&gt;This could&#x27;ve been an article about parental involvement in academics and the impact it has on fairness and meritocracy and social mobility.<p>There are parents at all social levels who are very involved in their children&#x27;s academics and view the school system as only one component of their children&#x27;s academic achievement (and as a consequence their chances at succeeding professionally).<p>There are other parents who see the school system as _the_ only tool and the only institution with the responsibility to educate their children --that is a great mistake and to the detriment of their children.  I&#x27;ve seem this parental attitude in both poor parents and middle class parents.<p>I&#x27;ve been places where every extra penny earned by a parent go to their children --they forgo any non essentials in their lives in order that their children have a better chance.  They more or less see the escape from poverty as a multi-generational effort and are willing to put their part in wholeheartedly.  In exchange, the parents have expectations from their children as the parents enter old age.<p>So, academic achievement can be reached even for the poor kids, so long as their society and the individuals accept other means of achieving this end.<p>It happens with some immigrant groups within the US as well, so it&#x27;s not unheard of in the US.  And it&#x27;s not only the economically privileged who can achieve academically.