Category: Educational issues/ Issues regarding teenagers
Title: Students of top schools worry more about elitism
(link: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Sil3nceBoy/article1.jpg)
I chose this article as it closely concerns me and the issue concerned is an emerging problem. I feel that elitism, if neglected, will gradually transform the pride within a person into arrogance and snobbishness. Personally, I think that elitism is pretty rampant nowadays. Just to illustrate, many RI boys refer to neighbourhood school students as "pai kias", or bad boys in English. I feel that this is indiscriminate stereotyping, and is unfair to these neighbourhood school students. Being academically weaker does not, in any way make one "bad", especially in character and morals. I know this from my own experience, after getting to know some neighbourhood boys after playing basketball regularly with them. They might be weaker in studies, but in other areas, they are just as strong, if not stronger, than many of the so called "elites" here in Singapore.
With reference to the article, I agree to a large extent that students of top schools worry more about elitism. Students in top schools are often thought of as smart alecks and show-offs. On the other hand, many "elite" students think that they are superior just because they are able to excel in studies. As a result, they look down on those studying in non-elite schools, and often can be heard making snide remarks in public. I have experienced these quite a few times, even with some friends of mine. I recall once when a friend of mine exclaim in public, "Those paikias too dumb to know what we talking about lah!" Walking next to him I could somehow feel myself blushing up and I felt many stares landing upon us. However, much of this can be accreditted to stereotyping. From the non-elite school students' perspectives, those from top schools are definitely smart (and nerdy to some). As days pass and everyday remarks are passed, the mindset that top school students are "elite" is drilled into their heads (even if they are unwilling). On the other hand, the stereotyping of non-elite students (that they are dumb, to be blunt) is also a major factor causing this undesirable elitism to surface. In this sense, elitism and stereotyping are two closely connected concepts.
To sum up, I feel that elitist attitudes are shaped up in a person from both the school environment and family background. More often that not, those who come from "elite" families have a higher tendency of possessing an elitist attitude. However, the school environment can be gradually changed to remove elitist mindsets from "elite" students. Maybe students could receive more education on this in CLE/CME lessons. Most importantly, peer influence can be a major factor in helping to remove elitist attitudes. Elitism is probably the distinct line separating the elite and the non-elite, and by removing it any social stigmas caused by it will also be solved.
