I only remember one congregation in which a number of persons had university qualifications. This was one of the English-speaking congegations in Papua New Guinea, and in that way, was rather different. In PNG, English is the language of business, government and the professions. As a consequence, this congegation's members were drawn mainly from the educated middle class of Papua New Guinean society (together with a smattering of expatriates, such as myself).
Other than that, all the other congregations I knew about had more than the usual complement of carpet cleaners, pest control technicians,farm hands, timber yard workers, concreters, roofers etc. I was not altogether popular when I entred into an adult apprenticeship at the age of 24. Then, when I undertook a paper in advanced trade studies (in order to get into my preferred field, electrical testing), some positively had the daggers out for me. However, by then I knew enough about what was what to mentally give those individuals the good old "two-fingered salute". That felt bloody good, too!
Winston Churchill is on record as saying "To try is to risk failure. To fail to try is to guarantee it." People as individuals should be free to at least attempt an education. Should they make the attempt, there is, of course, a to risk of failure (whether due personal limitations, lack of application or whatever). Others may realise beforehand that they are never going to be an academic, and thus elect another career choice. (There are many such people about, and it does not mean that they are stupid. My own father was a case in point, and a fool he was not!) Certain other persons may begin a university degree course, but then realise it is not for them, and elect for something else (that happened to a school friend of mine - and once again, a fool he was not, either!). But at least everyone ought to be given that choice to make for themselves.
It should not be left to seven old f@#t$ in New York to make that blanket choice "No!" for everybody. To do so is to fullful what Churchill observed and guarantee an automatic failure in academic acheivement:
- i.e. Failure in results brought about by failure to even begin!