{"id":47276,"date":"2019-03-25T00:29:49","date_gmt":"2019-03-25T07:29:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/world.edu\/?p=47276"},"modified":"2019-03-25T00:29:49","modified_gmt":"2019-03-25T07:29:49","slug":"aussie-parents-are-under-pressure-to-buy-their-kids-academic-advantage-too","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/world.edu\/aussie-parents-are-under-pressure-to-buy-their-kids-academic-advantage-too\/","title":{"rendered":"Aussie parents are under pressure to buy their kids academic advantage too"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nAllegations of parents\u00a0cheating and bribing<\/a>\u00a0top-tier universities in the US to secure their children\u2019s admission have caused a media storm in recent weeks. Those indicted included members of the Hollywood elite.<\/p>\n

The US attorney said \u201cthere can be no separate college admissions system for the wealthy\u201d. The parents\u2019 actions were denounced, in a system that claims it does not, and will not, allow parents to purchase academic success.<\/p>\n

But the reality is that the education system feeds into the \u201cchoice\u201d parents make. In Australia, and elsewhere, the system doesn\u2019t favour academic merit, but parental wealth. Instead of meritocracy, we see a\u00a0parentocracy<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 the actions and wealth of parents act as key determinants of a child\u2019s academic success.<\/p>\n

Parentocracy not meritocracy<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Caregivers using privilege to buy their children\u2019s way into, and through, education is not a Hollywood anomaly, nor the domain of elites.<\/p>\n

Governments and education officials may claim education systems are pillars of\u00a0meritocracy<\/a>, with effort and ability key to success. But the middle class have long being recognised for their ability to\u00a0use their economic and cultural resources<\/a>\u00a0to negotiate education systems on behalf of their children.<\/p>\n

For example, research demonstrates Australian parents use economic resources to:<\/p>\n