The Working Class Education

By: Adler Fedestin

Expectation Picture by Arthur John Elsley

Teacher’s expectation“There was this sense that the teachers didn’t think these students were capable of doing the work…” Dr. Jose Alicea“Recently, a math teacher and I discussed student’s math performance. I told him that during my grade school years, I remember having to complete 35-40 math problems daily for homework. He countered that expectation was unrealistic in this day and time. Students simply will not go home and complete the homework” (Williams 39).

Teachers’ expectations:

That very same public school teacher in Houston later stated that “only 30 percent of his students can successfully do math at their grade level…” (Williams 39-40)

Parent’s Expectation “About one-sixth of all students report that their parents DON’T CARE whether they earn good grades in school” (Williams 34).

“…half of all students said they could bring home grades of “C” or worse without their parents getting upset, and one-quarter said they could bring home grades of “D” or worse without consequence” (Williams 35).

Parent involvement:

Picture provided by www.nicholsoncartoons.com.au.

Parent involvement: “…one in three parents in America is seriously disengaged from his or her adolescent’s life…” and “Only about one-fifth of parents consistently attend school programs”(Williams 33-34).

Parent involvement: working-class students’ comments:

“Sometimes it doesn’t seem like she gives a ___… Yeah, she would talk a lot of ___ when I bring home bad grades, but if I brought home good grades, nothing was really said. It’s like damn!”

“She never came to any open houses. If anybody coming, from my family, it’s going to be my aunt.”

Parent involvement: middle-class students’ comments:

One stated that her father was very involved in terms of knowing what/how she was doing in school, having numerous discussion about school.

The other student, of the middle/higher-class, claimed that her father was very involved: “He went to every open house… he was very involved.”

Parent involvement:

When asked about the type of grade they received:

Both middle/higher-class students, with involved parents, were A/B students.

Both working-class students, with little parental involvement, were C average students.

Teacher role

Teacher role: Methodology“…a group of her children ‘still didn't get it,’ and she made no attempt to explain the concept of dividing things into groups or to give them manipulables for their own investigation. Rather, she went over the steps with them again and told them that they "needed more practice" (Anyon 528).

Methodology cont.

Paul Freire’s The ‘Banking’ Concept of Education:

“force feeding” method of teaching.

They (students) are simply taught to

memorize the lesson, see and then

repeat.

Opposing view:

Picture taken from www.wellingtondukes.com

Opposing view:

Good students will inevitably get the most out of the education system.

“Well, if the school truly is the problem, why not put the children in a better school in better districts?”

Conclusion

Special thanks

My mentors: Dr. Jose Alicea

Mr. Michael Walker

Professor Judy Kahalas

THE END

Thank You!