Will Blair's educational policy promote social equality?

Question

Blair states that diversity of educational routes is the better way for social equailty but will that diversity of educational routes regress society into class-based, rigid hierarchies?

Wiseowl, if a degree doesn't matter so much, then why do we place such importance on it to our children?

JB, but wouldn't this inequality create a class division and social hierarchy? Wouldn't Blair's policy give everyone an equal opportunity to become the entreprenuer?

Answer 1

It is not going to make any difference. I know graduates who are on pathetic salaries, whilst entrepreneurs with no qualifications whatsoever are making money hand over fist. Anyhow, how do you define social equality? Money? Manners? Education?
Class has been out in the cold for a long time.Only people who do not work are "non working class" and they range from the unemployed to those who won the lottery or have inherited wealth, and even those can belong to any strata of society.Even meritocracy does not work these days and someone who works their socks of for an organisation will be made redundant just the same as someone who has put in the minimum of effort if the firm has to make cut backs.
In the end it comes to being in the right place, at the right time and seizing the opportunity, not necessarily having a face that fits or a plethora of qualifications some of which are of dubious value anyhow. A degree in garbology only makes you a glorified dustman however flexible the hierarchy.

Answer 2

personally... and the PC world will probably shoot me down for this... but as far as i see it, 'social equality' and the rise of it in the last 50 yrs has resulted in an increase in crime, bad behaviour (disrespect for fellow citizens etc. eg. VERY few teenagers would even stop to consider giving up their seat for and old person or pregnant woman) as well as a general malaise towards hard work, and the expectation that millions will roll in the door by magic by the time one is 25 years old because one has a degree.
so to me, class distinction is a good social bound for behaviour and for appreciating what one has and what others don't and acting with a conscience.
however, i don't think providing for a diverisity of skills is going to make a class based society. what it does do is provide kids with a better opportunity to learn real skills that they can then utilise in the real world ... a problem that needs to be addressed seriously. all this inverted snobbery (sorry - social equalisation) about education has resulted in there being alot of people out there with a degree, but no real skill to give them security in work if they can find any. an other socialist precept that has failed.

Answer 3

I hope not, because equality is a position this country never wants to reach, think about it. If everyone lives in the same house on the same wage, then whats the point of doing a stressful job when you can stack shelves for the same money. No Entrepreneurs because there is no incentive because it is just unnecessary work, this would result in mass unemployment as Entrepreneurs are the creators of most new jobs in this economy while large firms streamline.

Answer 4

The word equality has nothing what-so-ever to do with the British people or their way of life. It is an entirely French idea - it never worked there either. What the Anglo Saxons have is FREEDOM & LIBERTY and damn all else. To acquire the equality part of the deal, you'll need to have a revolution and hack off lots of heads. Let's call it THE BLOODBATH OF EQUALITY. Don't think we're going to have that, do you? The word equality is often banded about by politicos - it is a myth, we do not have it and certainly education is not going to allow us to acquire it either.

Answer 5

Blair went to a Public School. What does he really know about state education? The only socialism to be seen from New Labour is the old adage, 'I'm all right, Jack.'

Answer 6

Of those graduates who were unemployed at the time of completing their course, 30.6% found employment within one month and 26.7% took between one and three months.
72.5% of employed graduates worked in the private sector.
6.3% of employed graduates were conducting their own business.
23.8% of employed graduates worked for a small employer (less than 10 employees) and 45.9% for a large employer with 100 or more employees.
40.0% of employed graduates had the same employer at 29 May 1998 as before and during their course.
Average weekly earnings for graduates in their first full-time job was $470 in May 1998, for males it was $493 and for females $430.
The occupations with the highest weekly salaries for first full-time job holders, are managers and administrators ($703), professionals ($639) and associate professionals ($588) while the lowest are labourers ($417) and elementary clerical, sales and service workers ($393).
The industries with the highest salaries for first full-time job holders are mining ($709) and communication ($686) while the lowest are retail trade ($403) and agriculture, forestry and fishing ($399

Answer 7

Diversity from the party that closed the grammar schools?! Also, wasn't 'Education, education, education' his 1997 mantra, and look at the state of the schools today, after 9 years! He's talking boll*cks again.

Answer 8

Your conclusion makes good sense! While some degree of diversity is inevitable, state-sponsored diversity in such an important sector of the economy can be disastrous in the short, medium and long term!

Answer 9

Look all that Blair has promised us and we get jacksh!t
He has turned this country into the dumping ground of the world,,there is no equality when I cannot wish a one legged black lesbian wearing a bhurka from Islington a Merry Christmas!!
This government is so Lilly livered and afraid of it's own shadow these days,Labour will not get my vote

Answer 10

I'm a graduate but when I look around the people at work in senior roles, they haven't had tas good a standard of education as I have. It's experience that counts not education