Developing character is as vital as qualifications

The pupil had said that when he left school he wanted to be a bricklayer. The head teacher responded by saying how he needed to raise his aspirations – rather than “just” a bricklayer he could be a businessman who owned a brick laying company.

I found this conversation deeply problematic. Alas, the boy didn’t respond with: “You could be a chief executive or director of education – do you lack aspiration too, miss?” Furthermore, what does this say to the boy whose father may well be a bricklayer?

I am not “anti-aspiration” – as professionals we should actively work with the economically disadvantaged and oppressed within society and enable them to grow as individuals and flourish. What we must not do is apply capitalist models of “success” on our young people. Instead of spending time equipping them to take their most optimum place within a capitalist society we should focus more on equipping them to critically understand the world in which they live and their place within it. Only then can the student decide whether they want to be a bricklayer or a businessman.