Michael Staub articulates how the concept of brain plasticity and the notion that low-income children have inferior brains serves a racist agenda. This is why we have early intervention programs centered on making toddlers "ready to compete" in kindergarten.
You cannot combat racism or classism by invoking neurobigotry. Any framework in which some brains are deemed superior or inferior to others is a bigoted, oppressive framework.
Instead of focusing on pitting children against each other to "compete" for positions in society, what if we just... didn't? What if the goal of education were simply to learn things, not to winnow the unworthy from the worthy? What if everyone were worthy? All brains, all races, all backgrounds, all worthy?
And what if social programs were implemented simply to relieve suffering, because suffering is bad? What if we fed hungry children so that they wouldn't be hungry, and gave medical care to sick children so that they would be healthier, rather than in the hope that doing so would improve their performance on a standardized test to determine their future role in society by age 5?
https://bostonreview.net/race/michael-e-staub-mismeasure-minds
