Position on Social Class

Drew Andersen

9/23/15

ENGW 1100

Prof. Young

Position on Social Class

                Jean Anyon performed a study on the curriculum of social classes in the year 1980. Anyon spoke about the “working class”, “middle class”, “affluent profession school”, and the “executive elite school”. Anyon claimed that the working class required simple instruction and couldn’t ask many questions, the middle class would often succeed when following directions but would rarely get creative. Then there’s the affluent profession school and the executive elite school that were known to be more intelligent. The affluent profession school was more like the teachers were working with the students, meaning there was a constant negotiation between them. The executive elite school was the best type of schooling for the highest of social classes, this school promoted critical thinking and encouraged the asking of questions. Is Anyon’s presentation of the social classes accurate?

Upper class school.

                I believe that Anyon is both accurate and inaccurate. “It may be shocking, however, to learn how vast the differences in schools are- not so much in resources as in teaching methods and philosophies of education.” Although most wealthy upper class schools give a great education, this doesn’t mean a lower working class schools can’t present their students with the same opportunity. For example Anyon states “Children are continually asked to reason through a problem, to produce intellectual products that are both logically sound and of top academic quality.” I believe this is a common stereotype towards lower budget schools. Despite the fact that they are not fortunate enough to have certain facilities or learning tools, they are still capable of delivering a quality education. On the other hand Anyon is also right when she says “The procedure is usually mechanical, involving rote behavior and very little decision making or choice.” Here, she is speaking about how teachers treat the lower class. There are some lower class schools that only allow kids that need help making decisions, that can’t think critically. 

Will Smith in Pursuit of Happiness, poor but well educated.

                Anyon’s studies are much less relevant today than they were in 1980. There’s always going to be that common stereotype that the lower class isn’t smart. I believe it isn’t so much about what the schools are teaching, it’s more about how the individual is processing the information. I come from a middle class area and the public schools also encourage the students to ask questions, and think critically. These schools are also creative, for example last year I had to create a brain and be able to show each part of it with some type of object.