The Classnessless of Schools

Education is the crux of humanity. It's the simple concept that lets us as a species grow into something that isn't just troglodytic grunting but instead leave the cave and discover fire. It's humanity's way of making the children of the world catch up with the history of everything we've invented, conquered and achieved. If there was a ladder of importance in the world of human concepts then education would be at the top, only rung above politics, and about seven billion rungs above the 2016 US presidential election. 

So why is it, that as such an important concept, it's hated by most who attend. This is obviously a generalised statement, but if you can imagine any movie, TV show or book about a student enjoying school, there are a hundred about hating it. It's because schools aren't the same as education. Education happens in any walk of life, at any point or time, when you learn or grow as a person. School is simply a vessel for education, the main-stream, government-corrected education that's deemed most important than the rest of history. Schooling, especially in the United Kingdom isn't about learning, or education, it's about passing an exam. Exams that include subject matter that might one might never see again, but it makes sense as these exams don't show what we know, but what we can know. It's a test, not of intelligence, but of memory - then again, what's the difference. Intelligence is the capability that ecompasses that memory, but isn't the entirety of it. Intelligence is common sense +, it's the way we behave without education, it's who we are as people - how we solve problems or end crisis. This is why IQ tests don't have factual information to relate to, but rather mental obstacles to show raw intelligence. Schools do this through exams, whether it's history or physics, the exams we go through are IQ tests with factual information, to show off our potential, not our knowledge. Many students don't like school because what they learn won't be used at all later in life, and maybe it won't; the only reason it's used is to show if you can bear learning useless information to show you can.

Intelligence, however, cannot be defined, labelled or controlled. In society those who know more are deemed smarter, compared to those of incredible artistic talent. The problem with intelligence exams is that it is only academic, and it becomes of elitist. This elitism is evident in grammar schools around the United Kingdom today, and has been in the news recently with May's recent ascendance into Number 10. The grammar school ban to end their creation passed 18 years ago, with Labour solidifying that this would stop elitism, and create equality. With the comprehensive system coming into play, everyone should get basic level of education no matter of creed, race or colour. Instead, the number of grammar schools dwindled, which only made them more elitist. If you have a constant production line of a sports car, it's price will stay steady and fluctuate slightly around an affordable price.. If, however, you decide to stop the production of this car, and destroy half of them, they're price will only go up. Grammar schools have appreciated in value, and it's made a more elitist system than ever before. What we need is change to the system, an allowance of grammar schools. But again, we'd have the same elitism problem. There should be an equal three-tier educational system, based on vocational, mixed and academia. This three-way system will mean students of any ability, of any passion, can strive in their field, and get the education they deserve. 

Equality with elitism is always a difficult issue to tackle, especially when it comes to further education. Universities have become so overrun with students that a bachelor's degree is now the equivalent of A levels 20 years ago. Universities have become over saturated by students who don't need to learn more to achieve their passions and goals in life. But since Thatcher, students have seen unviersity as a way to become rich and famous, through no help of their own. This wave of students coming to university has lead to the infamous tuition fees, currently at £9000 a year. Which, in turn, means underprivileged students and children from working class backgrounds are less likely to go to university. It's elitism, again, from the Blair-era. Fortunately for him a lot of the flak of his flaws to the education system are misguided because of some illegal war he started somewhere. Anyway, university is now a negligible issue, where students are becoming smarter, and no one is getting richer. So what's the solution? I believe that increasing tuition fees is the only way to go, to discourage the students who shouldn't go to university. Then, for those who really wish to go to university, and have the academic skills to show, can get a scholarship or bursary. This way, the überrich still get to let their children get to have the best further education, but they in-turn are paying for five worthy yet underprivileged students. And those in the middle class, who are worthy (maybe worthy isn't the right word when talking about tackling elitism, but we'll go with it) can still strive in their field, but doing actually useful studies or vocational work subsidised by the government. That way, it's a win-win-win for all classes, creeds and colours. Obviously, this is just a concept, and there are almost definitely many flaws that will cripple the idea, but not here. I've effectively solved any education crisis, whilst also educating you. And it's only a Tuesday.