3 ms·
One of the most surprising things I keep finding after working in research: The probability that the children will become professional researchers with PhDs is
by sytelus 5y ago
One of the most surprising things I keep finding after working in research: The probability that the children will become professional researchers with PhDs is extraordinarily higher if parents had PhDs or worked in education or in science.
Corollary is that vast number of children are at massive inherent disadvantage to go in science (which is different than going in tech or being geek). If you are researcher but your parents did not had above background, you deserve same status as self made multi-millionair.
- cinntaile 5y agoI think this is the same for doctors or lawyers or carpenters or entrepreneurs or any other occupation. You parents are a point of reference and you know what the future will likely look like, it's the safe choice.
- jimhefferon 5y agoI rewarded my kids for science stuff. I (and my wife) did not emphasize sports, or music. It's not that we discouraged those, just that the kids picked up quickly that we were interested in intellectual things, and responded.
- sul_tasto 5y agoI tried to encourage music and science, but my kids chose the activities their friends were involved in (sports).
- Cthulhu_ 5y agoIt's social mobility that, to a point, a government can provide as well. I got lucky; my parents were both working class, my dad worked as a metalworker. But he saved up enough money to get a computer, and the government + part-time work paid for my education (debt-free at the time) so I got an associate's, then a bachelor's degree. But in the US you don't get that social mobility, you get crippling debts, no job prospects, and the army looking for cannon fodder to help you get out of said debt.
- Zababa 5y agoI don't understand why this is surprising.