I WANT TO BE AVERAGE, Education, College Term Papers.com


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I WANT TO BE AVERAGE

I WANT TO BE AVERAGE A country's educational system is typically influenced by a variety of factors. Racial and ethnic attitudes, for example, can play an important role in policy formation and school administration. Language is a significant factor as well. Political and religious ideologies also are potent influences on the educational system. An average student’s registration into the educational system may be affected by such factors. What is the definition of an average student? What constitutes such a student to receive an “average” education? Mike Rose’s article “Tracking”, focused on the educational system and its effects on both normal and abnormal students. One student affected by this system was Ken Harvey. He was placed in the vocational track due to the labeling of the educational system. Ken Harvey’s statement, “I just wanna be average”, was a desperate call for help. No doubt, his placement in the educational system had a negative effect on his life. “Ken Harvey was gasping for air”. As brought out in the article, “school can be a tremendously disorienting place.” Certain beliefs and assumptions one grew up with may be challenged by the educational system. The author summarized Harvey’s situation. He was first thrown in with all kinds of kids from all kinds of backgrounds, which was upsetting. He saw students excel in courses that only average students have access to. These include French, physics, and trigonometry. Being a working-class kid in the vocational track, Harvey’s options in dealing with the situation were constrained in certain ways. He was defined by his school as “slow”. He was placed in a curriculum that was not designed to liberate but occupy him. Other kids became familiar with Harvey’s placement and began to interact with him in certain ways. These may have had a negative impact on the development of Harvey. His mental abilities to perform may have been affected. This impact may have been the educational system’s fault. Its definition of an average student may be stressed. Focusing on the definition of an average student, society has classified such a student as a typical learner. This learner must maintain a certain G.P.A. and have a standard learning ability. His or her perceptive powers must coincide with the educational system’s curriculum. No doubt, ones social skill must also be in accord with such guild-lines. “Entrance to school brings with it forms and releases and assessments.” The educational system relies on a series of tests. The results of these examinations determine a student’s placement in the school. If placed in a vocational track, the student is treated in a different manner. This level focuses on the development of students. It is also designed to improve the child’s social behavior as well as his or her perceptive power. Although the intention of such a program is to develop a vocational student into an average learner, these objectives may affect a student performance. This was the case with Ken Harvey and Mike Rose. Knowing the “vocational track” is a “euphemism” for bottom level affected their performance. Today, everyone wants to be accepted by society. This civilization is obsessed with being average or even exceeding such guild-lines. No doubt, this genre includes physical appearance as brought out in Bruce bower’s article “Average Attractions”. It also involves the mental abilities to learn and develop. Sadly, these implementations are forced on the innocent, young students. These learners are caught up in the race to be an “average person”. In this competition, students’ abilities are hindered and disrupted. As our generation develops, certain standards sat forth by society can affect us both in a negative and positive way. Our growth does not depend on these standards but the development of our individuality. Bibliography:

Word Count: 612

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