1337
A simple deduction for those who know not what these four powerful numbers represent.1337 = leet = elite
e·lite or é·lite
n. pl. elite or e·lites
A group or class of persons or a member of such a group or class, enjoying superior intellectual, social, or economic status.
As defined by www.dictionary.com. Note superior. as much as i hate superiority, it appears that there must be some form of elitism present somewhere. sadly this 'somewhere' happens to be right in our own dear country Singapore's education system.
What is every typical Singaporean's dream for their children? enrol in a good school, preferably RGS or RI or RJC or some reputable school (no, no, not neighbourhood schools! those won't do! they'll grow up to be... normal! ugh!), get good grades (oh we don't ask for much, just A*s for your PSLE and 6 points for secondary school and 4As and 2 'S' Paper distinctions for JC and a university degree at Harvard or Yale or MIT, that's all!), have good conduct (do stay away from those naughty boys, you don't know what sort of trouble they'll get you into!). Pardon my bluntness, but i doubt if many Singaporeans are going to change their ways, at least not for the next few generations, and not when it regards their precious children.
Why defend elitism? why bow to those who are deemed better than us, just because their cerebral capacities happen to surpass ours, or in some cases their ability to recite textbooks backwards? is intelligence a good judge of a person's capabilities? no, we cannot allow ourselves to be put down by anyone, especially the elites. yielding will only give way to greater oppression. its like a game of jenga. the tower doesn't fall so you see how many bricks you can remove... and you just keep removing and stacking until the tower can't take it anymore...
As much as i hate to say this, elitism must exist on certain levels. not every pupil can be the top student. not everybody can be a scholar. not everyone can handle JC life. not everyone can run a multi-million-dollar business. not everyone was meant to do great things, only to do what is right. not everyone can be a world leader, because otherwise who will the leaders lead? all that is required is for us to do what we do best, and do it well. every single person has his or her own special niche that they must fill, regardless of elitism.
We must wake up to the fact that not everyone will grow up to be a lawyer or doctor or whatever 'perfect' job we fancy. imagine a world full of lawyers. oh, sure they can keep irritating people for all eternity, but they'll be dead soon enough when they realise no one's been growing the potatoes for them, the cause being, they're all studying to become something they'll ultimately regret being.
For your information i'm not denouncing or glorifying elitism. to me it's just something that has to be there. like raspberries. and beehives. and insurance salesmen. i'm neither in the elite range nor at the bottom. call me bourgeois if you may. its one of the best places to be because you're looking at both sides.
We have to keep top institutes at the top by allowing only the elite to enter. the widespread, and unfortunately wrong, notion that everyone has to get a university degree has lowered the integrity of educational institutes. it is the belief that anyone can be brought up to university level that has brought universities down to everyone's level.
Grow up. don't get fooled into believing your life is dictated by a piece of laminated paper. studies aren't everything.