Literacy With an Attitude
When reading this week’s article, I couldn’t help but
compare my daughter’s private school to the public school I’m currently placed
in.
Finn’s “Literacy with an Attitude” highlights how schools
can provide very different types of education depending on social class, and
this idea can be clearly seen when comparing private and public schools.
Private schools are often associated with what Finn calls “liberating
education,” where students are encouraged to think critically, ask questions,
and engage in discussion-based learning. These environments tend to emphasize
independence, creativity, and leadership, helping students develop what Finn
describes as “powerful literacy” the ability to use reading and writing to
analyze, question, and influence the world around them.
In contrast, some public schools especially those with
limited funding may reflect what Finn calls “domesticating education.” In these
settings, there is often a stronger focus on following rules, completing tasks,
and preparing for standardized tests. Students may spend more time working
toward correct answers rather than exploring ideas deeply or questioning
content. As a result, they may not have as many opportunities to develop
higher-level literacy skills.
Hi Corey! I think it's interesting that you were able to compare these two types of schools coming from first-hand experiences. I completely agree that education can reinforce social class differences, as can also be seen in this article. It seems like a cycle of how low-income families get educated in low-income cities where they're taught to work low-income jobs. We need to find a way to end this cycle!
ReplyDeleteHi Corey! I loved that you were able to relate the reading to your own daughter's school experience. I totally agree with you that schools reinforce social classes, and it is unfair to the students. I believe all students deserve the right to the same type of education no matter what social class they come from.
ReplyDeleteHi Corey, great read. I agree that there is a trend within social class of the families, where the school is located, and how big (or small) the school's budget is. It is sad that some schools are only focusing on "getting the right answers" rather than exploring their own minds. In the article when the teacher asked their students to shout out the first word that came to mind after he said "knowledge" not many responded! During our last class I found it interesting the level of ELA, Math, and Reading scores there were for the school I am volunteering at. As I agree that standardized testing isn't in the best format but without some sort of data, how would we know how well are students are doing?
ReplyDeleteHi Corey,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing. I too reflected on this reading by comparing private schools to public education. I think there are many factors that play a role here though, I think many private schools could provide a less competent education than that of public schools in wealthy areas (if that makes sense). But to your point, those public schools with limited funding would certainly fit Finn's definition of domesticating education.