[lacy_tinpot]

Most people that are academically inclined are self motivated and have a desire to learn more.

Most people aren't academically inclined so it follows that most people aren't academically self motivated. Therefore among those that are academically inclined it is important to provide them with all the tools necessary because they're the ones that will most likely excel in an academic environment.

It is odd that the curriculum tends to accommodate people that aren't academically inclined at the expense of those that actually want to learn.

People that aren't academically inclined should not be forced to learn, or at least forced only insofar as they're baseline literacy so that they function in today's world.

[pessimizer]

It's not odd to me at all. The most "academically inclined" (although I don't think that's just one type of person) are people who have the ability to help themselves with very little advice from others. We shouldn't be going out of our way to provide anything for them; we should provide all levels of materials for everyone. It's the stupid people who need to be coaxed and trained to use them, whereas for the smart people, it's enough to make them available and give them advice when they ask.

Teachers like gifted kids because they'll be successful no matter what they do, and the teachers can test out all of their dingbat social and pedagogical theories with no consequences. They can start with elite kids, finish with elite kids, yet somehow take the credit. Not impressed. Make dumb kids smart, then I'm impressed. You might even be holding back the smart kids, but they're probably smart enough to see through you and do well anyway.

That being said, there are some people who are motivated to learn entirely by the desire to impress teachers and other authority figures. They need attention to develop. However, I do not think that most people are like this, and I honestly think those people should be in therapy.

[corimaith]

Looking outside at places like China, society unfortunately does require more experts in specific domain fields than there are self-motivated workers.

You can't run a billion dollar chip industry on passion alone, you are going to pull in people who may be working for external reasons. What matters then I'd that the education they receive is effective regardless.

[bruce343434]

> Most people that are academically inclined are self motivated and have a desire to learn more.

Isn't that by definition? Most xes are x.

> Most people aren't academically inclined

Is that so?

> It is odd that the curriculum tends to accommodate people that aren't academically inclined at the expense of those that actually want to learn.

Well, if what you say is true, isn't it fair that the program is catered to the majority, who are apparently not academically inclined? For one size fits all mass education, catering to the largest mass is the best you can do.

> People that aren't academically inclined should not be forced to learn, or at least forced only insofar as they're baseline literacy so that they function in today's world.

Isn't that what the curriculum already accommodates then? Didn't you just say that?

[lacy_tinpot]

>Isn't that what the curriculum already accommodates then? Didn't you just say that?

No. The current curriculum penalizes people that are academically incline. Fast track programs are difficult to access for example.

>For one size fits all mass education, catering to the largest mass is the best you can do.

Yes. But we now have other options.

> Most people aren't academically inclined >>Is that so?

As OP pointed out most people need someone to guide them and give them directions. This is because a lot of kids are not interested in learning and do "bugger all" without supervision.

The kind of self-directed learning only benefits people that are already academically motivated.

>Isn't that by definition? Most xes are x.

Yes. This was in contrast to what OP was saying, which is "The pandemic showed us exactly what children would prefer to do, when they don't have a physical teacher standing over them, which is bugger all."

This isn't true for students that are academically inclined. Only true for those that aren't academically inclined.