1. What does it mean to be a “good” student according to the commonsense?
According to the commonsense, a good student is defined as a person that conforms to the expectations, standards, rules and regulations indicated by the educational institutions within their designated region. This definition typically means that to be classified as a “good student,” a person must adhere to the school’s schedule by arriving to class on time, completing all tasks assigned within the deadlines given, and exhibiting good behaviour within the classroom. A “good student” does not question the authority of the teacher and simply does what is asked of them without hesitation.
2. Which students are privileged by this definition of the good student?
The students that are privileged by this definition are the ones that have no pre-existing medical issues or disabilities, no mental illness, and no familial issues. These students are from dominant groups, that don’t generally suffer from challenges associated with gender, or race. Not all students come from the same background, and each student comes with their own experiences and obstacles that they must overcome. For example, a student that suffers from ADHD may experience more difficulty within a classroom setting than someone who does not have any mental illnesses.
3. How is the “good” student shaped by historical factors?
There are a multitude of different factors that can affect a person’s ability to be a “good student.” These often include religion, gender, race, and social class. As explained in A History of Education, China believed a “good” student is defined by ones ability to achieve high scores during an exam, display perfect obedience, and one that honours generational tradition. In contrast, many students from India were categorized as “good students” if they showed spiritual devotion, and took their time with their studies in order to fully comprehend the material given. This contrasting view of education is a result of historical factors that have shaped each individual culture’s perspective on the importance of education.
1 Comment
Zachary Hirshmiller · May 23, 2023 at 1:40 am
This is a great blog post I love how you go into distinct ways that different countries and cultures view a good student. Although we know what we seem to view as a “good student” I wonder what people who are not within the Canadian education system view as our goals for a good student. Additionally is that the view we want to have towards our students or should we be striving for something bigger. Thank you, I really enjoyed your post!