<i>It does make us more equal, largely by inhibiting the success of our brightest and hardest-working students. Is this what you want? </i><p>A. The brightest folks are not always the hardest-working. &quot;Hard-working&quot; in a student means blowing time on stupid worksheets and memorization instead of devoting resources to playful exploration of knowledge.<p>B. There is more aggregate value in having everyone do a bit better than having an occasional student who&#x27;s amazing and pampered. Especially if they then proceed to go leave and never interact with the local economy again.<p>C. If your society is predicated on the notion of the occasional brilliant genius popping up to care for the slavering morons, maybe your society should fail.