Everybody keeps calling for Excellence — excellence not just in schooling, throughout society. But as soon as somebody or something stands out as Excellent, the other shout goes up: “Elitism!” And whatever produced that thing, whoever praises that result, is promptly put down. “Standing out” is undemocratic.

Jacques Barzun (1907-2012) French-American historian, educator, polymath

Begin Here: The Forgotten Conditions of Teaching and Learning, ch. 1 “Schooling No Mystery” (1991)
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