Since the second week of my semester in English the class has read and reread the essay by Jean

Anyon, Social Class and the Hidden Curriculum of Work. We have taken several class periods

to go through what we have read and how we have interpreted the essay ourselves. Even after all

the discussions on the topic I still have a few questions floating around in my head about the

essay. One question I would like to discuss is, what is it that makes a public school ranked in

different categories such as working class and elite? Hopefully this critical enquiry will sum up

any questions remaining and give a description on the real topic of the essay.

Only a few subjects were talked about in the essay so that the reader could understand

what the writer was trying to get across to the reader. Methodology was the first, which this

described how each school and class was being assessed by an analyzer. “Each school was being

evaluated based on students, teachers, principles, and district administrative staff; and studied

curriculum and other materials in each classroom and school.”1 A definition of social class was

given so that the reader could determine how each school was ranked. This consisted of mainly

income difference between the families of one school to another. Income rates ranged from

<12,000 dollars to 500,000+ dollars. “They were also ranked by their possessions such as:

stocks, machines, land, which is more suitable for a capitalist society.”2 “Another analogy was

on the relationships people had with those of higher authority.”3 Five schools were analyzed and

within those five there was two Working-class, one Middle-class, one Affluent Professional

School, and one Executive Elite School.

Before starting the investigation each school was carefully examined so that they were

closely similar. Analyzers found these were basic similarities: “school and classroom rules,

teachers who ask question and attempt to exercise control and who give work and homework,

and there were textbooks and test.”4 Each school had the same basic curriculum of math,
reading, and language arts. As it seemed each school was closely related when it came to

education.

“Analyzers saw right away that working class schools were involving rote behavior and

very little decision making or choice. Reasons for work were rarely explained nor were they told

how it was connected to work found along the curriculum. Students are given rules to follow

during procedures and whether you followed the steps given to you will show if you did it right

or wrong.”5 What this demonstrates is that working-class children are being taught to obey

directions and do as instructed to. So that when they work for someone one day they will

already be molded into that kind of environment as their parents are working in.

In the middle-class schools children are working harder to get the right answers

themselves and being rewarded from the right answer. Students have more choice into how they

do a problem; for example, they must interpret the question by their own knowledge. The class

is also given more than one way to work a problem so they can choose which is better for them.

Teachers ask the students multiple questions when reading so they may learn how to summarize

a text. “They will ask questions like: who did so-and-so; what happened after that; when did it

happen, where, and some-times, why did it happen?”6 Being able to resolve a solution using

another method will allow these students to standout above the working class and direct them

instead of just following orders.

The affluent professional school was thought to be where, “work is creative activity

carried out independently.”7 Here students are constantly asked to express their opinions into a

subject and not be afraid to speak out. “Products of work should not be like everybody else’s

and should show individuality.”7 Reality is key in this environment, if your solution is not
sensible in today’s environment then it is not right. Children are often given more decision

making time if the teacher thinks that they need to rethink their answer. Teachers are more

concerned about their preparation outside of class and make sure that students are given work to

practice while at home. Teachers also find ways to make the classroom activities fun so that the

students enjoy working and learning. Analyzers found that more hands on activities were done

to keep it exciting for the students. “Finally, the children have a fair amount of officially

sanctioned say over what happens in the class.” Schools here are being more lenient to the

choice and opinions of the children so that when they are older they can run a large business by

speaking their mind and giving ideas relevant to the world around them.

An executive elite school demonstrates where, “work is developing one’s analytical

intellectual powers.”8 Students are asked by their teachers to give reason to their answers. They

must see how each assumption is derived from another, and that this applies to all subjects. In

math children are asked to find an equation from another equation given fact they already know.

By doing this they can find multiple ways of reason for a solution. Students are always reminded

that they can disagree. Human error occurs every day and without someone to speak up and tell

someone that they are wrong then the world wouldn’t run like it does today. That is the life style

this school is teaching its students, and that is why they are elite. These children will be able to

stand up for their opinions and give sufficient reasoning why they are right or why they disagree,

and since they speak their mind and can solve problems then they can be very successful.

That just leaves me with my question. What is it that makes a public school ranked in
different categories such as working class and elite? After reading this essay, taking notes, and
then giving my opinion. I believe it has to do with the environment the children are learning in,
and the adults surrounding them pushing them through their education. Children can excel in
school if pushed to do so, and if they have the resources necessary to their style of learning then
they all can be elite. So in all I think it comes down to the economic welfare of the school and
the ability to get the best in the field to teach and assist students of your school. If every school
was given the same degree of expertise and resources then every school would be “elite.”