ELITISM---I'M ALL FOR IT!

The headmaster of Eton, the famed British public school, known to many Americans who are Ian Fleming fans or crossword puzzle devotees as the school attended by James Bond, 007, has made an interesting statement. Tony Little, the headmaster, caught the attention of the British world by defending “elitism”. This term has come to mean to most of the politically correct snobbery and class consciousness and therefore to be avoided.

Eton has certainly appeared to the politically correct as the bastion of class consciousness and snobbery. In the process, it has turned out countless prime ministers, prominent politicians and business leaders. William and Harry both attended there. It is safe to say the alumni they have turned out can certainly be classified as “elite”. Eton, Mr. Little points out, offers financial assistance to those academically gifted but in need of help and is looking into building endowments to help such students. He admires the way major American Universities have stressed such campaigns to augment endowment.

Mr. Little makes a valid point: the term elitist needs to be “reclaimed” as a measure of excellence in all walks of life, according to an article in "The Daily Telegraph". I agree totally with him. To me, and I’m sure to Mr. Little, elite should be a term of achievement. It has nothing to do with class or birth but with merit. Little points out elite is often applied to sportsmen of the highest caliber. “I would like the plumber I engage to be an elite plumber, and I want to see an elite doctor. It has to do with excellence,” Mr. Little stated.

The class system in Britain was much too powerful in the past. If you were born well-to-do or had the proper pedigree or background, “the old boy network” as it was known, in the old days you had a head start over less affluent or the middle and lower classes. The Old Boy Network is slowly but surely being pruned out of British life with a new emphasis on creating a meritocracy. It still has a long way to go, but the difference between now and fifty years ago is striking.

In the U.S.A. we have frequent instances also of the Old Boy Network: right family, right schools, right connections still are in evidence, although not even close to the extent of Britain. America has been, on the whole, a shining example to the rest of the world of opportunity unlimited for those who aim high, work and achieve the proverbial American Dream.

Now, unfortunately, in the last few years, we are witnessing an increasing emphasis on mediocrity. Don’t set the standards too high, or you might damage irreparably the psyches of the little darlings in school. Make the grade of "A" easier to get so that the kids can enjoy “achievement”. Such nonsense! What we need to do is put a new emphasis on challenging the students, making them strive for higher achievement and becoming the true elite. We need to create elite standards at which our students can aim.

Setting high standards gives meaning to achievement. Let’s start to build a new truly elite.