How America brain drained Britian | Peter Hitchens
Jan 6, 2024
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Peter Hitchens discusses the role of grammar schools and academic selection in the UK's education system, emphasizing their importance for social mobility. He explores the decline of educational standards and challenges the perceived intellectual decline in society. The podcast also delves into the concept of being truly educated, the revolution against knowledge, and the dismissal of Jordan Peterson's work.
Closure of grammar schools in the UK has led to a decline in educational standards and decreased opportunities for bright working-class students to attend prestigious universities.
Being educated means being in a state of informed discontent and recognizing what one doesn't know, challenging the idea of a modern canon of knowledge.
Deep dives
The Importance of Grammar Schools in Education
Peter Hitchens discusses the significance of grammar schools in the UK education system. He believes that the closure of grammar schools has led to a decline in educational standards, grade inflation, and decreased opportunities for bright working-class students to attend prestigious universities like Oxford and Cambridge.
Challenges of Defining and Achieving True Education
Peter Hitchens reflects on the concept of being truly educated. He mentions the cliché idea that culture is about passing on the best of what has been thought and said to the next generation. Hitchens admits that he himself feels poorly educated and expresses a sense of discontent about his knowledge gaps. He argues that being educated means being in a state of informed discontent and recognizing what one doesn't know. He also shares his skepticism towards the idea of certain individuals deciding what should be included in a modern canon of knowledge and does not see hope in figures like Jordan Peterson.
Are we truly nurturing Britain's bright young minds, or are we letting them slip through the cracks of an outdated education system? We sat down with the formidable Peter Hitchens, whose insights into the role of grammar schools and academic selection are as sharp as they are provocative. Together, we traverse the shifting landscape of the UK's educational standards, where Peter champions grammar schools as essential for social mobility and intellectual development, particularly for the working class. He recounts his own educational path with refreshing honesty, revealing the gaps in his learning journey and challenging the intellectual decline he perceives in today's society.
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