Quote Originally Posted by rory_20_uk
The downside to a class system is that potential is not reached,. True, but the same can be said now. As a rule of thumb it is still hard to jump 2 social classes in a generation.
But there isn't much difference between the classes anymore, wealth is no longer such an important measure of class, like I said, many of the 'lower' class jobs get paid the most. Class is more about what you do in your free time, what magazines and papers you read, etc.

I think that broad sorting can start at 14. At that age many could go and become apprentices at skilled manual vocations. By the time the are 16 they'd be amazing mechanics, not with a certificate stating they are rubbish at French. Of course they are going to be people who don't fit the mould. We currently seem to need to retrain masses of people in the basics even with the long education system. I feel this method would require far less.
The problem is, pure mechanics aren't in such high demand anymore, since electronics play such an important role in today's machinery. Flexibility through all layers of society is need in the modern world, I'm not sure what the best way to provide it is though. Certainly, the 'level' of education needs to be higher.

People getting additional education, after hours, should be supported more imho. Same with people re-schooling to find different employment. And we need to get rid of the stigma of 'lower class'. Unfortunately, these are idle dreams.