Affirmative Action In School?
Hey, my beloved procrastinators! It's been a while since we had our last installment of ridiculously over-simplified and unbearably polarized hypothetical situations, inspired by the NationStates online game - you know, that place where you're the benevolent ruler of your own fictional state, which you're completely free to shape as you please, based on the stupid choices you make in situations like the below presented. Last time when we delved into the depths of True Democracy(tm), and the bulk of you guys sided with Ms Parke, an overworked bureaucrat who has had enough of all those bills containing dozens of unrelated riders. Well, now the situation I'm presenting to your attention is not too different from that case, except this time the focus will be on affirmative action in schools.
The Issue
After minority student Akira Ruff was refused admission to a traditional, prestigious college, civil rights activists, conservatives, and teachers are up in arms about affirmative action and ethnic equality in education.
The Debate
1. "I think you'll find there's actually no problem here," observes conservative speaker and hair care product salesperson Zeke Utopia. "A student wants to go to a particular school, but lacks the grades. Clearly, he should have studied harder in school. But oh, because he's a so-called minority, it's everyone else's fault. I'm sorry, but the system is working perfectly well: What gets you into a good school is merit alone. Or, failing that, a generous donation."
2. "Are you blind, or do you simply refuse to see?" thunders civil-rights activist, former TV commentator and unabashed publicity speaker Lauren de Castro. "Oh yes, it's all perfectly equal, if we ignore the fact that this poor boy was stacking shelves to pay for textbooks in a falling-down school while the nice rich boys were enjoying private tutoring! Affirmative action is needed to balance out the very real disadvantages that many students grow up with! And there's no better way to identify that disadvantage than with broad, sweeping demographics!"
3. "I think you're both loony," says Bharatendu de Groot, professor of liberal arts at The Insert Country Name National University. "In my humble opinion, the solution is simple: make college education free to all. Why turn away anyone? Throw open the gates and make college education available to every citizen of Insert Country Name, regardless of their economic status, grades, or work ethic!"
The legislature of Insert Country Name is preparing to adopt a decision.
Poll Affirmative Action In School?
Of course, those who are already familiar with how this game is played, would already know that the options are so extreme for a reason.
The Issue
After minority student Akira Ruff was refused admission to a traditional, prestigious college, civil rights activists, conservatives, and teachers are up in arms about affirmative action and ethnic equality in education.
The Debate
1. "I think you'll find there's actually no problem here," observes conservative speaker and hair care product salesperson Zeke Utopia. "A student wants to go to a particular school, but lacks the grades. Clearly, he should have studied harder in school. But oh, because he's a so-called minority, it's everyone else's fault. I'm sorry, but the system is working perfectly well: What gets you into a good school is merit alone. Or, failing that, a generous donation."
2. "Are you blind, or do you simply refuse to see?" thunders civil-rights activist, former TV commentator and unabashed publicity speaker Lauren de Castro. "Oh yes, it's all perfectly equal, if we ignore the fact that this poor boy was stacking shelves to pay for textbooks in a falling-down school while the nice rich boys were enjoying private tutoring! Affirmative action is needed to balance out the very real disadvantages that many students grow up with! And there's no better way to identify that disadvantage than with broad, sweeping demographics!"
3. "I think you're both loony," says Bharatendu de Groot, professor of liberal arts at The Insert Country Name National University. "In my humble opinion, the solution is simple: make college education free to all. Why turn away anyone? Throw open the gates and make college education available to every citizen of Insert Country Name, regardless of their economic status, grades, or work ethic!"
The legislature of Insert Country Name is preparing to adopt a decision.
Poll Affirmative Action In School?
Of course, those who are already familiar with how this game is played, would already know that the options are so extreme for a reason.