Teaching Today

Ashley Chang
English 1100
September 24, 2015
Prof. Young

Teaching Today

            In the essay “Social Class and the Hidden Curriculum of Work” by Jean 

Anyon, she addresses the issues the United States of America was facing in the 

1970s. At that time education was taught according to one’s social class. Jean 

Anyon explains the research she did and the end results. Lower class students 

were taught to sit and obey, while middle class was taught that there was only 

one way to do things. Additionally, white collar family students were taught to 

be leaders and were being prepared for the high class jobs of the world. Today 

I believe it is still somewhat the same. On the other hand it depends on the 

state one lives in. New Jersey is a very overpopulated state, consequently there 

are more kids to teach and the class rooms are full. I also believe that the 

amount one learns also depends on how much the student wants to learn. 

Moreover, I don’t believe Jean Anyon’s position still holds today.

             I grew up in a low to middle class town. I did grow up in the “ghetto” 

as people saw it. I’ve attended public school my whole life before college. My 

cousin that lived on the nicer side of town attended private school her whole 

life. I have never been to her school but they are a bit different than my high 

school. They’re more spirted and have more respect towards each other.When I 

was young I used to love to read, for my birthday and for Christmas, I used to 

always ask for books. This I believe made my ability to learn much easier. 

Unlike other kids I loved to learn new things, I still do. On the contrary, other 

kids in my high school didn’t like to learn or to listen. When I was there, there 

was always someone talking back to the teacher or disrespecting the teacher. 

This to me is an important factor of the learning kids in different classes obtain. 

I live in a middle class town and I got a scholarship to go to a private college 

while other kids didn’t care about their education. 

Also, I believe there are some high class students that get handed everything 

and do not obtain half he knowledge other students my age have. In 

conclusion, to me it depends a lot on the family morals and on how important 

education is to you, not on the social class.