A “good” student
What does it mean to be a good student according to the “commonsense” of Canada? A good student is always eager to learn and pays excellent attention in classes by maintaining eye contact with the lecturer and raising their hand when they wish to contribute to the conversation. When they contribute they say exactly what the teacher wants to hear, and the teacher is glad because “they have been listening well.” A good student works quietly and independently and needs little or no help to accomplish tasks on time. A good student gets along well with others, or at least isn’t involved in any altercations (being without friends is acceptable). A good student comes to school bathed and groomed. A good student keeps a tidy desk.
Students who come from high status socioeconomic backgrounds benefit from this model. If you are white, or at least assimilated to western society, middle or upper class, and have a “good” home life, you will do well. This narrowminded view doesn’t allow for any knowledges but that of European design. Indigenous and all other knowledges are lesser and irrelevant. This model also perpetuates internalized racism in white and minoritized students alike.
Hey, your definition of a good student is exactly what I think of when I hear that term. Basically, a student that listens and pays attention. This is how I was told to go about school, and this is how I have observed students in classrooms throughout my practicum. I also agree with what you said about the specific type of people that benefit from this idea of a good student.
I totally agree with you Michaela about what Kumashiro and society claims a “good” student to be. However, this definition limits so many students and it honestly makes me sad that we leave out so many students with this definition. Personally, I do not think we can say that there is a concrete definition because no child or person is perfect. Thanks for sharing!
I think you did a good job on describing what a ‘good student’s is. I never thought about the hygiene factor coming into play when talking about a ‘good student’. It is certainly important though. You could have maybe spent more time on the, “what does commonsense make impossible?”, part of the question however. I dont see much about that. Well done though I thought the rest was well written and insightful.
It seems like you have a strong understanding of the text, great work! I am curious, however, as to why you had singled out people who are Caucasian to be the group that is benefited from this. I partially agree with your statement as I believe that people who grew up in higher economic standards and were taught the western way will be the ones who benefit from this, not just a race. Let me know what you think!
I think you make a really good point when you talk about how the hygiene of our students being something that we take into account when we talk about the “good” student. As teachers sometimes it is hard to have those students in our classrooms who come from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and trying to help them out without being offensive towards them and helping the other children understand. It definitely plays a role in the schooling for children.