The difference in curriculum

Joshua Rawls

Professor Young

ENGL 1100

September 24, 2015

The Difference in Curriculum

            What is the difference between the wealthy and the underprivileged? Financial Stability is the only valid difference between the wealthy and the underprivileged. So why is everyone simply wealthy since theoretically there is only one difference between both parties. Does it have to do with where one is born or where one is taught? 

Personally I believe it depends where the way you were taught to be. Now I am not saying that people are rich because they are taught to be rich I am saying that education differs for specific social classes. In Jean Anyon’s article, “Social Class and the Hidden Curriculum of Work,” she researches and believes that there are different instructions that teachers have within specific social classes. Though this research was conducted in 1980, I agree with what she believes for several reasons. For one, I have experiences almost every type of education from lower class to upper class and I for one truly believe in the idea that the curriculum varies based on social class. For example, as a 7^th grader I attended a Private School called Hawthorne Christian Academy. While attending, teachers motivated and pushed the students to develop creative minds and innovative behavior. However, the next year I attended my public school named Janis Dismus Middle School. While attending, teachers expected the students to simply follow the teacher and not go further than what they teach. 

As time progressed, my teachers realized I was too advanced for their curriculum so they had to enroll me in the highest of honors because of my previous education. Still, my mind was too use to being creative and imaginative which still conflicted with the way my teachers taught me. I was too different like a zebra amongst horses. I definitely believe that her research is still relevant in society today.

            Although I do agree, Jean Anyon’s research did not consider many things. For one it did not consider the whole world nor did it even leave the boundaries of New Jersey where the research was conducted. This means that a research that is applied to the World was conducted in one place, which is unfair. Another unfair thing is that because some students are educated in lower class schools does not affect how they will work and think when they get out of school. Not everyone can receive the same education even though it would be nice. However, it wouldn’t be a good thing because social class and balance is needed in society. There needs to be construction workers and accountants. There needs to be entrepreneurs and engineers because if everyone was an engineer who would balance finances and who would make restaurants? 

The difference in curriculum is a good thing that exists because it allows balance and balance is what makes everything the way it should be and the way it's going to stay.

Social Class and The Hidden Curriculum of Work

Joshua Rawls
ENGW 1100 3_C
Professor Young
September 17, 2015

3 Quotes on the Reading

"Don't be afraid to say you disagree."

This stood out to me because it showed how optimistic teachers would tell the students to be. They encouraged creative thinking and thinking outside of the norm. They did this subconsciously developing an adult who will think outside of the box. This also stood out to me because this is how my dad taught me how to be and how I should take on the world. He would always tell me to think about the other side of every decision that I ever make and always imagine 5 different ways to do one thing because this way you can become more creative and handle every situation differently and successfully. This makes me feel like the teacher truly cares about the student and wants him/her to be the bet they can be and establish their own legacy. They show the influence of turning that student into a innovative creative tycoon.

"I want to make sure you understand what you're doing-so you get it right."

This stood out to me because this is how my teachers taught me. They would teach me to understand what I am doing but I still always had to follow the rules and what the teacher said. My teachers would always say this to me anyway. To learn so that I could underhand and not memorize. This makes me feel like the teachers of middle class students care about what the student learns but still has that influence of turning that student into a career driven robot.

"You're confusing yourselves."

This stood out to me because it showed how much the teacher cared about the student in a power class education system. It showed that she blamed it on the student for not understanding the concept.  I experienced this when I was in high school with teachers making it seem as if I'm the one who should automatically understand. This makes me pretty angry to be honest. I see how the teacher has the influence to turn the student into a single skilled follower driven to pursue odd jobs.

Students Right

Joshua Rawls
ENGL 1100 3_C
Professor Young
250 words

Students Right

To be honest, I don’t think students should have the right to use their own language in an academic setting.  When students are given the ability to say what they want in a formal setting it decreases the authority and sternness of one’s tone. If students were able to write the same way they spoke in real life, people would be able to write slang and swears in the middle of their formal essays. What would happen when someone is sending they’re soon to be manager or mentor a letter and at the beginning they say, “Yo, this Josh the dude that wanna work on Wall Street. What up with that job tho?” That wouldn’t work out at all actually. Another reason students shouldn’t be able to use their own language in an academic setting because people may question their intellect. When people’s intellect is looked as inferior by another it can prevent them from accomplishing many thing in life. Specific things like getting jobs and speaking to people of high authority will be complicated. For example, in the NWA song "Fuck tha Police," they group decide to make remarks about how they feel about the police and how much they hate the police because they feel that the police have the right to kill a minority. In the song Ice Cube explains how the cops are the problem and what NWA and the world should do to the cops. This however is not how this should be handles however. Not every cop simply kills a minority and not every cop deserves respect but overall the image of a cop does because he may not have the authority to kill a minority or any race in that matter, but he does have the ability to which makes it even more valid to show that cop respect. This prevents them from ever getting looked at as a superior or valid candidate for a career that could be potentially the best opportunity they ever had. Personally I feel that formality in the writing aspect should always be used because it allows the student to be able to speak and read respectfully. Therefore when a student can do these things it allows them to expand many of their boundaries whether it may be career or academic opportunities. My father always used to say; When a cop stops you say how are you doing officer because you never know how someone of authority will look at you.

Identity

Joshua-Dillon Rawls

ENGL 

Professor Young

September 3, 2015

Identity

Identity is simple but, complex. Identity is what makes you unique but, simplistically what makes you human. Your identity is what you live with and what you die with. In Gloria Anzaldua's story, "How to Tame a Wild tongue" the topic of identity is severely emphasized though Gloria's opinion on identity. She explains her identity is her language. That is who she is; her language represents her. This being said she is saying her identity is who she is and what she believe she is. Identity is what you represent yourself as. There are many things that complete one's identity. These things would be their characteristics physical and mental. The age, the race, the style, the walk, everything applies to ones identity and who they are as a person. Everyone has there own reasoning for why they are who they are but, all those reasons make you unique and give you that identity. In Gloria's story she emphasized how her language is her identity when she explained the languages she speak at home and with her friends and she states, "They are the last five listed, with 6 and 7 being closest to my heart." This represents her relationship she has with her culture and who she is personally which is very good representation of what identity means. 

An identity thief is someone who steals who you are and everything you have taking hem you. Not anyone else but you. The simplest way to explain what identity means is simply by saying you. Everyone has an identity. Some people have more than one but, everyone has one.

Identity is the one thing that differentiates one from their twin. The personality, the features, the hair are very important aspects of identity. Overall identity should be looked at as something that defines someone.