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Originally Posted by Ramrod
One point hasn't been mentioned (Unless I missed it).
Setting aside all the social arguments that have been raised, it would make sense for the state to pay more for very bright kids to receive better education as that would hopefully allow the country to do well internationally in business/technology/innovations etc....we would get a lot more back from investing in the gifted minds than we probably do from pouring money into the whole special needs area which probably just gets us slightly better educated dole claimants or McDonald's staff.
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I was under the impression that that idea of state education was to ensure everyone got at least a minimum education.
You appear to be looking at the problem from a business point of view (only invest in what is likely to give good returns). If we did invest in the brighter pupils at the expense of the special needs pupils we would possibly be consigning those special needs pupils to a life of poverty (benefits and/or low paid jobs). It would also impact those pupils that are bright, but do have a particular need for special tutition. As an example, I had a friend at school who had an IQ of around 180, but was dyslexic and needed extra tuitition to read and write. He got the extra tuitition and is now (I believe, although I haven't spoken to him) a Professor of Computing Science at the University of Manchester. If he hadn't got that extra tuitition (which he may not have if the money had gone to the kids percieved to be brighter), he would possibly be on the dole.
As I said in my earlier post, I am not opposed to the idea of bright kids getting extra education, but as long as extra money is provided. Sadly, I don't think any Government will do this, as it would require a lot of money and probably wouldn't get much in terms of improvement within the term of the government that instigated it. IE, they would have to invest for more than 4 years, which may actually impact on their votes.
As stated above, I am not against the idea of brighter pupils getting a better education. I just don't want to see it done at the expense