This is an article published by The Telegraph. This, supposedly "well to do" newspaper that is read by "well to do" citizens has apparently started spouting inaccurate, untrue tosh. Okay so maths and foreign languages are deemed as "difficult"? Okay. By who, David Willetts, by you? Do you find music easy and so think that everybody else must also be stumped by algebra and French grammar? The adjective used to describe said subjects was "tough". It is an empty adjective. How can we measure what is tough and what isn't, as far as college subjects go? Isn't "toughness" relative? Doesn't the difficulty of a subject depend on a person's IQ, the quality of their previous education, their interest in the subject, upbringing and any natural aptitudes that they may have? Somebody who has never listened to music in their life would find it far more difficult to pass an A-level in it than a musician. Likewise, the son of two mathematicians, who has been solving equations since before he was potty trained is going to find maths easier than someone from a background where the socialisation was less focused on being academic. What about people who are just naturally good at certain things? I am naturally good at English. I can't help but find it easy to grasp. I'd find it unfair if somebody that didn't know me suddenly decided that English is a difficult subject and so I should be awarded more credit for it. I don't deserve more credit at all. I haven't put half the effort into my A levels that some people have and I've still come out with better grades. People's IQs mean that sometimes they will naturally ace "tough" subjects and we shouldn't reward them for that or put other people down for excelling in another area.
This is shockingly written, I needed to vent in the ten minutes that I had before my friend knocked on my door. I am aware that I have gone way off the point so to reiterate, I believe that all subjects should get the same recognition, whether they involve musical notes, drama scripts, algebraic equations or WHATEVER.
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