 Bertrand Russell Quotes 366 |
Belief in the sovereign virtues of competition prevented anyone from reflecting that boys and girls and adolescents ought not to be subjected to the very severe strain involved. If the strain were only intellectual it would be bad enough, but it is also emotional: the whole future of a boy or girl, not only economically, but socially, turns upon success in a brief test after long preparation.
Source: Bertrand Russell: Education and the Social Order, 1932, chap.12: Competetion in Education
More info.:https://russell-j.com/cool/30T-1201.HTM
* a brief comment: original text in Japanese, translated with DeepL.com (free version)
There is no problem if the competition is to create something new. However, competition for limited resources (natural resources, positions, university admissions quotas, and many other things) causes a lot of harm. Such competition brings happiness and a sense of superiority to some and unhappiness and a sense of inferiority to many.
For example, in the case of university entrance examinations, if the population decreases and all applicants are admitted, the harsh competition will decrease. However, if one wishes to enter a highly rated university, he or she will inevitably be caught up in the exam competition. Universities are also trying to find ways to evaluate and add points to the entrance examinations based on a single talent or beneficial experiences (e.g., experiences in countries around the world), rather than merely on paper test scores, but there is a limit when there are too many applicants. The other day, a newspaper carried a post (in defense of the paper test) by a student who grew up in a poor family and could not afford to attend a prep school, but worked hard and passed the University of Tokyo. He had a negative opinion about "overvaluing various experiences" (poor young people can't have various experiences!).
Many politicians emphasize the need for a society where people can "try again and again," but there are many more who cannot afford to try again and again, and while there are a few who can finally climb the ladder to becoming a medical doctor or lawyer after 3 or 4 attempts, usually the most one can do is to take one exam (children of doctors have tens of millions of yen "invested" in them by their parents / if they become doctors, they can "recover" their money). (Doctors' children can "recoup" tens of millions of yen if they become doctors!) ). Is it my imagination or is it that many "hereditary" politicians such as PM Kishida and former PM Abe (deceased) are so comforting? It is the people themselves, the voters, who have made Japan a country where only "hereditary" politicians become prime ministers....