"Narrowing the New Class Divide" - Murray - 22 views

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  #1 Lauren Tripp on 02 Apr 13

   

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  #2 Adrian Miller on 03 Apr 13

   

  This article is very interesting. One thing I found intersting about Murray's article is when he states "The haves in our society are increasingly cocooned in a system that makes it easy for their children to continue to be haves". He then goes on to say that the haves should recognize the divide and act to dimish the advantages that come with it. Parents will always do whatever it takes to get there children ahead of others. Even if the more priviledged recognize that they will have an advanteage becasue of their parents' connections what will they do? Will they tell their parents "no, its not fair" or will they quietly continue to revel in their good fortune?
  I once read an article a few years back dealing with the idea of white priviledge. The article says that there is really nothing you can do about it except accept it and acknowledge that you have it, if you are white that is. Acknowledgment is a great first step in both these cases, but how can we go about changing it, if such a thing is even possible in America?

   

  <div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">This article is very interesting. One thing I found intersting about Murray's article is when he states "The haves in our society are increasingly cocooned in a system that makes it easy for their children to continue to be haves". He then goes on to say that the haves should recognize the divide and act to dimish the advantages that come with it. Parents will always do whatever it takes to get there children ahead of others. Even if the more priviledged recognize that they will have an advanteage becasue of their parents' connections what will they do? Will they tell their parents "no, its not fair" or will they quietly continue to revel in their good fortune? <br /> I once read an article a few years back dealing with the idea of white priviledge. The article says that there is really nothing you can do about it except accept it and acknowledge that you have it, if you are white that is. Acknowledgment is a great first step in both these cases, but how can we go about changing it, if such a thing is even possible in America?</div>

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  #4 urvashisingh on 04 Apr 13

   

  In response to Adrian:
  I think there are some people out there who are rich and do what to help the poor. It isn't because they feel pity on those who are less privileged but because they want to make a difference in the world. You don't need to be in a certain social class to recognize the growing inequality in education. Granted some of those who may be in a lower class may have a negative reaction to those who want to help. Most of the time, that negative reaction result from fear; fear that the few good things that enter their lives will go away just as fast as it came. No one wants the good things out their lives, therefore they push it away before they begin to feel complete. It's just a defense mechanism and not many people are aware that they are doing it.

   

  <div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">In response to Adrian: <br /> I think there are some people out there who are rich and do what to help the poor. It isn't because they feel pity on those who are less privileged but because they want to make a difference in the world. You don't need to be in a certain social class to recognize the growing inequality in education. Granted some of those who may be in a lower class may have a negative reaction to those who want to help. Most of the time, that negative reaction result from fear; fear that the few good things that enter their lives will go away just as fast as it came. No one wants the good things out their lives, therefore they push it away before they begin to feel complete. It's just a defense mechanism and not many people are aware that they are doing it.</div>

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  #5 kmckay013 on 04 Apr 13

   

  "If I'm advocating these ideas now, why didn't I propose them in "Coming Apart"? Because, sadly, they won't really make a lot of substantive, immediate difference."
  
  I found this quote interesting because it summarized the whole article. I couldn't help but laugh when I got to the end and Murray began refuting all of his points. I think ultimately he realized that those with opportunity and/or affluence will continue to get ahead, whereas those who do not have those will continue to have to struggle to compete with their peers. He also talks about creating a socioeconomic affirmative action. I honestly truly believe this may be a better approach to giving those who are in need an advantage. However, I do believe that, like him, it would be futile. Those who are high achieving will always have more advantages than those who are not, even in the working class. However, giving a slight edge to those who are not significantly higher achieving but still would like to get an education sounds like a good idea to me.

   

  <div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">"If I'm advocating these ideas now, why didn't I propose them in "Coming Apart"? Because, sadly, they won't really make a lot of substantive, immediate difference." <br /> <br /> I found this quote interesting because it summarized the whole article. I couldn't help but laugh when I got to the end and Murray began refuting all of his points. I think ultimately he realized that those with opportunity and/or affluence will continue to get ahead, whereas those who do not have those will continue to have to struggle to compete with their peers. He also talks about creating a socioeconomic affirmative action. I honestly truly believe this may be a better approach to giving those who are in need an advantage. However, I do believe that, like him, it would be futile. Those who are high achieving will always have more advantages than those who are not, even in the working class. However, giving a slight edge to those who are not significantly higher achieving but still would like to get an education sounds like a good idea to me.</div>

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  #7 kmckay013 on 07 Apr 13

   

  Yiranyang,
  
  I completely agree with this notion. People in positions of power will always try to find some way to maintain that power. When reading the part about replacing the SATs with achievement tests, it sounded a lot to me like a different form of a selection method, as you've mentioned, to maintain dominance and selectivity. When trying to compare people using one standard exam, there is always some bias inherently imbedded into it as sad as it is. So, I also question his methods of eliminating the socioeconomic gap.

   

  <div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">Yiranyang, <br /> <br /> I completely agree with this notion. People in positions of power will always try to find some way to maintain that power. When reading the part about replacing the SATs with achievement tests, it sounded a lot to me like a different form of a selection method, as you've mentioned, to maintain dominance and selectivity. When trying to compare people using one standard exam, there is always some bias inherently imbedded into it as sad as it is. So, I also question his methods of eliminating the socioeconomic gap.</div>

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  #9 khermes09 on 07 Apr 13

   

  I agree with Adrians comment about parents doing anything to get their children ahead. They feel that their child's success is based on their grades in the class compared to other students. If their child is the best, then they will go farther in their careers and life most likely. This mindset is dangerous because the pressure that is put on children could end up hindered their progress potentially.

   

  <div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">I agree with Adrians comment about parents doing anything to get their children ahead. They feel that their child's success is based on their grades in the class compared to other students. If their child is the best, then they will go farther in their careers and life most likely. This mindset is dangerous because the pressure that is put on children could end up hindered their progress potentially.</div>

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  #11 yiranyang on 11 Apr 13

   

  In response to Adrian,
  
  I agree with your opinion that parents will always do whatever it takes to get their children ahead of others. And I also believe that there is no guilty for those children to use the resources that their parents have gained through their hardworks. But I do agree some advantages are not gained because of simply hardwork but some hidden advantage because of many kinds of privilege. Acknowledgement is a great first step for sure, and both individuals and society need to work on it to make a balance.

   

  <div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">In response to Adrian, <br /> <br /> I agree with your opinion that parents will always do whatever it takes to get their children ahead of others. And I also believe that there is no guilty for those children to use the resources that their parents have gained through their hardworks. But I do agree some advantages are not gained because of simply hardwork but some hidden advantage because of many kinds of privilege. Acknowledgement is a great first step for sure, and both individuals and society need to work on it to make a balance.</div>

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