Dear George, Do think the problem of reservations in educational institutes can be equated to the case you have mentioned (a single tennis court in the village)?
Let me reframe it for you with a few changes in your own words or Prof. Wassermanâs words â¦. There are seven IITs and six IIMs in India. These are very critical because the output of graduates from these institutions plays a pivotal role in major organisations worldwide which will define what you and I will call technological progress 10 or 20 years from now. Now, Who among the following gets a seat in these prestigious institutions? A. The bright students in the country who qualify through the entrance exam (merit based). B. The rich students in the country who are willing to pay anything to get a seat (Wealth). C. Every student gets 1 month at the colleges (equality based). D. A poor student who has been discriminated against and never been allowed to study before in the country (opportunity based). What do you think your answer would be hereâ¦â¦. Educational institutes are not tennis courts. Thatâs what I think. The solutions lies in what Elisabeth said, âIt is primary education that has to be strenghtened, access to public libraries, subsidised private tutoring, introduction of English medium even in government-funded primary schools. These are the changes that will add value to our educationâ. It will take time but in the long term this will bear fruits. Unfortunately, assembly elections in 5 states and the votes that are polled are more important than the countryâs future in the long term. I have mentioned this before and I reiterate the importance of a level playing field where everyone has the opportunity to fight for a place in the top colleges of India. This can be achieved by focussing on the grassroots. We need to understand the serious implications of the reservation policy and these will be clear and obvious to everyone if reservations are implemented only 10 or 20 years down the line. Regards, Jason --- George Pinto <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hi Elisabeth & Jason > > Although you have made good points, you are > providing the stock middle-class response against > reservations. Whether you agree or not, it is meant > to maintain the status quo and preserve and > protect what the middle-class and upper > socio-economic classes have. Here is a question > adapted > from Prof. Richard Wasserstrom's essay on > affirmative action. > > There is one tennis court in a village (a world of > limited resources which we live in). Who among > the following gets to use to the tennis court among > the villagers? > A. The village tennis star (merit based). > B. A rich 65 year old woman who is willing to pay > anything to play (wealth). > C. Every villager gets 5 minutes (equality based). > D. A poor family who has been discriminated against > and never been allowed to play sport before in > the village (opportunity based). > > Justice and equality is not "pure", behind every > claim for what is just and fair (including in the > reservations debate) is someone's prejudices and > biases. My answer is D. and C. above get first > choice. > > What is yours? > > Regards, > George > P.S. Reservations does not have an ugly head (as the > subject line suggests). It has a > multi-faceted head. > > > > _____________________________________________ > Do not post admin requests to the list. > Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org) > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com _____________________________________________ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list (Goanet@goanet.org)