Social Class and the Hidden Curriculum of Work

Example of Public School Teachers

Jessica Smith 

Prof. Young

English 1100

September 25, 2015

Agree or Disagree?

       After reviewing the article, "Social Class and the Hidden Curriculum of Work," written by Jean Anyon, she brings up a lot of good information and points that make you think about the vibes of a classroom. She goes through each class starting with the Working Class, then the Middle Class, the Affluent Profession School and then the Executive Elite Schools. When talking about each class and the schools those individuals attend, Anyon explains the attitudes of both the students and the teachers. Although this article was written in 1980, her points are still valid. I agree with the points she makes about teachers giving different instruction based on the class the students are in. 

     To start off, I would say I went to a high school that had a majority of middle and working class students. Then over the summer after I graduated a met a girl who went to Ranney, which is considered to be an Executive Elite School. We compared our schools and there was a huge difference in many things. To start off, she had much more work and went much further into many subject than I ever have. In her English classes, she went into depth in many novels such as Macbeth where as I would only be told to read short novels and be done with it within a week of discussing main characters. As far as math was concerned, she knew how to solve complex problems with simple tricks and mental math. I, on the other hand would stare at the same problem for the longest time due to the fact I was never taught how to simplify complex problems. My friend who went to Ranney also seemed to ask a bunch of questions because it was almost like she was already ready to learn more. In my middle and working class school, our teachers would teach us the bare minimum because they would just follow their curriculum. I've had teachers that refused to answer my questions because they were more concerned with getting the specific lesson over with rather than have their students understand-which is really frustrating. 

Example of Private School Teachers

     Jean Anyon talks about almost the same thing in her writing about different classes and education systems. She says how the upper class individuals learn above what is required, due to the teachers putting in more work to answer questions and help students develop their creativity minds. She is also right when she said that the middle and working class school teachers don't seem to care as much about their students and are far more strict with getting things over with. I've never went into depth with a novel, nor have I ever learned the logical and shortcuts of complex math problems. It seems as though growing up, my teachers would do the minimum of what was required because they were simply collecting paychecks. 

     Another example that I've experienced was when I was dating this boy who had a mother as a private school teacher. She was so against public schooling, (like the high school I attended) because of where she worked. She once said to my boyfriend when I wasn't around, "I don't want those public school kids coming over anymore." She thought that because my friends and I didn't go to a private school or an high end Elite School like she taught at, that we were illiterate and disgusting humans-which isn't true. Just because of the school you attend does not reflect on the person, which I wish his mother would have noticed. I still got into a great college along with getting accepted to 6 other schools with a public high school diploma. 

     It's frustrating and unfortunate that a social class determines your level of education and how some people look at you. Teachers should treat every student the same no matter what their family income consists of. Like I said previously, although this article was written in 1980, there are still instances where teachers have different rules and regulations depending at the school they are working for.