Salem Saleh
10-13-13
Summary
Composition 800

Hidden Intellectualism In recent discussion of, intelligence, a controversial issue has been whether or not schools provide equal opportunity for students of all interests. The schools believe there is a certain standard in which students will become successful and smart. However, Gerald Graff, in Hidden Intellectualism, argues that students who are considered, “street smart” should also be acknowledged as, “intellectual” but do not meet that standard due to the set expectations of academia. The educational system is intended to develop everyone for an equal chance of success. If it did, it would be able to make the "street smart" achieve the intellectuality that is expected to meet the academic standard. The author emphasizes that academia or academics are focusing on educational life by being capable of reading and understanding a difficult text. Also the street smart won't be able to pass this task unless they can choose a subject that is interesting rather than what is automatically given them. In addition, he author encourages academia to tap into their students’ street smart to help them succeed in an academic environment they might otherwise be excluded from by changing the subject to a subject in which the student is interested. I am of two minds about Gerald Graff’s claim that teachers should encourage students to focus on subjects that are interesting and make the students motivated to learn. On the one hand, I agree that if the teacher gives the students a subject they like, they will be more successful in their job, rather than giving the students subjects that are uninteresting, which would make them become bored and may lead them to an unsuccessful path. For example, if a student is interested in sports and the teacher gives a student physics which does not have any connection with the student