Social Class and the Hidden Curriculum of Work Response

In the assigned sections I was to read, the author talks about how students of different social class and economic backgrounds are being prepped to be successful in the workforce. The students are encouraged to express themselves especially in the "affluent professional school" because these types of schools focus on the creativeness and expressiveness of their students. The author visits these school and she observes how the teachers kind of lets the students take control of how they learn. If things get out of hand, the instructors either step in or they negotiate with the students.

I think that the author argued her point well because she stated examples to prove her argument. She states,"In the affluent professional school, work is creative activity carried out independently. The students are continually asked to express and apply ideas and concepts. Work involves individual thought and expressiveness, expansion and illustration of ideas, and choice of appropriate method and material." (Anyon, 6) She got a sample to test her theory and observed these five schools. The fact that these children can self-educate is amazing. She talks about how they are reading, writing, and comprehending above grade level. These fifth graders are writing essays and stories, making films and play-writing  Regardless of their background, these students are capable of  learning and applying these concepts. They also have the ability to express themselves creatively without being criticized and they are pushed to think critically. 

I agree with the author and the idea of preparing students early in age, but I am not sure if it will block their way of thinking when they get older and when they enroll into a school that is not like the ones they were exposed to when they were younger. They are allowed to express themselves and are allowed to almost teach themselves and kinda take direction over the way the learn. I don't know if this will cause a problem in the workforce or whenever these children are asked to take directions from some other form of authority who may try to undermine their creative process.

The golden line that stood out to me is when Jean Anyon says, "It doesn't matter whether it [what they find] is right or wrong. I bring them together and there's value in discussing their ideas." I chose this line because it shows how the children interact with each other and how they discuss their findings and interpret them. I like this because the children are thinking critically and since they are encouraged to be creative, they believe in themselves and in their work so no one else's opinion matters. They don't care if they're right or wrong but as  long as they know the value of their own work.