Taylor-Jayne Mayes English 1102 Megan Keaton 22 April 2013 Lower class individuals are cheated The United

States education system has been bumped down to 17th overall in the world (US 17th In Global Education Ranking). It leaves me with questions like why is our education system so low on the global ranking? Why is our education system affected by social classes? Is it because were such a young country? Is it even possible to fix it? In English class we have read multiple articles, however there was a common theme between the articles: Social Class and the Hidden Curriculum of Work, On the Uses of a Liberal Education, No Child Left Behind Act 2001. These authors from these articles focused on how lower socio-economic classes are cheated by the United States education system.

In the article, Social Class and the Hidden Curriculum of Work, Mrs.Anyon does a study on five fifth grade elementary classes. The different classes are working class, middle class, affluent professional, and executive elite. Her study emphasizes how money plays a major factor in the resources and the atmosphere that students learn in (Anyon). Why does money a major factor in education? Is it supposed to be free? Where are all the taxes going that the parents pay? The working class school procedures are mechanical, meaning

Teachers rarely explain why the work is being assigned, how it might connect to other assignments, or what the idea is that lies behind the procedure or gives it coherence and perhaps meaning or significance. Available textbooks are not always used, and the teachers often prepare their own dittos or put work examples on the board. Most of the rules regarding work are designations of what the children are to do; the rules are steps to follow. These steps are told to the children by the teachers and are often written on the board. The children are usually told to copy the steps as notes. These notes are to be studied. Work is often evaluated not according to whether it is right or wrong but according to whether the children followed the right steps (Anyon). This greatly differs from the teaching methods of all the other classes. In the middle class, work is all about getting the right answer. So if a student accumulates enough of the right answers they get a decent grade but they have to follow direction in order to get them right answer. Most lessons are based in textbook, where the teacher will tell where they can find the right answer. Do teachers think this will help their students in the long run? This could leave no room for creativity, leading to the possibility that there is nothing exciting for students. This makes the teachers look to be somewhat easy going but strict. This is completely different from the working class were the teachers decision were usually on external rules and regulation. In the

Affluent Professional School, work is creative and carried out by each oneself. Students usually have to come up with ideas and concept individually and express or expand ideas. Most assignments are illustrative leaving room to express oneself. However the teachers still have rules and discipline but a different type of rule. Should this class be offered everywhere? Do students learn better with creativity? Finally in the executive elite class, they work on developing ones analytical intellectual power. The teachers at elite schools connect assignment and tell them the significance, almost always having books and resources handy. This study shows how nothing is equal or the same between the social in the united state education system. What determines the cut off and the guide to which class youre in? Education is meant to be even across the board; once again showing lower class students have been cheated. Why? In the article On the Uses of a Liberal Education, The author did an experiment to help back up his argument that the lower class individuals were never taught the skills to survive in the world. He took lower class individuals and taught a class and show that they can learn if they just were never offered. The author implies that lower class individuals have been cheated by the education system by saying Rich people learn the humanities and humanities are a foundation for getting along in the word, for thinking, for learning to reflect on the world instead of just reacting to whatever force is turning against you (Shores). The author also said

Rich people learn the humanities in private and expensive universities (Shores). This is where they learn political life, where they learn have and have-nots. This suggests lower class individuals were never given the chance to learn the humanities and politics, which are supposed to be taught in the school. These skills are necessary to be able to be successful in the real world. Why wasnt all social class students taught humanities if it is so necessary to survive in the real world?

In the article, No Child Left Behind Act 2001 the author gives a brief summary on why the No Child Left Behind Act was such a great concern. The reason behind the concern was too many of the neediest children are being left behind (No Child Left Behind Act 2001). The author argues that this act was meant to improve this problem that our education system favors students who come from wealthy families and attend prestigious private schools, while lower class individuals are not provided the same opportunities as the other social classes. This act was put in place to increase the choice available to the parents and student to attending Title 1 schools that fail to meet state standards (No Child Left Behind Act 2001). Why wasnt this addressed way before? This also ensured that no child is trapped in a failing school. They implemented a statewide accountability system covering public schools and school that made sure everyone would fully educate within 12 years. This helped made all the social classes be even a crossed the board and if it wasnt even

they were allowed to go to a different school. This articles shows how are education system is cheating the lower class and they are trying to fix it. Why is the education not fixed by now? Have we regressed as a country? Why isnt this addressed more in present time?

Work Cited Anyon, Jean. "Social Class and the Hidden Curriculum of Work." N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2013.

"No Child Left Behind Act 2001." N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2013.

Shores, Earl. "On the Uses of a Liberal Education." N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2013.

"US 17th In Global Education Ranking; Finland, South Korea Claim Top Spots." International Business Times. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2013.