The Problem of Elitism in Schools and the Workplace

This is due to the elaborated code being used by teachers, as well as questions and textbooks being written with more complex vocabulary. As well as this, Bernstein said that the elaborated code is a more effective tool for analysing and reasoning and for expressing thoughts clearly and effectively, which are all essential in achieving highly during education. This, ultimately leads to higher achievement for middle class children cause they are comfortable with more complex language, and therefore have the necessary understanding to achieve highly. Comparatively, working class children struggle to understand the elaborated code, because they simply haven't been brought up in a household where this type of speech is used frequently. This leads to underachievement amongst the working class. Due to the use of the restricted code, these pupils may be labelled by teachers as less able and therefore streamed into lower sets, leading to a self-fulfilling prophecy. These lower sets may consist if pupils who belong to an anti-school subculture, which can disrupt the learning of fellow pupils, thus leading to a higher chance of underachievement.

Growing up in Manhattan was an epitome of excitement. Back in the day, and also to its founding, New York has always been a beehive of activities. Going down memory lane, I reminisce on trips that we’d take to loads of places around the city for entertainment during weekends and on holidays. Raised by Spanish immigrants, my father was a chef in a small but busy restaurant along Fifth Avenue. Since I can recall, fifth avenue has always had some of the major and well known fashion stores and hotels in the city. This would have

The political system in the United States of America is not comprised of a singular ideology. The discussion stands that the American government hosts both pluralism and elitism, but neither in full completion or dominance. The American government is comprised neither fully of pluralism nor elitism, but rather plural-elitism; an intertwinement of the two. This essay will discuss pluralism, elitism, plural-elitism, and why American government is a mixture of these concepts.

The context of this definition implies that people in American society today have aquired such a demonstrative way to define those who choose to apply themselves in and out of the classroom. The writer illustrates the statement that even at the prestigious institute Harvard University, the concept of being academically superior to others is not only frowned upon, but is hidden. With its notorious success and respect from all over, a feeling of shock is taken in a sense that students are known for their great attitude and drive for greatness. However, students at Harvard have adopedt the sense of being “ashamed” for their success and passion. Following the claim, the phrase “Nerds are ostracized while athletes are idolized” is expressed to provoke awareness from the reader of this harsh characterization of those who put academics first. Within the opening paragraphs, the writer values getting the concept across that people today have a problem of looking down upon those who are intelligent, resulting in these certain individuals being penitent in regard of their talents and aspirations, regardless of the school or academic

Human brains are programmed with a need to be accepted and not overlooked. Subsequently, it’s not a factor people can usually ignore. Fridman makes comparisons in which nerds, “prefer to build model airplanes rather than get wasted at parties with their classmates, become social outcasts” (Fridman 14). His comparison associates with the individual’s interest that represents social acceptance. Next, Fridman proceeds to explain the social insecurities of “refusal to conform to society’s anti-intellectual values” (Fridman 15). He implies ethos in the example that from a young age kids are forced to look at what is usually socially accepted, and then expected to try and follow others accepted qualities.

In this way the education helps to ensure that the competent people fulfill the important roles whilst the less talented are sifted out in the process of social stratification in which the less talented are given the least important jobs. This process cannot be stopped and is bound to happen. Another theory is that social achievement is based on merits which brings forward the theory of meritocracy. This is the idea that the jobs are given to talented people. This is argued by Bowles and Gintis. They came up with the idea that meritocracy is a myth. Jobs are given according to social class and social capital. This means that the middle class are given the jobs such as dentists and doctors and no matter how talented a person is, they are not likely to get the jobs due their ascribed status.

This country’s education system was built on the back of meritocracy and was created to function as an objective measure of a child’s performance and their intelligence. It was the gateway to the American Dream, and provided everyone with an equal chance of success in America. It was a place of not only intellectual, but also personal growth. In her essay “From Social Class and the Hidden Curriculum of Work,” Anyon argues that this is no longer the case. Anyon’s study concludes that from the fifth grade, students in poorer communities are groomed to succeed in low-class, blue collar jobs, while children in wealthy communities are prepared for more desirable careers. Anyon analyzes four different types of schools that all varied based on

