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Analysis Of Grant Penrod Anti-Intellectualism Why We Hate The Smart Kids

491 Words2 Pages

In Grant Penrod’s, “Anti-Intellectualism: Why We Hate the Smart Kids” he describes to the reader why the majority of people hate the “nerds” and “geeks” in school. Penrod begins his argument by using high school as an example. The idea of anti-intellectualism is most commonly introduced in high school when the classifications of “geek” and “nerd” are used for the people who take academics seriously, and unfortunately get excluded from social activities. At the Mountain View High School the students and workers only recognized the football team for making it to state. Even though the school’s academic decathlon, science bowl team, and speech and debate team made it to state as well. They received only ten minutes of recognition, while the football team were commemorated with banners and assemblies.
With my own observation, I can say that it is noticeable that the football team receives more recognition than what other sports, and the “nerds” get. Very few people in school would actually pay attention or attend any of the debates, competitions, and other sports. I would both agree and disagree with Penrod in his argument. I can see eye to eye with Penrod …show more content…

The list of celebrity high school dropouts are surprising, because there are many people in today's society who probably have no idea that their favorite celebrity never received their diploma. This controversy aids Penrod’s belief that others look at celebrities just like everyone else and not as part of the outstanding academic scholars. Along with celebrities some professional athletes make more income than some third world countries do. Along with this idea, he explains that in order to become rich and famous you are not required to finish high school. But those who do have doctorate degrees will earn almost twice as much as those who graduated high school, and dropouts will on average make even

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