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You misunderstand my point. I wasn't really criticizing the German school system, I am fully aware that there are plenty of examples of people that did not foll

by sveme 10y ago

You misunderstand my point. I wasn't really criticizing the German school system, I am fully aware that there are plenty of examples of people that did not follow in their parent's footsteps. In both ways, by the way. The experience of your father came from your grandfather's hardworking ethos. What would have happened if your grandfather would not have instilled this in your father? What would have happened if your father would not have instilled this in you? Anyone's parent influences their kid's educational pathway in myriads of ways: are there books at home? What kinds of books? Is it mostly the TV that acts as a nanny? Are there computers, or are they computer-illiterate? Do your parents make you believe that you can choose your own path, or are they instilling you with the belief that what they have is good enough for you as well? You have experienced examples of the first kind: a family that creates a learning environment, with the experience of your father that social strata are permeable. I have a different experience which made it much harder for me. Maybe role model is the wrong word - instead ask yourself what kind of mental, imaginative boundaries have been nurtured by your family in you (few!) and what kind of mental boundaries have been nurtured in others, that are living the same lives as their parents despite maybe being pretty smart?

wolfgke 10y ago
> What would have happened if your grandfather would not have instilled this in your father? That you pose this question rather shows that you don't understand my argument: I wanted to document that it is not that important from what class you come, but rather that hardworking, intelligent children from any class can move up. In other words: In any class it is possible to live an acceptable life (#), thus many parents from non-academic class don't consider it as so much necessary for their child to move up in society (and (#) is actually quite good news!) in opposite to the strict necessity that my fatherly grandfather saw for his children to move up in society.

by sveme 10y ago

wolfgke 10y ago

> What would have happened if your grandfather would not have instilled this in your father? That you pose this question rather shows that you don't understand my argument: I wanted to document that it is not that important from what class you come, but rather that hardworking, intelligent children from any class can move up. In other words: In any class it is possible to live an acceptable life (#), thus many parents from non-academic class don't consider it as so much necessary for their child to move up in society (and (#) is actually quite good news!) in opposite to the strict necessity that my fatherly grandfather saw for his children to move up in society.