Stephanie Bruno
Engl 1100_3c
Professor Young
My Feelings on Jean Anyon's Opinion
Jean Anyon wrote the article Social Class and the
Hidden Curriculum of Work in the 1980's. We are now in 2015 and within that
time so much has changed and so much has remained; in regards to teaching
methods social class. Jean has conducted research and discovered that teachers
provide different instructions based on the social class of the students.
I feel as though some of the points she made were correct, but a little bit outdated. There are definitely similarities but I'm happy to conclude that the school districts have gotten better since the 80's.
Jean made a claim that creatively wasn't encouraged in middle class schools. I am a graduate from the famous James Caldwell High School. It's a pretty well known middle class school. All of my teachers always pushed for creatively. It does depend on the teacher for who would encourage more but overall we were allowed to express our creativity. I would agree with her that "getting the right answer" is important in my high school. Creatively was in the classroom and with projects, but on tests it all about putting down the correct answer. Also, Jean pointed out that critical thinking was only established in Executive Elite Schools in the 80's. I disagree. Today most standardized testing, for instance the SATs, require critical thinking skills so my English teachers went above and beyond to prepare us for them with critical thinking skills and techniques. The majority of my teachers also encouraged us to ask questions and participate in class. Jean also makes a point that only Affluent Profession School and Executive Elite Schools got hands on experience and that's not true because I believe I did too even in my middle class school district. I was able to do real animal dissections in science and even able to take home projects if I needed too. In ceramics and woodshed we were able to create real projects that I now use every day in my life.
Thus, I overall don't support her research. I think time has changed and schools have improved because the standards of people have increased. All students should have
the same opportunity to quality education regardless of their social class. No one should be more privileged based on class. Sadly it's the way the world works :(
These are all examples of my hands on work in school.
Video is super funny lol
Steph, your point is clear, but where in the body have you included specific quotes from Anyon to support your position? Where can you add them?
ReplyDeleteI would add into my second paragraph a quote from "Social Class and he Hidden Curriculem of Work" by Jean Anyon, "In the middle class school, work is getting the right answer" (4). Also I would've added in the quote, "Work tasks do not usually request creativity. Serious attention is rarely given in the school work on how the children develop or express their own feelings and ideas, either linguistically or in graphic form. On the occasions when creativity or self expression is requested, it is peripheral to the main activity or it is "enriched" or "for fun"(5). Lastly, another important quote i would add is, "There is little excitement in schoolwork for the children and the assignments are perceived as having little to do with their interests and feelings" (6).
ReplyDelete