Drafting Behind versus Dragging Down the Leaders

Teaching is an interesting experience. It provides a close-up look at the future as it unfolds.

In any class of reasonable size at a decent but not top-tier institution, one finds that about 20% of the students are genuinely interested in learning and furthering themselves. However what the remaining 80% or so, the majority, do could well determine how the macro world picture changes. If most of the laggard majority draft behind the leaders and follow in their wake, progress can be faster and wider. However, it is also possible that the slacking majority hinder the progress and learning of the good ones- in which case progress can be brought to a screeching slowdown. As an observer it is fascinating to see both of these situations.