"Social Class and the Hidden Curriculum of Work" by Anyon

Anyon discusses the differences in the school curriculum of fifth graders between working class, middle class, affluent professional, and executive elite schools. The differences between them based on the same subjects studied within each school, the schoolwork, and the interactions between teacher and student. Anyon's hidden curriculum is that students are being taught the skills and their levels of education that they would need to possess to enter into society.....to keep the same social class and jobs as their parents....otherwise predetermined career opportunities.

Passage of interest

• "Simple punctuation is all they'll ever use."

Okay this is disturbing...how can you be a teacher and make this type of comment?? Where's the passion in teaching?? There is no constructive communication between teachers and students....and no creativity....I really cannot believe that this type of teaching exists. Instead of giving the students a quality education, it sounds more like a glorified baby sitting job. The teachers decide everything, the students have no idea when the next period begins or ends...what's the deal with the clocks?? Why no clocks??

• "I want to make sure you understand what you are doing - so you get it right."

The middle class school lets the students figure out for themselves the right answers and communication between teacher and student is constructive. I can see that there is more emphasis on choice and making their own decisions than that of the working class schools. This to me is a better learning environment..."doing well is important because there are thought to be other likely rewards: a good job or college." Why can't the working class students have the same benefits as the middle class?? Each student deserves the best education possible...and teachers who want to teach, not slackers....

• "Then I have something else for you to do that's really fun."

Okay why can't everyone have fun?? Without fun and creativity we can lose our students and the drop out rate will continue to rise...we don't want to turn them away from school...I feel that helping students connect to each other and the classroom teaching style will help them learn better. It's all about opportunities.....every student should have the same opportunities no matter what their social class is......

Comments/questions

I believe the system needs work...students in low income areas deserve the same as honor students. They deserve not to have teachers who are overwhelmed. They deserve enriching extracurricular options and should be able to have all of this throughout their education. Most of all, they deserve a chance.....which by the way has been denied because the country has already written their destinies in stone. America would be a much better place if our education system was equitable and our racial and social class issues would not be soooo tense.....isnt' that reason enough???