Here's the problem with privilege (Part 1)

As a GP and English teacher, I've taught numerous students and we discuss important issues that span across philosophy, politics and social science. Our meritocratic educational system may seem perfect but there are serious, fundamental issues with it. Firstly, parents who have higher incomes can afford effective tuition classes for their children, putting them ahead of the competition. Secondly, parents with higher socioeconomic status tend to impart in children cultural capital - children learn important things when they speak with distinguished doctors, lawyers and teachers in social gatherings within these erudite social circles. Thirdly, there is indication that intelligence is heritable, at least partially. Fourth, there will be certain heritable personality traits that co-relate with success: conscientiousness, resilience and so on. More industrious people get more financially successful in life, in general.

Was I privileged? I always think not. But after many years of teaching, and many years of discourse with my students, I grew to realise how fortunate I actually am. I grew up in a middle income family in a humble 5-room HDB flat (upgrading to a mansionette for about a decade). I knew studying was important but little did I expect to do well in my studies as I did not put an insane amount of effort into it. I needed a couple of tuition classes here and there - Math in Secondary school for 3 years and H2 Math lessons for a few months - but was otherwise able to cope. I was one of the top 20 students in H2 Physics in school and attended differentiated learning classes (did not bother about trying out H3 Physics). What you might not think is privilege, is privilege. For instance, my parents could afford tuition (I requested the Math tuition), my parents drove me to school and my parents helped me through a tumultuous period in Junior College. Through a twist of luck, hard work and persistence, I scored well for my As enrolled into the law faculty at SMU and graduated top 10% of my cohort. While I did well academically, and was interested in the law, I did not feel interested in practicing law, wanting to sit for the GAMSAT within a couple of years and enroll into medical school in Singapore or Australia.

Then COVID struck.

Worried about contracting the virus and worried about vaccination, I put my medical school plans on an indefinite hold. I started focusing on earning more money and with 2-3 years of arduous work and scrupulous saving, got my first condominium (I am not old enough to buy a HDB!). I set up another branch of my tuition business at Bedok North, hoping to break another career ceiling. All this was crazy, hard work. 40+ teaching hours a week. Back-to-back classes. And so on. But I enjoyed teaching. I enjoyed helping students. And that was what drove me (students reading this - don't do something you don't like!). Teaching can afford me a similar salary as entry lawyers (or even higher) for shorter working hours - and what is really important: it was effortless and enjoyable (though it is difficult at times dealing with inattentive students and students who aren't keen to learn).

What got me thinking was those students who had poor aptitude... I taught one such student last year, who I unfortunately had to drop after 6 months as she fell into what teachers call 'intractable cases'. How can I help such students? Can intelligence be changed? The exciting answer is yes. I learnt this when I was reading a psychology module in University. There are studies on this. Will update in another blog post, when I will also elucidate further on this!

Quaere: is capitalism or socialism the way to go given that we are born unequal? Those with lower intelligence can strive hard to improve, but they may never get ahead of those with higher intelligence. Those who have a tendency to indulge in reckless behaviour like gambling may never get far in life. This is the problem with meritocracy and with capitalism. Whilst I am somewhat privileged, there are many other more privileged students who are born into upper-middle income or upper-income families where they are impressed from a young age on the importance of education and building up their portfolio (my parents honestly did not push me!).

Signing off,

Mr Gordon (English/GP + Science Tutor)