Agree or Disagree

Jazzlyn LaNier

English 1100_35

September 22nd, 2015

Professor Young 

  Do I Agree or Disagree?

            In “Social Class and the Hidden Curriculum of Work” by Jean Anyon where she observes five elementary schools over the course of a full school year and concluded that fifth-graders of different economic backgrounds are already being prepared to occupy particular rungs on the social ladder. The schools were broken up into different groups according to income, occupation, and other social characteristics.                                                                                                                                    According to Anyon’s logic I would be apart of the middle class school. I live in a single family home, my mother fits the description of the working-class and middle-class white-collar jobs because she is a school teacher. But other than those two characteristics I believe Jean Anyon’s essay “ Social Class and the Hidden Curriculum is outdated to this day and age when she described the different teaching styles. She describes it as ‘work is following the steps of a procedure”. Basically saying that the teachers teach the materials while the students just absorbed and do not ask any questions.  I disagree with the statement when she says that in middle class school the teachers rarely explain why the work is being assigned and what the idea is that lies behind the procedure. I went to a public school my entire life. In my classrooms the teachers taught and the students was encouraged to ask questions and to challenge what we were asked to absorb. We had textbooks and how the lesson was explained to us really depended on the teacher. Most teachers stuck to the curriculum and did it play by play but most teachers more than half  explained the lesson many times and in different ways to help the students grasp the concepts.  I believe no matter how much money you earned each year doesn’t matter , all that matters is if whether or not the teachers care. If they care to explain, care to go that extra mile and if they see their students as actual students than just a paycheck.

Response to "Should students have to the right to use their own language in an academic setting?"

Jazzlyn LaNier
English 1100_35
September 16th, 2015
Professor Young                                                    
        Your Native Tongue    

   Yes, I believe students should have the right to use their own language in an academic setting. Allowing a student to be able to open up and explore every opportunity that is given is a beautiful thing. Now adding that they can feel comfortable and supported in their own skin and speak their native language will only give them more confidence and encourage them to be proud of their backgrounds. In the article Students' Right to Their Own Language it states  “As English teachers, we are responsible for what our teaching does to the self-image and the self-esteem of our students. We must decide what elements of our discipline are really important to us, whether we want to share with our students the richness of all varieties of language, encourage linguistic virtuosity”. This mainly saying teachers may either support us or choose to keep us down.  Support us into wanting to identity ourselves from everyone else. Allowing the students to speak their native tongue will allow them to become more creative , more determined to be successful knowing that they no longer have to hide their true selves. Incorporating their own language into academics may possibly help them understand more and be able to relate and let others in on their way of thinking. Allowing students to feel free will always open more doors and have more opportunities than a student that is not allowed to express themselves in a controlled environment.

Identity

Jazzlyn LaNier

English 1100_35

September 2nd, 2015

Professor Young

                                                    What Identity Means to Me

        The definition of identity varies from person to person. To me identity is what you can obtain from someone without them speaking to you. Identity relates to you being unique , your religion culture, traditions, and how you and others perceive yourself. Identity also includes genders and race.By first glance you would be able to tell that I am a African american female. African american stereotype such as all black people love fried chicken , watermelon and drink kool-aid every single day is exactly what it is, a stereotype. Personally I do not like watermelon, but you would never know that such as you would never know that I love poetry, that I am naturally a quiet person. That I am an active member of my church and I love laughing. You would never know that I would do any and everything for my family. Identity to me is like your first impression with strangers whether its directly or indirectly. If some person took away everything materialistic to you ,they took away your academic starts and you're left knowing nothing but where you came from and how you were raised and that's all you had to rely on to survive then would you truly realize how important identity is. My identity is what I give to the world and it's what I defend and perfect every single day.