Post #4 – Being a “Good” Student

What does it mean to be a “good” student according to the commonsense? Which students are privileged by this definition of a good student?  How is the “good” student shaped by historical factors?

Being a “good” student according to commonsense usually means behaving properly, listening to everything your teacher tells you, following all the rules, and getting good grades. To be a “good” student you often have to be a perfect student. A student who does not listen or behave will often be considered a ‘bad’ student even if they are learning, growing, and getting good grades. A student who behaves but is not good at their schoolwork and often gets poor grades will again commonly be considered a ‘bad’ student or atleast not a ‘good’ student. In chapter 2 of his book called Against Commonsense: Teaching and Learning Toward Social Justice, Kumashiro talks about one of his former preschool students who he referred to as M. Kumashiro describes M as being not good at following instructions or rules, not good at sitting quietly or still for long. He states that M’s behaviour made him feel as though he was not teaching effectively which meant M was not learning effectively or becoming a “good” student. M would often ask Kumashiro if they had been bad that day. M had felt like they were a ‘bad’ student because they did not conform to the ideals and qualities society had decided were important. Because M did not always listen, couldn’t sit still for long periods of time and preferred to do their own thing rather than listen to the teacher’s instructions they were made to believe they were ‘bad’. This commonsense definition does not allow many students to thrive. Students who do not thrive in the traditional school and teaching model are often dismissed as ‘bad’ students. If a student has a different learning style they often fall behind and are dismissed as ‘bad’ or not smart, even though they may be able to thrive in an environment that better supports them and the ways they learn. If a student is not learning to their best abilities and then is belittled because they do not get good grades, that student will most likely act out and misbehave causing said student to belabelled a ‘bad’ student. This shows that the students who learn well through the traditional teaching methods are the ones who are priviledged by and benefit from the commonsense definition of being a “good student”. 

This definition of a “good” student has been largely influenced by history. Many years ago children were expected to have perfect manners, perfect behaviour, and to always respect their elders. It was what society had deemed as important qualities to have in order to create a “better society”. A History of Education by F. V. N. Painter suggests that how a child behaves depends a lot on the things that they experience and learn during the beginning of their development. On page 2 Painter (1886) states “The end of education is complete human development” which he goes on to explain as being a person of “a healthy body, a clear and well-informed intellect, sensibilities quickly susceptible to every right feeling, and a steady will whose volitions are determined by reason and an enlightened conscience”. By saying this Painter is suggesting that in order for a student’s education to be successful they had to have developed some sort of intellect or smarts, a good conscience, and the ability to make good decisions. On page 3 Painter (1886) also states that “childhood and youth are the periods of preparation” when talking about the responsibilities one has once they grow up and enter society as an adult. The quotes I have referenced by Painter help us begin to understand the historical context behind the commonsense meaning of a “good” student. In 1886 when this textbook was written, the purpose of education was to create smart and capable young men who would benefit society and the workforce. They wanted to create people who would fit in and listen to all of society’s unwritten rules. Someone who was considered a benefit to society and perfect for the workplace was often someone who will listen to their superiors and elders and behave in the perfect way. These qualities of being a “good” worker were transformed into the qualities of being a “good” student which are still valued in society today. 

Readings

A History of Education by F. V. N. Painter (1886) – pgs 1 to 21 https://archive.org/details/historyofeducati00painiala 

Against Common Sense: Teaching and Learning Toward Social Justice by Kevin Kumashiro (2010) Chapter 2 Preparing Teachers for Crisis: What It Means To Be a Student – pgs 19 to 33 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JMhySclU27gK-Vo3v4Oesfzp3dVKqG9r/view?usp=sharing