Student Socializing Forces

The student I interviewed (an 8th-grader) indicated that what she learned in school (curriculum) closely matched what she learned at home--she’s often excited to come home and share with her family what she’s learned in history or science class. She felt the some of her teachers are the same kind of people as her family members but some are different.

She couldn’t see any relationship between what she learns at school and anything she sees in the media--unless she watches educational TV. The media seems to inhabit a different world than the world of her school--and her teachers.

She felt that her peers feel about the same way as she feels about the curriculum and the teachers at their school. She doesn’t know for sure how they feel, because they don’t talk about it very much. She says she wouldn’t feel uncomfortable talking about curriculum and teaching, but it’s never come up and she didn’t think she wanted to bring it up.

She realized that many of the moral and ethical lessons she learns at church are the same ones she’s taught at school, by her teachers. For example, to treat others as you would like to be treated, treat others with respect, tell the truth, don’t cheat, be kind.

It seemed to me that--at least for this student--the different forces in her life exist independently of each other. She has internalized values and attitudes from her family and other forces either are accepted by her according to those values. If what the teacher says or what she sees on TV doesn't match with her formed values, then she doesn't let them change her thinking. I had to push to get her to make the connections.

I suspect most kids are like that--they compartmentalize as much as they are socialized.

Reflection 2.6