towards hopeless cases.

And the 10 % that are hopeless will stay hopeless.

Now, in the second group, things will be different. They, who have been as privileged as to receive the special education, will behave a little bit differently.

The top 10 % of the group will continue to stay exceptionally bright, and maybe, with the added resources, some will even reach the level of genius.

The 40 % will divide up. 20 % will raise to the status of exceptional, because as most of us no doubt have noticed, a little additional motivation for the education will go a long way. 10 % will stay above average, and only 10 % of them will sink and become average.