What is a “Good” Student?

This week’s reading was especially interesting because it made me think very deeply about teaching practices and how important it is to communicate with students. The Kumashiro reading provides a modern view on the subject of what it means to be a “good” student, while the Painter reading tells us a range of different cultural views from several years in the past. In regards to Kumashiro’s reading he describes a “good” student as someone who respects the classroom and their teacher, and does their best in everything they learn. Kumashiro tells us about his experience with a child called M. In this experience, he describes how the child challenged him and his teaching practices. M had a hard time learning what the teacher wanted her to learn, but when a specific assignment allowed her to use her own creativity, she was able to focus and enjoy school. I believe that Kumashiro did not think that M was a bad student. I believe that Kumashiro saw M as a challenge to broaden the minds of all teachers and their practices, so that every child can enjoy and behave properly at school.

 Painter’s view on a “good” student is someone who studies, listens intently, and performs well on tests and examinations. Painter also provided information about other cultures and their views on the subject. The cultures were from China and India. China believes a good student in someone who understands self-discipline. Studying and listening intently are the desired factors in a student. If they do not fit those requirements, they could be punished. India is especially different. Children are taught at a very slow pace and most lessons are performed outside. A “good” student in India is described as someone who understands what is being taught and do well on assignments. If they do not, they could be punished as well. It is understood that the punishment is rare though.

The students who are considered privileged are the ones who are raised and educated in a society that provides an influence on what a “good” student is. Every child is different, and every child learns differently, but it is the children who are taught from a young age about good behaviour that are eventually seen as a “good” student. Society provides a vision of what a “good” student should look like, but I believe that from what I learned in Kumashiro’s article, teachers should learn to adapt to every student’s needs, so that they are able to become a good student as well. A “good” student is shaped by historical factors because of how society views their own education system. Many cultures have different expectations in a classroom. This is because of tradition of their culture, and tradition in their education system. Children are educated from a young age, so from the very beginning, they are taught how they should behave based on traditional values.