Our educational culture only satisfies a select group of students who are at the top and leaves others behind. These book smart kids deserve to go where they are going, however, what happens to the kids who are not as book smart as others? Many students are having a hard time because they are not book smart even if they may be good at something that is not educational. As stated in Jack Schneider’s article, America’s Not-So-Broken Education System, “The education system simply stopped working. It aged, declined, and broke, but we can fix it by first ripping it apart” (Schneider Par 2). As of now, the education system is very unsupportive of some students and teachers. Backed by the government, public school pay does not support teachers in America while in other countries, being an educator is considered a privilege. By not supporting teachers, it is hard to find educators who are willing to put in the work to help their students. As a result of not having good teachers who are motivated to teach their students, it is also likely that the students that they end up having to teach are also unmotivated as well. In this cycle, some teachers and students gain practically nothing from going to school, which demonstrates the broken education system that we have at this time. The ever aging education system is not up to date with either

He lays awake at night clutching his bedsheets in guilt, because of his want, and to want anything at all is blasphemy. Because of his intellect, his teachers ridicule him constantly. He tries to dumb himself down and squash down his natural curiosity to fit in, but he is lashed nevertheless. “It is not good to be different from our brothers, but it is evil to be superior to them.” (Rand 21) This quote reflects on the fact that is any man exhibits superior traits to that of their colleagues, they will experience a harsh degree of backlash. Because of the push for sameness, if one man is unintelligent, all others must be the

George could not turn his back on New York City because the city had never turned its back on him, even when he had absolutely nothing. The effects of being raised in this sometimes cruel, yet prosperous environment is evident in the life of George Andrews; he represents not only the harsh

There is a stigma that a smart person has messy hair, glasses and wears oversized plaid shirts who probably stutter when they try to talk and is only friends with the other so-called nerds. This stigma is a type of poison to society that already dislikes intellectuals. The media plays a part in anti-intellectualism because the average person sees multiple figures in the media with very little education or nothing beyond the standard high school degree, though it is true that you can make it without the extra step of a college degree. It’s probable that someone is going to struggle just as much as the average everyday person trying to get to that level of success for you can do whatever you wish through getting a college education. From a societal standpoint, people are probably not going to get a high-paying job if you don't have that college degree unless your chosen profession is something like you see in the media like a singer or dancer or an actress and even if that's the case you're the chance of success is not high. To encourage people to squander their lives on is not a positive impact on an already struggling society.

Recently, I read an article called “America Hates Its Gifted Kids”. This article is about how America; one of the greatest economical leaders in the world, is lacking substantially in educational intelligence. The country is also treating its gifted kids with little to no courtesy when it comes to education. The author, Chris Weller, has been a reporter for many different publishing businesses and likes to focus his reports mainly on how different worlds overlap. He talks about how the United States educational system focuses more on helping their lowest scoring children reach the minimal standards, while it is also taking away valuable time from the higher scoring children. I agree with Chris Weller entirely; The education system today takes

As a white male in today’s society, I never put much thought into how privileged I am already without even having to work for it necessarily. One of the reasons why I have never felt this way was due to being in a lower middle class family. As I have grown up, I have started to notice all the disparities in today’s societies between people of a different race, gender, and class. However, noticing the magnitude of the problems regarding race, gender, and class did not catch my attention until I was in high school, partly due to the fact that I became more mature in my metacognitive and observational skills. I started to notice what people were going through by the stories they told and sometimes by the clothes they wore, although I was never

The literature review addresses the following question: Does social class inequality affect higher education? The theoretical paradigm that is considered for this question is the Critical paradigm, in which is mainly qualitative and inductive. Critical paradigm is appropriate to answer this particular question because it involves inductive reasoning that begins from a specific observation to a more generalize. The paradigm also looks at how people are at a disadvantage when it comes to obtaining a higher education and incorporates observations and interviews that cultivate a conversation and the interviewee’s reflection. By interviewing people in different social classes and asking how it affects their education, researchers are able to identify the affects social class has on higher education.

The sounds of the city penetrated the walls of the cab as we drove through the streets of Manhattan. I could hardly wait to partake in the action that was happening outside. The buildings themselves were an amazing site to behold. The buildings took on personalities of their own. Each building was bigger and more graceful than the next. When lights were added to the mix it was a dazzling combination. The city itself felt like a great big hug, and I felt overwhelmed by its power. The city allowed me to become part of it just like many others many years ago who immigrated to this awesome city. As I was looking out of the cab I finally got to see in person the sight of all sights; Times Square. The main juncture of