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| The tyranny of the lowest common denominator | | Date Created: Dec 02, 2005, 12:23 AM |
| The local free-sheet Today ran this front page article on elitism a few days ago that sparked off a string of comments about how we should ensure that our best and brightest are better integrated into society. The whole debate reeks of the tyranny that can occur when society is held hostage by the lowest common denominator. Let's face it, bright kids don't mix well with other kids, who are more likely to ridicule and ostracise, if not beat the crap out of gifted children. Bright kids get smarter largely by interacting with other bright kids --- there is little by way of edification value from mixing it with the neighbourhood yob. What society should do is to give equal opportunities for bright kids to emerge and develop, regardless of their social standing. It is equivalent to making sure that people start on an equal footing and after the first few laps in the marathon of life, pool the good ones together. |
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