Analysis Of I Just Wanna Be Average, By Jonathan Kozol

Numerous factors dominate the articles presented, including socioeconomic status, racial discrimination, the environment, and educators.Each of the authors discusses the obstacles they had to overcome with their educational journey. There is a common theme in these readings. In that they have similar experiences, or experiences that are similar to what kids now have, Malcolm X was a victim of an improper schooling system, which inversely forced him to educate himself in a way he calls "homemade education." Johnathon Kozol discusses the disparities faced by minorities in the educational system. Specifically black and brown students. Both are connected in the sense that Malcolm X is proof of Jonathan Kozol's claims. The obstacles sustained by

In the text "I Just Wanna Be Average" by Mike Rose, he discusses his personal experience with the school system. He was forced to take classes that were below the level of his academic ability. They were not beneficial to him. When he was finally put into a class that fit his academic abilities, the realization of the workload struck him rather quickly. "My grades stank. I had A’s in biology and a handful of B’s in a few English and social science classes. All the rest were C's—or worse" (Rose 27). The teachers' failure to acknowledge this costly mistake due to the preconceived idea that students placed in vocational classes are "troublemakers" has affected him negatively. He was placed there for two years, which is way too late. His grades and future wouldn’t have to suffer as much if the teachers acknowledged it. "In the street, I had been the most articulate hustler out there. I commanded attention when I said something. But now, trying to write simple English, I not only wasn’t articulate, I wasn’t even functional (X 3). Schools do not simply check to see if their students are on track to graduate. They don’t give the students of color resources and guidance to ensure they will be successful. Rather, they would turn a blind eye, causing them to drop out of school. Malcolm's experience is known as being "street smart" and not "book smart." He was able to do well on the streets. However, when it came to education, he

Malcom X dropped out of school in the eighth grade because of the discrimination he encountered from his teacher. His teacher questioned him regarding his ideal profession. Malcolm said he wanted to become a lawyer, to which his teacher replied, "You’ve got to be realistic about being a n*****. A lawyer is not a realistic goal for a n*****." This led to Malcolm being delayed in education among his peers and having to thrive on his own (Econlib.org). Teachers make students feel unwelcome, and they might give up on their education as a result. In the text, "I Just Wanna Be Average" by Mike Rose, it states, "Sophomore English was taught by Mr. Mitropetros. He was a large, bejeweled man who managed the parking lot at the Shrine Auditorium. We’d ask questions and glance knowingly and snicker, and all that fueled the poor guy to brag some more. Parking cars was his night job. "He had little training in English, so his lesson for his daily work had us reading the district’s required text, Julius Caesar, aloud for the semester" (Rose 184). The instructor made the students read the same book over and over again for the whole of the semester since he struggled with his English. The fact that they can't even find suitable teachers to teach students shows how flawed the educational system is. There, students are being taught by unqualified teachers. Students' education was not encouraged, and they were not given