Jean Anyon's Essay Response

Hanan Saadah

Professor Young

ENGW 1100

2015, September 23rd

My Educational Experience Was Better Than Most Expected

     I have to say that I am very thankful for what my elementary to high school education has brought me. I went to a middle to high class public school in Wayne, New Jersey every year since I was 7 years-old. But before that, I went to a low to middle class public school in Linden, New Jersey. Honestly, I did not notice much of a difference in the learning styles. The teachers were kind in both schools. The teachers said the same things and had the same amount of patience. I truthfully believe that at least low and middle class public schools don't differ just because of the kids' social statuses. However, I do agree with Jean Anyon who wrote “Social Class and the Hidden Curriculum of Work” that high class schools might differ a good amount from the lower class schools. Even today, I hear friends of mine who attend private schools say that an AP class for the schools I attend is just a regular class for them. I think that private/higher class schools are challenged more and expected to do really well no matter the difficulty. They are set up and prepared to be very intelligent so that they can attend a high GPA and SAT scored college. Jean says at rhe very beginning of her essay, “It's no surprise that schools in wealthy communities are better than those in poor communities, or that they better prepare their students for desirable jobs.” (page 1) I guess it really is no surprise that the schools are different. But, I don't think that it is severely different or that treatment by teachers differ. I had the kindest teachers and the not so kind teachers in my past; all schools do, high or low. You cannot predict how well a school is doing just because of one teacher. A school should hold everyone accountable for the students. So, I do not think that Jean's opinion about the teachers reflect well onto a whole school. In order to have accurate information about all the teachers' teaching styles, you need to watch all the teachers; not just one.