While reading Kumashiro, the definition of being a “good” student is outlined throughout. While there is no TRUE definition of being a good student, society thinks that school is able to produce the same type of student with whoever walks through the door. The article proves this to be true through the students N and M, those who were seen as the “bad students”. They were bad students because they didn’t do things the same as all the other kids and they wanted to get to the answer differently, or possibly find a different answer to the question. Since this is the case, they are the underprivileged group and are seen as trouble and are treated differently by their educators. This is really disheartening because they just need a little bit more work and eventually, they will get to where we need them to be. It is important to encourage differences instead of making them feel guilty. I appreciate this article because I have been there, where dealing with a child who doesn’t follow the norms can be frustrating, but instead of giving up, we try it different ways. I ask questions, because they know what they’re feeling.
Students who perform what is necessary and listens to the teacher, is a good student, the BEST student and are privileged without even knowing it. Teachers are more willing to work with these students because they are the perfect product of the cut and paste human we want to see in society and in our schools. This would be the more privileged children, teachers prefer these kids in their classroom. They engage in discussions, they don’t ask unnecessary questions and are often succeed well in the classroom. These children are never meant to feel guilty about their behaviour, because it is seen as the appropriate behaviour.
I’m always curious to know how we get in these positions in the first place, if we didn’t have high expectations of teachers, they will feel less pressure to produce the perfect kid. There is no such thing as perfection, especially when it comes to human beings. Being an aware educator of different learns in your classroom is critical, but we need to understand why this pressure is put on them in the first place. I believe less pressure on the teacher in terms of production, will be less pressure on the students in order to be perfect, or “good”.
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I really enjoyed reading your blog and also agree with how you mentioned their is no true definition of a “good” student. Also, I like how you questioned how teachers or students get in these positions in the first place. It makes me wonder also why are some students considered “good” in one teachers class but in a different teachers class they may be considered a “bad” student?
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It was interesting how you mentioned the “best” students are the ones that are the “perfect product of the cut and paste human.” I agree with this, the students that are seen as most desirable are the ones that fit into society and don’t question authority. The “best” students simply “go with the flow.”
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I first off really like how you mention their is no true definition of a “good” student. Also, I like how you questioned why teachers and students are put into these situations in the first place. When reading your last paragraph a question that came to me was, why are some students considered “good” in one teachers class but they are seen as “bad” in a different teachers class?
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Yes! I agree that our society often teaches being different as bad, most of the time through “hidden curriculum”. I appreciate your commitment to teaching children and working with them even if its frustrating. I have never thought about the “good” student having privilege with the teacher. What an interesting, and very viable thought! Why do you feel that teachers have such high expectations to develop the “good” or “perfect” student?
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This is something I feel I can relate too because when I was in school I often felt left behind by the teachers due to taking longer to learn or grasp a concept than my peers. I was a good student and enjoyed learning but often found it difficult or overwhelming because I was a slower learner than the rest of my class, this lead to having more homework and losing time to play at recess because I had to finish my school work.
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You make a lot of good points, especially about how schools seem to think that everyone who walks in the door will be able to learn in the same way. Students have already learned so much from their parents and from society before they enter school, this is something we need to be aware of. There is also the challenge of reconstructing these ideas that they already have. I work in child care and it makes me so upset when kids are labelled as ‘bad’ because they absolutely are not. They are misunderstood and maybe don’t learn in the ‘typical’ way. They simply need someone to take the time to try and understand them.
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