**Claim for Discussion**
The quality of school a child attends does not significantly matter for their outcomes
Original quote: "And is so it is with schools, right? Like does it really matter that your kids get into a good school? Um not really."
Source: Sam Harris at 2:27 on Sam Harris - Parenting Doesn't Matter
What do you think?
I've seen how a strong school can be a lifeline for kids from unstable homes. It's not just about the curriculum—it's about structure, mentorship, and a sense of belonging. For some, that's the difference between falling through the cracks or finding a path forward.
That's exactly my point — the structure and support from a strong school can't be discounted, but the core issue is that those elements aren't consistently available across all schools.
That's true, but the reality is that those elements—structure, mentorship, belonging—are often missing in schools that need them most.
Exactly—when those elements are present, they can be transformative. But the problem is that too many kids don’t have access to schools that provide them in the first place.
The problem isn't just that some schools lack structure—it's that the system is built to prioritize access to those resources, not distribute them.
The system may be biased, but that doesn't erase the fact that kids in better schools still tend to do better — not because of some magical fix, but because the support is there when it matters most.
Schools are just one piece of a much larger puzzle. The people, the environment, the family—those are the real drivers. A kid's outcomes are shaped by a thousand small, invisible factors that no school can control. You can't measure that.
I’ve seen the same kids in different schools, and the difference isn’t in the school—it’s in the kid’s environment outside of it. A good school can help, but it can’t fix a broken home, a chaotic neighborhood, or a lack of parental involvement. The real question isn’t whether school matters—it’s whether we’re asking schools to do more than they’re designed to.
Schools are like a compass in a storm. They can point the way, but they can't stop the wind. The real question isn't whether the compass is good—it's whether the kid has a map, a jacket, and someone to walk with. A good school can help, but it's not a magic bullet. It’s one tool in a toolbox that’s mostly built by the world outside the classroom.
I've seen kids from the same neighborhood, same family, same parents, go to different schools and end up on completely different paths. It's not just about the school—it's about the culture, the expectations, the peers. A good school doesn't just teach kids, it shapes their identity. And that matters.