Classroom Lessons 1/4

I received an email from a friend with an attachment, intended for wide distribution. No signature, no context: this initially inspired a certain repulsion in me. Nevertheless, I opened the document.

It described the supposedly “egalitarian” experiment of a middle school class, presented as a miniature version of our society—a highly caricatured vision, of course.
Upon reading it, it became clear to me that the opposite could just as easily be demonstrated.
This is how I came up with the idea of ​​rewriting this text through four educational experiments conducted by an economics teacher. He invites his students to experience, from the inside, the major models that govern our nations: absolute equality, pure merit, the balance between the two, and then the union of forces in service of a common ideal.
One experiment per day.

Today:

In a quiet school lived an economics teacher, a wise man whom the curiosity of young people both amused and worried.

One morning, he told them,

"Socialism dictates that everything should be shared so that no one is poor. Capitalism, on the other hand, dictates that everyone should reap according to their efforts."
Immediately, the class erupted in enthusiasm.

"Long live sharing!" shouted one.

"No more injustice! If everyone has the same share, everyone will be happy!" added another.
The teacher gave a mischievous smile.

"Very well. We will therefore live under socialism. For your next grades, I will take the class average, and everyone will have the same result. Thus, no more jealousy, no more inequality." The students applauded; the experiment seemed to promise a perfect world. The first test arrived. The average was 13.
Those who had struggled felt betrayed, while the distracted ones rejoiced.
By the second test, enthusiasm had waned.

"What's the point of working if the effort of one feeds the laziness of the others?" mused the most zealous.
The average fell to 9.
By the third, apathy settled in like a fog.
No one read, studied, or even dreamed of doing better.
The average plummeted to 4; the class had reached perfect equality… in mediocrity.

The teacher concluded gently.

"This is what happens when the fruits of labor no longer belong to the one who reaped them.
When everything belongs to everyone, no one sows anymore. And soon, there is neither effort nor harvest."

Moral.

When everyone receives without measure, effort withers and talent slumbers.

Equality appeases desires but stifles ambition, and from the fairness of distribution often springs poverty of spirit.

Note: What holds true for a class also holds true for a nation. Look at France, often quick to level down in the name of equality, forgetting that progress is born of merit and the desire to excel.