Blog 7: Finn (Argument)

    The purpose of Finns reading was to address the differences in not only teaching styles but also social differences that vary based on financially higher schools. His main focus regarded how those of middle and working level classes don't have enough power and necessary knowledge to change the way the school system prepares students to succeed in different financial brackets. There is emphasis on the fact that students are only being taught to fit into the same system that they are taught in, while those with higher education will not use their power to make changes, due to being comfortable with how it operates already. The energy that is required to make these changes must come from those who will benefit from the efforts, but those who want the changes are lacking the necessary skills. Finn also puts a lot of focus on the need for teachers to understand and educate students on how they can use their education and benefit from it.

     The working class and their school systems are only working towards educating students on how to fit into the working class themselves. A majority of the teachers who are working in these schools are newer, while others will move to richer neighborhoods based on seniority. Much of the blame of students who were struggling in school or seen as 'troubled' kids if there were minimal success rates. Jean Anyon was referenced to by Finn with focus on her working through various school systems of different social classes. She noticed how all of the schools weren't different in material, sharing similar language arts courses and books. However, the schools had a large difference in seniority among teachers as well as how things were being taught. Many of the schools in working classes were teaching students facts without giving anything to connect to or reasoning behind work. These schools are using closed minded systems that work to force students to memorize information rather than understanding any context or importance. 

     As for the material and class dynamic, many of these students would be wrongfully mixed into other classes due to behaviors. Students who were seen as being difficult to work with would be put into lower level classes for new teachers to work with. Sections of textbooks would be skipped for being 'too hard' for students to understand; which would be the sections dedicated to mathematical reasoning and inference. Teachers would also assign low ability books to students in non-special needs classes. These teachers of the working class made a lot of effort to control students and their every move, rather than focus on teaching kids in a way that they can understand and connect to.

     The middle class had a different system in place for teaching students. Rather than using textbooks as a reference, teachers thought that they needed to solely teach by books instead of experience based activities. One of the largest issues with the middle class system was teachers providing improper and vague reasonings when teaching or correcting students answers. Instead of looking into and explaining the way something works, many teachers would brush off a question as 'thats just the way it is'. The idea of education was more on the conceptual than the working class, focusing on having the right answer instead of understanding the setup to get to the answer. Students were rewarded on knowing the answer than analysis. This level of the education system was teaching students to work towards white-collar middle class jobs. 

     Middle to upper class did have more emphasis on creativity and development when teaching. The goal of this class level of schools is to learn through experience and to be able to think for themselves. Being able to have a specific answer doesn't matter as much as being able to discuss their thinking and ideas. There is also a notable difference in what is taught as well as use of materials. While the previous schools discussed lean away from current events, this level leans towards talking about them. Teachers will ask questions that are designed to make connections between real life events as well as not using textbooks. Strictly using textbooks are seen as a way to hamper a young students creativity and teachers rarely used direct order with classes unlike working and middle class schools. 

     High class schools have a very different approach to education. Teachers tend to treat students as having a higher social status than themselves. These schools have more concepts covered as well as more complex materials overall. The dynamic in the classroom is also very different, with students being influenced to take on a more leadership and educator role, planning lessons and teaching their classmates. The only enforcement from teachers is strictness on paying attention, but there is little demand for controlling students. These students are given and reminded of their responsibilities, giving them more freedom in the room in general. Students see knowledge as a tradition, being something that already exists and you need to go and find it yourself. There is a lot more emphasis on self-discipline, creating a relationship with the world is a very different approach than other social classes provide.

    Similarly to Alan Johnson, Finn addresses how these differences in education based on social class tends to make higher educated areas defensive.  Even lower social classes and those in them have just as large of an impact on the provided education system as those who are ignorant to the disadvantages.   While reading through the article, it is evident that the education system operates in a manner that is providing its students the minimal requirements needed to fit back into the social classes that they are brought into.  Rather than giving more skills to exceed into higher paying jobs and more successful futures, schools are using newer teachers as a way to enforce strict control over young students and limit their educational abilities.  Along with the need to change the system, a key factor that is needed in order to work towards improving education, is to take the blame off of the students and become more aware that they are being failed to proper educating.  

Here is a lecture that did a really good job at discussing the financial gap and how it ties into test scores

(*Key parts in the video: 37:00-47:00 and 55:04-60:00):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyhlyKbzKJ8

    

-This chart stuck out a lot to me during the video, showing just how far the gap was between social classes.  Seeing how theres over $8,000 in difference to how families can spend money on their children's education and needs was the most notable piece of info that I took from the lecture.  Seeing how this was from a survey in 2006, I'm curious as to how much more it has grown since.