Classism in Education: Myth or Fact
Why are children in America, graduating high school without fully understanding concepts that relate to the core subjects of Math, English, Science, and History? According to sociologist Doctor James W. Loewen and award winning writer Jonathan Kozol, classism is to blame. Loewen believes that history textbooks should take some of the blame for student’s ignorance of inequality within education, while Kozol believes it is ignorance from well educated people that are to blame. Although Loewen and Kozol are correct in citing classism as a problem in the education system, little has been done to absolve classism in education.
In Loewen’s essay “The Land of Opportunity”, he recognizes that middle class students, …show more content…
Children can learn the same concepts and complete the same assignments, quizzes, and exams regardless of their class in life. This will eliminate problems with test factors. According to Eugene F. Provenzo, a national standardized curriculum is already in place, “. . . one whose standards are set by local communities through their acceptance and rejection of textbooks and by national accreditation groups . . . “(41). While Common Core has been in place a few years, it has also been criticized by parents and teachers because it is difficult to understand. Therefore, it would be a wise idea to have teachers rewrite the curriculum. The curriculum will be based on facts and eliminate the problem Loewen mentions in regards to textbooks and implementing Kozol’s ideas will take some of the pressure off teachers. As a result of implementing these ideas, students will have a standardized fact based education that will show them how classism is still around today and how it will affect them. In addition, smaller class sizes will allow teachers to focus on each individual child in their
Why are children in America, graduating high school without fully understanding concepts that relate to the core subjects of Math, English, Science, and History? According to sociologist Doctor James W. Loewen and award winning writer Jonathan Kozol, classism is to blame. Loewen believes that history textbooks should take some of the blame for student’s ignorance of inequality within education, while Kozol believes it is ignorance from well educated people that are to blame. Although Loewen and Kozol are correct in citing classism as a problem in the education system, little has been done to absolve classism in education.
In Loewen’s essay “The Land of Opportunity”, he recognizes that middle class students, …show more content…
Children can learn the same concepts and complete the same assignments, quizzes, and exams regardless of their class in life. This will eliminate problems with test factors. According to Eugene F. Provenzo, a national standardized curriculum is already in place, “. . . one whose standards are set by local communities through their acceptance and rejection of textbooks and by national accreditation groups . . . “(41). While Common Core has been in place a few years, it has also been criticized by parents and teachers because it is difficult to understand. Therefore, it would be a wise idea to have teachers rewrite the curriculum. The curriculum will be based on facts and eliminate the problem Loewen mentions in regards to textbooks and implementing Kozol’s ideas will take some of the pressure off teachers. As a result of implementing these ideas, students will have a standardized fact based education that will show them how classism is still around today and how it will affect them. In addition, smaller class sizes will allow teachers to focus on each individual child in their