Blog Post Week 4: Good Student

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

What does it mean to be a “good” student according to the commonsense?

Referencing back to Kumashiro, a ‘good student’ is considered an individual that can fit into the mould created by the primary examples of good students. The expectation for the student is to excel or surpass the primary subjects throughout schools; such as math, English, science, as well as social studies. A ‘good student’ is also expected to demonstrate an understanding between common sense and advanced levels of knowledge.

Which students are privileged by this definition of the good student? 

This concept of being a ‘good student’ is a primary example of Western European concepts brought into everyday schooling. This allows students with European heritage to have a higher privilege than the majority of the students within the classrooms. For anyone that may fall outside of the norms may severely counteract with the education systems set in place by Western European individuals.

How is the “good” student shaped by historical factors?

The historical factors set in place for an individual to become a ‘good student’ are created through the adamant settings within a classroom, which is intended to create compliant workers once outside of school. A ‘good student’ is seen as a student that sets examples for others, such as; concentration in the classroom, quite while others speak, as well as in line with how the education system is structured. This outlook on a ‘good student’ has excelled immensely throughout history, and has grown into how students act like and look like within an educational environment.