Contest and Sponsored Mobility
November 3, 2004
After reading Ralph Turner’s article entitled “Sponsored and Contest Mobility and the School System”, I would have to say Canadians have for the most part bought into the idea of contest mobility. We believe everybody should have equal opportunity to succeed, and that striving for success is a lifelong goal. Why else would my sister have been granted the opportunity to attend the U of L without having Math 30 in her repertoire? When success is achieved, we reserve the right to brag about our achievements. After all, my mom has an entire wall in our house reserved for all my rewards, high school diploma, and soon to be university degree. It is also true that we all achieve success and elite status differently. My cousin is enjoying elite status through marriage, and some of my friends from high school are living comfortably due to popularity. I plan on achieving my elite status through hard work in academics. If I succeed in my goal, it is also true that I will look down on my cousin and friends from high school for taking the so-called “easy way out”. This feeling stems from my belief that status is something that one earns through a combination of hard work and talent, not by chance.
However, as more and more competing elites enter into Canadian society, I believe we run the risk of moving over to a more sponsored mobility standpoint. This is because once elite status is achieved; many naturally have the desire to pass this lifestyle onto family and friends. Therefore, successful family businesses merely get passed down from generation to generation. So-called “heirs” to the throne know their roles, and continue to accept their place in society regardless of personal wants or desires.
For example, I had a very smart friend in high school whose family owned a farming empire. Even though she had the marks to go to university and become a doctor, she married a guy with a farming background right out of high school, and settled into the role of being a farmer’s wife. She accepted this role because she was the oldest and it was her duty to take over the farm-no questions asked.
This acceptance of what you’ve been given also explains why the gap between the rich and poor in today’s society continues to widen. Although there is always the option of refusing your “crown”, doing so would result in an unknown future. We are all scared of the unknown, which is why many people do not hesitate in accepting what is laid before them. After all, it is guaranteed stability. However, there will always continue to be exceptions to the rule dictating that we will never be complete acceptors of sponsored mobility.
After reading Ralph Turner’s article entitled “Sponsored and Contest Mobility and the School System”, I would have to say Canadians have for the most part bought into the idea of contest mobility. We believe everybody should have equal opportunity to succeed, and that striving for success is a lifelong goal. Why else would my sister have been granted the opportunity to attend the U of L without having Math 30 in her repertoire? When success is achieved, we reserve the right to brag about our achievements. After all, my mom has an entire wall in our house reserved for all my rewards, high school diploma, and soon to be university degree. It is also true that we all achieve success and elite status differently. My cousin is enjoying elite status through marriage, and some of my friends from high school are living comfortably due to popularity. I plan on achieving my elite status through hard work in academics. If I succeed in my goal, it is also true that I will look down on my cousin and friends from high school for taking the so-called “easy way out”. This feeling stems from my belief that status is something that one earns through a combination of hard work and talent, not by chance.
However, as more and more competing elites enter into Canadian society, I believe we run the risk of moving over to a more sponsored mobility standpoint. This is because once elite status is achieved; many naturally have the desire to pass this lifestyle onto family and friends. Therefore, successful family businesses merely get passed down from generation to generation. So-called “heirs” to the throne know their roles, and continue to accept their place in society regardless of personal wants or desires.
For example, I had a very smart friend in high school whose family owned a farming empire. Even though she had the marks to go to university and become a doctor, she married a guy with a farming background right out of high school, and settled into the role of being a farmer’s wife. She accepted this role because she was the oldest and it was her duty to take over the farm-no questions asked.
This acceptance of what you’ve been given also explains why the gap between the rich and poor in today’s society continues to widen. Although there is always the option of refusing your “crown”, doing so would result in an unknown future. We are all scared of the unknown, which is why many people do not hesitate in accepting what is laid before them. After all, it is guaranteed stability. However, there will always continue to be exceptions to the rule dictating that we will never be complete acceptors of sponsored mobility.
posted by Chantelle @ 11:13 PM
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