Merit, Meaning, and the Education Maze
A Candid Look at the American Educational System with Dr. Rachel Pfeifer
Education is often hailed as the great equalizer, yet extensive research shows that the playing field in the United States is far from level. In this episode of Meaning vs. Merit, I sit down with Dr. Rachel Pfeifer to discuss how schools — driven by test scores, rankings, and the relentless chase for “merit”— are shaping young people’s mental health, identity, and sense of worth.
I’ve been reflecting on merit and meritocracy in the context of education for years, and I’m so grateful to share this conversation with Dr. Pfeifer. We’ve known each other since high school, when we were close friends navigating the intense pressures of a high-achieving, college-prep environment. Since then, her path has taken her deep into the education system — from teaching fourth grade in the Mississippi Delta to leading college access programs and overseeing school strategy in a large urban district. She’s now my go-to expert on education, having worked within the system, critiqued and reshaped it — and, as a parent, had to navigate its complexities firsthand.
As national conversations about the Department of Education and school choice gain momentum, I hope this episode offers useful context about how our educational system is both supporting and failing students, how school choice could impact the landscape, and the complex role meritocracy plays in all of it.
One of my biggest takeaways from our discussion echoes what I hear so often from students and parents (and what I experienced myself): our schools often reward performance over learning, and outcome over process. When that becomes the norm, students start to define their worth by grades, test scores, extracurricular accolades, and resume lines — long before they have a chance to discover who they even are.
I hope you find this episode as thought-provoking and illuminating as I did. If it resonates with you, please rate, review, and share it with others who have kids/teens in school or simply care about the future of education in America.
Here are a few additional points we discuss:
The Illusion of Meritocracy
We are sold the idea that if you work hard (e.g., in school, at work, etc.) you’ll get ahead. But what happens when that promise doesn’t hold? When structural inequalities, access gaps, and resource disparities quietly rig the game?
“Merit” starts to become a euphemism for privilege. And that dissonance doesn’t just hurt the kids who are excluded — it distorts the values of those who are excelling within the system, too.
Achievement at What Cost?
Dr. Pfeifer and I also explored the mental health toll of today’s education culture. The intense focus on being productive, efficient, and “always on” shows up earlier and earlier in kids’ lives. We now hear elementary school students using phrases like “maximizing their output” or “optimizing their time.”
It’s no wonder so many students struggle with anxiety, burnout, and perfectionism before they even reach adulthood.
What Could School Look Like Instead?
We discussed possible alternatives — related to both policy and mindset. What if school became less about proving worth and more about cultivating curiosity? What if success wasn’t a narrow funnel but a broader invitation?
It’s not a simple fix, but Dr. Pfeifer shared examples of promising changes: more authentic assessments, relational teaching, and parental engagement focused on well-being over competition. Above all, she emphasized the importance of making room for meaning—not just merit.
🎧 Listen to the Full Conversation
If these questions resonate with you—whether you’re a parent, educator, student, or simply someone trying to make sense of how we define success—I hope you’ll take the time to listen.
What do you think? Are you feeling the pressure of meritocracy in your own life or community? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.