Blog Post #2

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

• Good students are referred to as the students who do everything exactly as the teacher expects. The students who are able to sit completely still and remain focused on the task at hand and complete it properly even if they perhaps do not enjoy it. A good student is never loud, they are never disruptive or distracted, never questions the teacher’s beliefs or answers, and does what is expected of them when it is expected. These students remain calm and engaged throughout the class and complete their work as the teacher would like, they ask questions and engage in class discussions without questing the authority of their teacher. If a teacher explains something they listen and take in the teacher’s words. According to common sense, good students are perfect students who are far and few in between. No student can be completely perfect, yet that is often what we think of when thinking of a “good” student.

Which students are privileged by this definition of a “good” student?

• The students who are able to learn the way teachers want, the students who can sit and listen and absorb the information as is without questioning it. Unfortunately, not many students can learn this way. Children learn all sorts of different ways and the same way of learning will not benefit all children in the same way. Some children will need different examples and methods of teaching than others. Yet somehow the school system continues to teach in an organized classroom that benefits the students who are able to sit still and absorb the information being spoken to them or written on the board. Students do better when they can make connections to the content and question why things are the way they are. They do better when they feel engaged and understood when they feel a part of the class. Most students cannot learn from being spoken to.

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

• Historically, a good student was well behaved, and therefore never punished. Lots of the same ideas and values of who is a good student have remained the same but some have also changed. A good student is shaped by environmental factors and life experiences. If you have a good start to your childhood and good education or learning experiences your future experiences will most likely also be good. But if you have negative experiences as a young child it will influence your future as a student.