The paper “Hidden Intellectualism” by: Gerald Graff is a very interesting and thought-provoking essay. Graff’s main theme appears to be that school should use topics that students are interested in to teach them, in which I agree because it allows students to make connections from their life outside of school. The main idea is very well supported by studies done by research.
The essay starts out with the problem that knowing about the outside world is useless in today's schools. “One who is intelligent about so many things in life seems unable to apply that intelligence to academic work.” (1) This is related to my thesis in the way that it shows the only connection the current day school has to their students’ lives outside of school is that it takes up their time with homework. It then goes on to tell that the “street smarts” that some students have can be used …show more content…
“It was in these discussions with friends about toughness and sports, I think, and in my reading of sports books and magazines, that I began to learn the rudiments of intellectual life; how to make an argument, weigh different kinds of evidence, move between particulars and generalizations, summarize the view of others, and enter a conversation of ideas.”(10) This shows that connecting school and outside life would allow them to realize what they are already using in real life and learn a little more respect for what the teachers teach since most students believe what we learn in school is never to be used in real life. “The challenge as college professor Ned Laffhas put it, “‘it Is not simply to exploit students’ nonacademic interests, but to get them to see that interest through academic eyes.’” (16) This statement is saying what we should do, students believe they will never use what they learn, but by using their in trust you can show them how they use those skills, and how to use them
The essay starts out with the problem that knowing about the outside world is useless in today's schools. “One who is intelligent about so many things in life seems unable to apply that intelligence to academic work.” (1) This is related to my thesis in the way that it shows the only connection the current day school has to their students’ lives outside of school is that it takes up their time with homework. It then goes on to tell that the “street smarts” that some students have can be used …show more content…
“It was in these discussions with friends about toughness and sports, I think, and in my reading of sports books and magazines, that I began to learn the rudiments of intellectual life; how to make an argument, weigh different kinds of evidence, move between particulars and generalizations, summarize the view of others, and enter a conversation of ideas.”(10) This shows that connecting school and outside life would allow them to realize what they are already using in real life and learn a little more respect for what the teachers teach since most students believe what we learn in school is never to be used in real life. “The challenge as college professor Ned Laffhas put it, “‘it Is not simply to exploit students’ nonacademic interests, but to get them to see that interest through academic eyes.’” (16) This statement is saying what we should do, students believe they will never use what they learn, but by using their in trust you can show them how they use those skills, and how to use them