Analyzing Anyon's Article: Social Class, Education, and Career Paths

This assignment analyzes Jean Anyon's article, focusing on the concept of the "hidden curriculum" and its influence on students' future career paths based on their social class. The analysis explores how different schools, categorized by parental occupation, prepare students for specific roles in society, aligning with Anyon's argument. The assignment also examines teachers' expectations in various school types and contrasts the "learning by discovery" approach with the traditional methods. It highlights the implications of these approaches for students in different socioeconomic settings, emphasizing the limitations faced by lower-class schools and the constraints imposed by upper-class schools. The provided solution references Anyon's work, along with additional sources, to support its arguments.

RUNNING HEAD: ENGLISH 0
ANYON ARTICLE

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1. In Anyon’s article, she argues that students are “being prepared to occupy particular
rungs on the social ladder.” What does this mean? Do you agree?
According to the statement, yes students are being prepared to occupy the certain rung in the
society because they are being differentiated in accordance with the parents work (Anyon 50-53).
In the American society, there are five categories of schools which were divided based on the
status of parents’ job. Such categorization had induced students to be prepared to take up jobs
like their parents (Gibbons).
2. According to Anyon, what do teachers in the different types of schools expect from their
students?
The teachers from different schools expect their students to take up the future professions like
their parents and to act and behave like their parents does (Anyon 35-40). The middle class
school will ensure that students are eligible in future to secure white and blue-collar jobs in best
manner while the fifth level schools expect the students to have big capitalistic dreams so that
they can achieve the positions of CEO and president (Glover).
3. Summarize what Edwards means by “learning by discovery.”
According to Edward, learning by discovery approach means the parents and students should be
provided with the freedom to choose the career. Their future career should not be limited to the
reality of their parents’ status (Anyon 25-27). They should be given enough freedom to discover
their talents so that they can be successful. It could be that, a student of engineer parents might
become a good cardiologist or vice-versa (Gibbons).
4. Which type would most likely adopt the “learning by discovery” model? What does that
mean for students in other types of schools?
The schools that would most likely adopt the “learning by discovery approach will be middle
school as middle people are of liberal mindset than the upper school, who are highly attached to
their status and belongings (Anyon 12-15). It means differently for other types schools as low
level schools do not have enough resources to practice “learning by discovery approach” while
the upper class are highly attached to their status to practice learning by discovery approach
(Glover).

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Bibliography
Anyon, Jean. "Social Class and the Hidden Curriculum of Work." Journal of education (2016): 35-45.
Gibbons, B., Fernando, M. "Teaching and learning responsible decision-making in business: a qualitative
research evaluation of a simulation-based approach." Journal of Business Ethics Education 13.1 (2016):
293-324.
Glover, Ian. "Role-play: An Approach to Teaching and Learning." 14 July 2014. blogs. 26 July 2019
<https://blogs.shu.ac.uk/shutel/2014/07/04/role-play-an-approach-to-teaching-and-learning/>.

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