According to the norms or the commonsense that most people adhere too, a good student is an individual who fits precisely into their role in society. They are good students by sitting and listening quietly and by fitting into a mold that does not ruffle any feathers to those around them. By taking in the content, learning the methods and producing good results in their evaluations. Commonsense tells us that a good student learns in school what’s necessary to be able to positively contribute in their future roles as workers, it tell us that this is what the education system and the person themselves should be striving for.
This way of thinking gives an advantage to students who are more “traditional” learners, students who come from backgrounds with more support and resources, students who have lived in the nation their whole life and speak the language. It disadvantages those who learn in different ways, new comers/new speakers of the language and those with tumultuous home and family lives. These students may not have someone to help with homework, the finances to get all they require for their education or may not have time to focus on their schoolwork because they work to support their family financially. The idea of the good student can only be detrimental because it is really impossible to fit people into one or two molds when research and personal experience shows us that people are incredibly unique and learn in many different ways.
The idea of the “good student” is rooted in historical stereotypes and ideas. The perception of the public has been historically that a student should learn in one certain way and that a teacher should teach in one certain way. Deviating from these standards or commonsense is often met with negative responses and hesitation. In “A History of Education,” they describe young student as helpless without a formal education, that they require assistance and direction for their physical and mental growths in order to achieve a worthy destiny. In order to be civilized and build character, a person must proceed successfully through the education system and if they don’t it is seen as a personal failure. These standards and ideals for education and students have been set since the beginning of our society; they remain strong in our society today although they may now be hidden or more subtle in how they are implemented.
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