Prompt #2: They Say, I Say

Hello again! I'm back and ready to argue. This will be a brief argument on behalf of Gerald Graff's essay, "Hidden Intellectualism."

They Say, I Say...
Gerald Graff, who is an English professor at the University of Illinois, published an essay entitled, "Hidden Intellectualism," which is written about the capabilities of someone with "street smarts." Graff argues that most people believe intellectual smarts are more appreciated in the real world but he believes "street smarts" are more important. Graff says when he was in school he would rather read about sports then a play written by Shakespeare. His main point is that he would rather see a student write about something they enjoy then for them to write a lifeless piece on a boring topic that does not relate to them in the least.

This topic is as "real world" as it gets. The debate between what needs to be taught and what students want to be taught is a constant battle. The old-age question that is asked in classrooms across American is, "How will I use this information in the real world?" The answer does not come as easy as one would think. If a student isn't going to be an English major in college why do they need to know the rhetoric of a Shakespearean sonnet, when they could be learning about their favorite Red Sox player's batting average?

I see Graff's point and I agree that most students would most likely do better in school if they could chose the topics they learned about. Most students would do a significant amount better if they could write about there favorite sports team, but the downside of this, is that it downgrades the real reasons kids go to school. School is a place of learning and a place for children to learn how to open up their mind. If teachers only had students focus on just the things they liked they would never find out new things that they might enjoy. That exact reason of students being shut off from new experiences is why I disagree with Graff's point of only having "street smarts" in the classroom setting. Students need to have many different choices of learning.

A simple solution to this debate would be to come to a happy medium in the classroom. If teachers had a time of the day to discuss and teach on real life related issues and have a time to learn about specific rhetorics and narratives the students would be getting the best of both worlds. Graff's point are not totally discredited but rather revised to fit to the best of the students abilities.

For example, this blog is a good source to show that using real life in the classroom is an effective way of teaching. I am allowed to explore my own ideas and formulate my own thoughts on the topics assigned. I am using 'narratives' and 'rhetorics' but in a way that I can identify with. I am a true teenager and I love the internet. By my professor allowing me to explore my own thoughts and ideas in a way that I enjoy she is ensuring that I stay interested in this project. This new way of teaching is something that should be introduced in more classes.

I'm going to round out my point by saying that this issue of "street smarts" vs. "intellect" is one that will be in a constant debate unless someone takes a stand to change it. Graff begins to address the issue in his essay but someone needs to take things a step farther for future generations. This step would be to settle this on-going debate and give everyone a little of what they need. Some people may think that this issue can be swept under the rug and dealt with at a later time but I believe someone should take action now. Students are the future of society. The kids in the present need someone who will make an effort to better there future.

Have a lovely day, always remember to stop and enjoy the sunshine.
~Kelsey





*Words Cited
Graff , Gerald. "Hidden Intellectualism." They Say, I Say. Ed. Gerald Graff and Ed. Cathy Birkenstein . Second Edition: New York: W.W. Norton and Company , 2010. 198-205. Print.