Early Exposure to Competition in Education
This page focuses on how the competitive mindset is instilled from an early age, particularly through the education system. The author argues that this early exposure to competition is one of the most significant factors contributing to the overall increase in societal competitiveness.
Highlight: The commentary emphasizes that the sense of competitiveness is learned from childhood, beginning as early as kindergarten.
The essay details how children are evaluated for school readiness at a young age, expected to have basic reading, writing, and math skills before entering primary school. This early assessment is presented as the beginning of a lifelong journey of comparison and competition.
Example: The author mentions that children are expected to read, write, and calculate by the age of six, setting the stage for future academic competition.
The commentary then describes how this competitive environment intensifies throughout the school years. Students are constantly graded, compared to their peers, and face pressure to perform well to secure better educational and career opportunities.
Quote: "You always get compared to other students, so you start to learn how to live with this sense of competitiveness."
A critical point in this competitive journey is highlighted at around age ten (fourth grade in many systems), where students face decisions that can impact their future academic paths. The author suggests that this early tracking system further reinforces the competitive nature of education and society.
Vocabulary: Generation Z Arbeitsmoral (work ethic of Generation Z) is indirectly addressed through the discussion of early academic pressure and competition.
The essay also touches on the societal implications of this system, suggesting that academic achievement is increasingly linked to social status and perceived value in society. This perspective adds another layer to the growing sense of competitiveness that characterizes the experiences of Generation Z.
