Re:The Other Children of Silicon Valley
by mc32 on Monday February 01, 2016 @10:41PM
(#11017528)
Problem is parents "think" they know how to rear their children. Often they go with custom --and for many that custom is hard knocks, bullying and being physically superior to other pupils, rather than fostering academics [as a proxy, investigate how parents of academically low achievers discipline [or don't] compared to academically high achievers.
Society isn't a meritocracy. Most people don't get handed things based on what they "deserve". It's fallacious to think so. What people should have, in an ideal world, is a proper beginning, starting with parental support, community support, societal support. What we don't guarantee or provide is equal outcomes.
Look at third world countries where most parents are poor or aspirationally middle class. Poor kids do succeed, but on the backs of their parents [the sate provides very little]. Parents who go hungry and make sacrifices such as deciding which child will go to school and who will instead work, in order that one of them make it out of poverty and helps the rest out. Without parental determination and perseverance, you would not see success in the poorest conditions, yet we do.
But as Americans we think that's beneath us --we don't need to work hard, we're no. 1. Some think wisdom and success will visit upon their child by being pushed thru an educational system. It takes dedication and direction from parents with state assistance [in the form of universal education] as well as the support of society [culture].
Society isn't a meritocracy. Most people don't get handed things based on what they "deserve". It's fallacious to think so. What people should have, in an ideal world, is a proper beginning, starting with parental support, community support, societal support. What we don't guarantee or provide is equal outcomes.
Look at third world countries where most parents are poor or aspirationally middle class. Poor kids do succeed, but on the backs of their parents [the sate provides very little]. Parents who go hungry and make sacrifices such as deciding which child will go to school and who will instead work, in order that one of them make it out of poverty and helps the rest out. Without parental determination and perseverance, you would not see success in the poorest conditions, yet we do.
But as Americans we think that's beneath us --we don't need to work hard, we're no. 1. Some think wisdom and success will visit upon their child by being pushed thru an educational system. It takes dedication and direction from parents with state assistance [in the form of universal education] as well as the support of society [culture].