tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606798.post6428816406709713219..comments2024-03-27T16:39:43.522+00:00Comments on Liberal England: David Bowie, economics and educationJonathan Calderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00730157683743989696noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606798.post-61287076340323811752016-01-18T11:34:59.286+00:002016-01-18T11:34:59.286+00:00It's always difficult to get the balance right...It's always difficult to get the balance right between persuading those who are capable of getting the qualifications to put in the effort needed to do so, and consoling those who aren't with the message that there are other options in life, so it isn't the end of the world if you don't get high grades.<br /><br />One has to be a little cautious about using the line "Look at X, he had no qualifications but now he's a millionaire", and point out that the number who didn't have qualifications and didn't become millionaires is somewhat larger than the number who didn't have qualifications and did. Once also has to be cautious about not closing off the possibility of a glamorous career, but not feeding the very common idea among working class youngsters "Oh, I don't need to work hard at education, I'm going to become a star one day".<br /><br />A rather important political point that has been missed here is that Bowie came from an era where people with working class backgrounds could get into the entertainment business. There has been a significant change since those days, with now far fewer of entertainment stars having non-privileged backgrounds. <br /><br />Matthew Huntbachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18255872047710686115noreply@blogger.com