Throughout this semester I have been the granted the opportunity to read a couple of intriguing articles and within these articles I have been able to find a theme that is consistent throughout them. Each of these articles focus on students and their inability to fully progress is school based on their social class, race or gender. After reading three articles that correlated with one another, I was left with various questions which led to my exploration. Through my research I was able to discover three authors whose arguments answered my questions on these issues.
What types of socio-economic classes are currently present in education?
Currently, there are differences in student work in classrooms in contrasting social class communities. Jean Anyon, in “Social Class and the Hidden Curriculum”, argues that there is a massive gap in the quality of education between schools in wealthy communities and schools in poor communities (Anyon). According to Bettie Julie in “Women without Class”, girls’ across race and performance have the ability to dominate men in schools (Julie). Underprivileged students are being cheated and are unaware of the power in humanities. Earl Shorris, in “On the Uses of a Liberal Education”, implies that these underprivileged students are a product of their environment and they have been shaped by the society around them (Shorris).
What ladders of socio-economic class are we currently seeing in education?
Jean Anyon believes that different economic backgrounds are already being prepared to occupy particular steps of social ladders (Anyon). She indicates that some schools are on the occupational education track, while others are preparing future doctors, lawyers and business leaders. Anyon, through her investigations, has classified schools into four categories, the “Working Class Schools”, “Middle-Class Schools”, “Affluent Professional School” and “Executive Elite School”.
Also, Anyon argues that the classwork in Middle-Class schools lack creativity and is based out of the textbook and the student perspective was not included. In math when the teacher explains a process there is supposed to be recognition that a cognitive process is involved. In social studies students read passages and answer questions based on whether they read it and understand what they read. Students in language arts are taught grammar and how to read and write properly. These teaching practices are to help the students store facts until they need it for a future test or job. Overall, Anyon believes that Middle-class schools are supposed to prepare you for college or a job (Anyon).
What factors account for the vast differences in treatment of particular social classes?
Anyon argues that schools in wealthy communities better prepare their students for desirable jobs than those in poor communities. She believes there is a big difference in teaching methods and philosophies of education and that public schools in complex industrial societies make available different types of educational experience and curriculum knowledge to students in different social classes (Anyon).
Bettie Julie suggests that there is unequal treatment of genders in the school setting. She claims that school teachers treat girls’ strategies as if they were harmless. Julie believes that based on your race and performance you are aware of your ability to violate rules without any consequence as a result of teachers. Boys are perceived to be troublemakers while girls are sought to be harmless. Julie believes that girls of all races and social class knew that they could break the same rules as the boys did, but it would result in less punishment. Girls get out of gym class by faking menstrual cramps, and are excused by their use of vulgar language in public. These girls realize that they can survive without a man’s support and that they do not have to be dependent on male. Bettie Julie stresses that fights evolved around certain racial groups and insulting comments tend to be said between groups (Julie).
According to Earl Shorris people learn the humanities and the political life in private schools and expensive universities. Rich people first learn the humanities. The humanities are a foundation for getting along in the world, for thinking, for learning to reflect on the world instead of just reacting to whatever force is turned against you. Shorris believes that Rich people know politics in the broad sense. They know how to negotiate instead of using force. They know how to use politics to get along, to get power. Knowing the humanities helps you live better and enjoy life more. It will make you rich in terms of life. “He thinks the humanities are one of the ways to become political, and I don’t mean political in the sense of voting in an election but in the broad sense (Shorris).”
How does one overcome the adversities attributed in socio-economic classes?
Shorris designates that by gaining knowledge of the humanities, underprivileged students can become politically savvy. He believes that they must understand politics in order to gain legitimate power. The humanities will help. There will be challenges and you will be forced to use your mind more fully. Students have to come to class in the snow and rain and are required to understand that no one will pamper them. Also, nothing but a certificate of completion at the end of the course is promised. You will have to want to learn using the richness of your mind and spirit. One should know a more effective method for living in this society (Shorris).
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