Good Example Of American Culture Essay

Jonathan Kozol in his article “Still Separate, Still Unequal: America’s Educational Apartheid”, published in 2005, discusses the issues in education that were and remain very acute. The author points out that the people who live in big cities build their impression on the system of education purely on the grounds of their own experience, and do not have any idea regarding what is happening in the other parts of the country. It is stated that in recent years the tendency was leaning in towards segregating the schools again.
Unfortunately, the society chooses to ignore this situation using the politically correct words, and promoting diversion and integration only in speeches. Also, part of the population was led to believe that everything is fine and remains blissfully ignorant as to what is happening. This issue is something that should be screamed about. Such a situation is absolutely disempowering the children. Only certain individuals decide to fight against all the odds, other ones simply learn how to adjust to the circumstances. From the talks of the children with the author of the article it can be inferred that they sense this unfairness. They feel like they don’t matter. Accordingly, these schools are not being taken care of that much. Students see that their learning surroundings are quite different from the other schools.
Another work analyzed is the essay by Jean Anyon “From Social Class and the Hidden Curriculum of Work”. The author focuses on the division of the schools by the “social class background” criterion. In particular, “the working class schools”, “ the middle class schools”, “ the professional schools”. It was shocking to find out how the teaching methods differ depending on the type of school. It is almost as if the children were trained from a very young age to occupy only designed and determined step on the social ladder, and are being taught to do so: for instance, in the “working class” schools the students are simply not taught how to analyze and think, they are being illustrated to as to how perform mechanic work that does not require any complex approaches whatsoever.
In the “middle class” schools are certain directions are given. There is a bit more space for creativity, but still, the children are being taught how to be an exemplary element of the system: not to ask too many questions, not to doubt the decisions of the superiors.
In the “affluent professional” schools the independent thinking is greatly encouraged. The children are asked to generate ideas and approaches, to get creative.
And, finally, the schools for “executive elite” employ the best methods of teaching. The best not because they are super secret, or very expensive. The best because they are thought through and are generally recognized as the tools that are the most useful in developing the children, their thinking.
Frankly, it was a shock to find out how the equality has not been achieved at all. What is being done is that there is a “silent consent” to the state of things. And the children who were not “lucky” enough to be born in a very wealthy or distinguished family are still being taught as they can do very little in this world.