Popular Culture vs. Education

1. Popular Culture vs. Education Boys as Dangerous “boys are so susceptible to these (popular culture) models, they Cannot resist the temptation to act as their heroes act. They cannot Mediate between a literary model and personal conduct. Education Must stand in opposition to popular culture to the point of censorship.” -Plato

2. In what ways are popular culture discouraged from the curriculum/why?- • Media seen as distracting- • Teachers listen to a different generation of music. • Some of the language etc. is inappropriate for school.

3. The Largest Achievement Gap • The greatest gap in achievement in American schooling is the gap between boys and girls performance in 8th grade writing.

4. Is the Low Culture-High Culture distinction valid? Poe, Melville, Hawthorne, Shakespeare, Chaucer, and Joyce, just a Few of the canonical literary authors who drew upon profane popular culture in their Writings. “Clueless,” based on Jane Austen’s “Emma”.

5. How can popular culture and ‘alternative’ literacy serve a useful Purpose in schools? If the culture of the teacher is to be part of the consciousness of the child Then the culture of the child has to be part of the consciousness of the Teacher. Getting inside the students’ backpacks Cannot see differences as deficits.

6. The Science of Popular Movies • Transformers • Star Trek • X-Men

7. Girls’ growth can be restricted by the ethic of Niceness-especially in the work world: Bad girl narratives create space to reimagine gender roles. Goth stories and Vampire fiction may be a gesture for such Reimagining.

8. How is the ethic of “Niceness” limiting to girls? Esp in the work-world When a girl is assertive, she is seen as a bitch. Can be put at a disadvantage by not saying ‘no.’ Not taken seriously because of a perception of not being able to make “tough” decisions.

9. Gender Privilege: The concept of gender privilege is complicated Because privilege is always invisible to the holder of the privilege. Research has demonstrated that boys occupy more teacher attention Than girls, while girls get better grades?

10. Males have social pressure not to like or participate in reading And writing- This is why popular culture is important. I made a livin from writin rhymes with skill and precision I go through hard times, but I never give in I know my rhymes will leave an impact, like a big hole and a Crater leaves the ground intact. I go on believing that I could Be achieving, getting diploma cause it’s high school I believe in I don’t need a ghost writer, I write my own rhymes, I got books Filled with rhymes that are longer than a phone line. Lorenzo Wilkerson 13 years old.

11. Responding to Gangs: Mr. Green • unlike many of his cohorts, he was able, both intellectually and emotionally, to separate the institution of gangs from the human beings who found love, self-esteem and protection within their ranks. While he unequivocally rejected gang culture, he accepted the individuals who were wrapped up in it. He listened to them. He related to them as people. He didn't see three gangbangers sitting in front of him that day after school. He saw William, Marvelous and Khan.

12. What does it mean to reject the gang culture, but accept the individuals who are wrapped up in it?/How? • Understand why the students have made the decisions they made • See the students as more than gang members. • “People-first” language. • Alternative perception- which allows them to see the possible success of the people who have made the mistakes. • Always do the job of teaching.

13. Instructional Sequence for Enhanced Engagement. • Writing Assignment-”What they like and don’t like about their neighborhood • Outdoor excursion, videotaping the things which they wrote about. • Tape viewing and classroom discussion about the videotape.(discussion videotaped) • Edited version of the discussion used in other classrooms to promote discussion on a particular topic of relevance,