I NEVER THOUGHT OF THE RACISM ANGLE. Yes, man, exactly! It's the same cultural indicators!
ah, racism. underpinning western society and culture since forever.
It cuts both ways, as well. Normally I would never say that about racism because it obviously doesn't, but I think this is one case where a particular behavioural pattern is judged more harshly in white kids than in black kids, possibly because of unconsciously racist thought patterns where the standard for white kids is higher?
i think it is just a more complex cut, and actually even more offensive for it. "jimmy, i expected MORE of you. i mean, you're white." ugh.
I do know that the white working-class in this country is underperforming educationally more and more each year, particularly the boys, and shit like 'chav' doesn't help.
i was lucky, because even though i came from a lower-class home, i looked like i was just an awkward kid who wore wildlife t-shirts and glasses. okay, cheap glasses and the same clothes all the time, but still. my sisters didn't have these indicators and were consistently tracked into average classes, not even given the option of "hey, there are advanced classes in these subjects. what kinds of things are you interested in? what would you like to study? if you do this and this then you'll be able to get into these classes." fuck, even *i* almost didn't get to take the SATs because no one gave a shit about making sure kids were signed up for them, and i didn't have the money for it. (yes, they make you pay for a test you need to take in order to get into any university or technical college), and i graduated third in my class. thankfully one of my teachers found out the day before the test and got the high school to pay for me somehow.
Yes, I wrote the 'it cuts both ways' and then followed my thought-pattern through to make it actually only cut one way, as racism normally does, but didn't go back and edit. This is why my essays are sometimes a little confused. :D
White working-class boys are now underperforming every other group educationally in the UK, and we think publicly mocking them is going to help? AAAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH.
and we think publicly mocking them is going to help?
isn't this the basis of most conservative political thought? "you did something that the straight white male middle class has found unacceptable for some reason! now we will PUNISH YOU, without addressing the underlying issues. this will teach you a lesson somehow, even though that's not how education or indeed logic works."
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prof_pangaea) wrote2008-11-04 01:32 am
no subject
ah, racism. underpinning western society and culture since forever.
It cuts both ways, as well. Normally I would never say that about racism because it obviously doesn't, but I think this is one case where a particular behavioural pattern is judged more harshly in white kids than in black kids, possibly because of unconsciously racist thought patterns where the standard for white kids is higher?
i think it is just a more complex cut, and actually even more offensive for it. "jimmy, i expected MORE of you. i mean, you're white." ugh.
I do know that the white working-class in this country is underperforming educationally more and more each year, particularly the boys, and shit like 'chav' doesn't help.
i was lucky, because even though i came from a lower-class home, i looked like i was just an awkward kid who wore wildlife t-shirts and glasses. okay, cheap glasses and the same clothes all the time, but still. my sisters didn't have these indicators and were consistently tracked into average classes, not even given the option of "hey, there are advanced classes in these subjects. what kinds of things are you interested in? what would you like to study? if you do this and this then you'll be able to get into these classes." fuck, even *i* almost didn't get to take the SATs because no one gave a shit about making sure kids were signed up for them, and i didn't have the money for it. (yes, they make you pay for a test you need to take in order to get into any university or technical college), and i graduated third in my class. thankfully one of my teachers found out the day before the test and got the high school to pay for me somehow.
no subject
White working-class boys are now underperforming every other group educationally in the UK, and we think publicly mocking them is going to help? AAAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH.
no subject
isn't this the basis of most conservative political thought? "you did something that the straight white male middle class has found unacceptable for some reason! now we will PUNISH YOU, without addressing the underlying issues. this will teach you a lesson somehow, even though that's not how education or indeed logic works."