The Elitism behind Extra-Curricular Activities
Over the last week, I had the immense privilege to participate in the World Scholars’ Tournament of Champions at Yale University. The experience was exciting, enlightening and life changing (shout out to Nanyang Girls High School for winning!- my school finished mid table).
But it was also eye opening in a not so good way. One of the best things about the tournament was meeting students from all corners of the globe. From Beijing to New Delhi to Dubai to Ljubljana, I came to know people with a wide array of perspectives on various matters. A few things united us though:
Our academic keenness
Our unhealthy competitiveness
Our love of stuffed alpacas
Our economic privilege
One undeniable truth of the World Scholars experience is that it is only really open to those who can afford it. While it wasn’t true that we all came from diamond coated mansions (I don’t), we were all quite well off, attending the best schools in the regions we lived in.
So what? Isn’t this just a debate/essay/quiz competition? Does this even have a real impact on your life?
Well, World Scholars is one hell of a boost to your CV, as any international scholarly tournament would be. Having attended this tournament has already made me more desirable to universities and employers- in fact, World Scholars is affiliated with Yale University. And while I am glad for that, I wish other kids’ CVs could be boosted in the same way.
Unfortunately that won’t be the case. Kids who can’t afford to participate in extra curricular activities such as World Scholars (this cost me around £2500) are denied the opportunity to be included in life changing experiences that can enlighten them in countless ways, no matter how smart and bright they might be.
And so they can’t go to the best universities and get the best jobs, perpetuating economic hardships and forever trapping individuals who deserve so much more in a cycle that doles them out less than the bare minimum. And that is not fair.
And a harsh reflection of the failings and lack of investment in education. It was telling that all the attendees were from independently funded private schools (public if you’re British) or from high schools in affluent areas of the USA, because schools in poor areas lack the funds to send students on trips and to tournaments that would give them life changing opportunities.
Going on World Scholars was a great opportunity to meet fantastic people. I don’t begrudge it. In fact I learnt various things:
That studious pupils and teachers all over the world go manic on the dance floor
That future leaders of the world got their first experience of public speaking in the Debate Showcase
That we need to seriously invent in public (state if you’re British) education and make sure its recipients aren’t starved of the opportunities given to their wealthier peers.
Since the theme for 2016 World Scholars is an Imperfect World, maybe we can reflect on the very imperfect state of public education and the perpetual disenfranchisement of those who can’t afford a better education.