Tocqueville highlights in “Democracy in America” how humans are distinguished from “brutes” as they strive to improve and differentiate as well as heighten their social status. Although, he does emphasizes how humans beings born into a social class or category influence their motivation to grow as human beings. He emphasizes how people begin to define themselves based on the social status they presume themselves and others to have. This may lead to someone who is born into a lower social class being discouraged to advance in society and as a person as they are influenced by society; therefore Tocqueville finds that removing a system of class and social status as a norm allows humans to further grow as they would be less restricted and less influenced by societal norms and social standings. I find that Tocqueville would agree with the removing of gifted programs in New York City as discussed in “Desegregation Plan: Eliminate All Gifted Programs in New York” as it may prevent the growth of the minorities who are being categorized at a young age, which he would find to be restrictive and preventative of growth. Although, in contrast, I find that humans not seeing from a beginning stage that they are at a disadvantage may make them feel discouraged as they could potentially place the blame on themselves which could potentially lead them to be less motivated.
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