2008 Woodie Awards
Reader's Forum
Concerns facing 'privilege', 'meritocracy' on college campuses
Gibson Forsyth
Issue date: 2/15/08 Section: Opinion
To the Editor,
I hear sometimes folks making statements to the effect of, "Your parents are spending so much money to be here, and you're skipping class…" I believe this is a serious issue to be concerned about. Most students' families are paying many thousands of dollars to send them here, even with the scholarships that many students receive. This is an injustice. Attendance to Drew is based on a privilege-meritocracy. What do I mean by privilege-meritocracy? A student may attend Drew University only upon seeming qualified to a board of admissions-OK, we all accept this. However, the actual attendance of the school is extremely flawed.
Is it a coincidence that a distinct minority of students come from low-income or working-class backgrounds? The privilege of coming to Drew is supposed to be extended to low-income students by scholarships. Then why is it that so many Drewids come from privileged backgrounds?
Let's look at privilege first. Unless Drew University gives out a full-ride scholarship, it can be a stretch for students and their families to pay for the education or it may just not be possible. Some families will receive scholarships but not have it be enough for them to realistically pay for the education-thus they won't be able to send their children to Drew. Even those low-income families that can pay for the education may be forced to tighten their budget or give up certain other spending that other families would not. Students may be forced to go into debt, whereas a fellow student leaves college with not a cent owed. Equality?
Let's look at meritocracy. While meritocracy is not egalitarian-I'm better than you, because I can do this thing better is not you and I being equal-most people take meritocracy to be reasonable for a variety of reasons that I won't go into. But the way this merit is measured is again inherently flawed and based on privilege. Low-income, working-class families from low-income areas end up sending their children to inferior schools, both because they cannot afford the super-privileged private schools-mini liberal arts colleges-and because public schools are run off of tax payer money-poorer areas have less money for nice schools and good teachers. As a result, low-income students are constantly oppressed and disadvantaged under the meritocracy.
The actual solution to these problems is rarely heard. The only way to solve the injustice of college admissions and education is to create a free, anti-meritocratic system of education. Tuition prices are constantly rising across the country. The first step is to enact tuition freezes at all American institutions of higher learning. There is nothing fair, equal or just about the system we learn under.
Gibson Forsyth ('11)
I hear sometimes folks making statements to the effect of, "Your parents are spending so much money to be here, and you're skipping class…" I believe this is a serious issue to be concerned about. Most students' families are paying many thousands of dollars to send them here, even with the scholarships that many students receive. This is an injustice. Attendance to Drew is based on a privilege-meritocracy. What do I mean by privilege-meritocracy? A student may attend Drew University only upon seeming qualified to a board of admissions-OK, we all accept this. However, the actual attendance of the school is extremely flawed.
Is it a coincidence that a distinct minority of students come from low-income or working-class backgrounds? The privilege of coming to Drew is supposed to be extended to low-income students by scholarships. Then why is it that so many Drewids come from privileged backgrounds?
Let's look at privilege first. Unless Drew University gives out a full-ride scholarship, it can be a stretch for students and their families to pay for the education or it may just not be possible. Some families will receive scholarships but not have it be enough for them to realistically pay for the education-thus they won't be able to send their children to Drew. Even those low-income families that can pay for the education may be forced to tighten their budget or give up certain other spending that other families would not. Students may be forced to go into debt, whereas a fellow student leaves college with not a cent owed. Equality?
Let's look at meritocracy. While meritocracy is not egalitarian-I'm better than you, because I can do this thing better is not you and I being equal-most people take meritocracy to be reasonable for a variety of reasons that I won't go into. But the way this merit is measured is again inherently flawed and based on privilege. Low-income, working-class families from low-income areas end up sending their children to inferior schools, both because they cannot afford the super-privileged private schools-mini liberal arts colleges-and because public schools are run off of tax payer money-poorer areas have less money for nice schools and good teachers. As a result, low-income students are constantly oppressed and disadvantaged under the meritocracy.
The actual solution to these problems is rarely heard. The only way to solve the injustice of college admissions and education is to create a free, anti-meritocratic system of education. Tuition prices are constantly rising across the country. The first step is to enact tuition freezes at all American institutions of higher learning. There is nothing fair, equal or just about the system we learn under.
Gibson Forsyth ('11)
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