This 4 page paper discusses the power structure in the average classroom and how the culture and values of the dominant group are imposed on the others. Bibliography lists 1 source.
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power structure of the classroom, irregardless of age of the student. As a social creature, the human being feels most comfortable with those whose outlooks and opinions are similar. Therefore,
it stands to reason that in the classroom environment the dominant culture would use its values to dominate and establish, albeit on a sub-conscious level, hierarchy. Recently, research has stated
that there are basically ten various personality traits that determine academic achievement. C.B Johnson in his dissertation, Personality Traits and Learning Styles: Factors Affecting the Academic Achievement of Underachieving Gifted
Students, states that in the final analysis those who were considered to be achievers were typically introverted, abstract-thinking, emotionally stable, mature, able to face reality, serious, conscientious, moralistic, self-assured, secure,
self-satisfied, self-sufficient, resourceful, prefer their own decisions, socially precise, relaxed, tranquil, and composed(Johnson 1996). Whereas underachievers appeared to be more extroverted, warm, kind, willing to participate, concrete-thinking, affected by feelings,
enthusiastic, spontaneous, expressive, cheerful, expedient, apprehensive, insecure, self-blaming, group oriented, more willing to listen to others, and not bound by social rules(Johnson 1996). This is shocking when one considers the
stereotype that suggests underachievers, in Bart Simpson-like form, are trouble makers, unintelligent and have very little ambition to succeed. However, according to Dr. Johnsons findings, while both groups were intelligent,
the achievers succeeded because of their ability to adapt to a teachers teaching methods, and tended to have learning styles that favor the more analytical approach that most traditional classrooms
utilize. In the classroom there are power struggles going on all the time. Various social groups form among those students who perceive themselves as one way or another. For example,
the popular sports oriented jocks and cheerleaders as compared to the tech-heads and computer oriented cyber-geeks. While most of the classroom tends to fall somewhere in between the two, of