Meyers (week 10)

What a long winded essay to talk about how work is assigned in school, and how it reflects the social class structure in our society. The goal then is to have assignments that are relevant and reflect the society in which the students live. How can we do that, and make sure that students learn all the skills that will get them hired later in life?

An interesting quote that stood out to me is that “Schools are not only teaching academic knowledge, they teach work according to schedule, acceptance of authority, and competition among individuals and between groups” (156). Reminds me of Jean Anyon’s “Social class and the hidden curriculum of work.” Schools not only teach knowledge, but they also teach certain skills that perpetuate social classes in society. How then, can we make sure that all schools are equal and that all students have access to these schools. It’s not news that students in more prominent communities, even if they don’t understand the teacher, will be able to get support from parents through tutoring or such. But for students who do not have those resources (tutoring or parents), how can they overcome their class status in order to succeed. What skills are being taught in different schools?

Another one that stands out to me: “The attack on tradition shifts our focus from the conflicting goals of the school in society to the simpler issue of the competence of individual teachers and the practically of specific methods” (163). IS THERE A RIGHT AND WRONG WAY TO EVALUATE TEACHERS? I get evaluated twice a year, for forty five minutes, and I swear there’s like 32 indicators I need to hit in order to be an “effective” teacher. Is that really being effective and serving the students and the community, or am I just putting on a dog and pony show so I don’t get fired?