Abstract
The presence of working class students in higher education has been challenged during the past few years, with more obstacles introduced lately to reduce their numbers. Particularly noteworthy has been the use of a unique form of essentialism, associated with accountability, to screen students. But this strategy relies on a metaphysics that is outmoded. In view of modern trends in philosophy, a more enlightened mode of materialism is more appropriate to support education. In this way, schools can become critical and open, instead of serving merely to filter students and perpetuate the current stratification system.
