Traditional "elite" schools and new "elites"

anxiousparent

I have noticed an interesting phenomenon.

A lot of "traditional" elite schools (MSS, MCS, LSC, St. Joseph's) are now part of the Government allocation system.  This means that the school has no control over the quality of the new primary one students.    But because they are "traditional" elite schools and also because school fees are low, a lot of parents want to go to these schools.

A lot of parents, however, are worried that there is no "quality control" for these schools (however glorious their past history may be) and they want their kids to be surrounded by peers who are "competitive" in terms of ability and quality.  These parents (if they can afford it) will go for the few elite private or DS schools.  

There are therefore two streams of parents.  One stream consist of those who regard government allocated schools as prime choices, and another stream consist of those who regard government allocated schools as "back-up" schools.  

I know some parents who shed tears of joy at being admitted to a traditional (government allocated) elite school, and equally some who would shed tears of sadness if their only school is a traditional (government allocated) elite school.  

Which type of school, in the long run, do you think will produce more all-rounded students?

JJJ

The school can't produce all-rounded students along. The school needs the parent, as well as the students to achieve this.

With the current trend (of more and more respectable schools turn to DSS), I am quite worried that non-DSS schools may suffer significant impact on their "quality".

Saw a newspaper article around 2 months ago, written by La Salle College's principle. He mentioned something about his care and concern of students of "special requirement". In the past, a principle's energy was on how to pick up those elite ones, but nowadays, I think he need to divert some energy to "drag" those left-behind ones.

Not sure I am correct or not.

mattsmum

anxiousparent 寫道:

Which type of school, in the long run, do you think will produce more all-rounded students?

this very much depends on the family background and the ability of individual students.

anxiousparent

mattsmum 寫道:
[quote]
anxiousparent 寫道:

Which type of school, in the long run, do you think will produce more all-rounded students?

this very much depends on the family background and the ability of individual students.

[/quote]

Yes, but that is the very question - Does a school's ability to choose its own intake have any effect or influence on the "output"?  Does it make life easier for the teachers, so that they may be able to concentrate their resources in bringing out the best in your students (rather than taking care of those students who "lag behind")?

This brings out a bigger question - should the system be elitist or should it allow everyone to have the chance to attend "good schools"?