Being a
member of an elite vs. feeling the need of a meritocracy—these two views have
clashed for centuries. Dating back to 605 CE in China to the present in the
United States, the need to be educated, and preferably at the most elite
schools, is still instilled today. Whether it be Harvard or Yale, coming from
top tier schools can be a huge social status advantage when determining future
employment.
In 605 CE Yang Guang murdered his father for the throne.
Yang was tired of people using only their letters of recommendation to excel in
the bureaucratic world, so he composed a series of examinations to test people’s
ability in learning and intelligence, creating the first meritocracy. However, the
tests soon led to paid off examiners and other methods of cheating. To pass the
test, hours of study and expensive tutors were required and. The test was
almost an abomination, a disease in which the Chinese had the longing to be
involved in the elitist program. In order to be successful people had to pass
this examination and that created a lot of pressure and eventual disappointment
for those who failed.
The authors believe the same process is occurring
presently in the United States, especially in the bureaucratic world. The university
has almost replaced the labor union as the most important institution and has
become the backbone of this country. The need to not only excel in education
but also graduate from the top tier of universities has formed sort of elitist
guild like structure. Today, every justice on the Supreme Court judge has
attended Yale or Harvard and 22 of Obama’s cabinet members graduated from Ivy
League schools. The bureaucratic world and the people of power have formed an elite
guild where a degree from a top tier school is required. In the 1950s, only a
fifth of the Supreme Court justices had such degrees.
The
feeling of wanting an elite colllege education is gripping the nation by storm.
Kids now respond with, “I want to go to college,” rather than stating their
dreams of wanting to be a doctor or lawyer. A debt of nearly 3 trillion dollars
from educational loans burdens college students. The Ming Dynasty fell before
revisions were made to make the test harder and revise the elite status. It is
only a matter of time before America has to do the same.
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