Lies My Teacher Told Me Ch 7

This chapter made me realize that we don't see much about the difference in social class, and the effects they brought about in the past.  Although this book talks about the American textbooks, and how they try to conceal negative facts of the American history, it provokes readers to think about problems still existing.

 I think that the American textbooks try to convince U.S citizens that they are all equal, and have equal chances of success despite their class differences. However, critically speaking, it is not as simple. The best example would be the television sitcom, The OC.  Ryan, the protagonist of the series comes from a family of low income, with a alcoholic single mother, and a brother who spends half his time in jail. Although he is a bright boy with high hopes, the lack of money deprives him of his chances, and provokes him to follow his brother's footsteps. He gets caught trying to steal a car, and is saved by Sandy Cohen, a lawyer that represented Ryan after his misdeed. Sandy takes Ryan to his home in Orange County, where he is able to provide his family with no worries of money. Although Ryan has potential, his parents inability to support him, makes him feel he is deprived of chances and should give up on going to college.  On the other hand, Seth, Sandy's son, gets a high level education at a private school which sends students off to high level universities. His dream is to become a comic book artist, and he knows his way to get there. Opportunities appear right in front of him. Coming from a high social class, he has many connections in a variety of fields, giving him a chance to go after what he wants.

As Ryan adjusts to his new life in a wealthy family, he starts to discover his potentials. He tries to work for his future, rather than give up and simply 'work.' Social class develops stereotypes, depriving those in lower classes of chances and opportunities they could of had, had they not given up.

 Social backgrounds make the adolescents have different level of motivation. Although this is a naive point of view formed through tv sitcoms, it seems that the lower the social class one is born in, the lower the potentials are from the beginning. Children have big dreams and are not afraid to chase them.
However, when they turn into adolescents and realize the difference in social class, they are faced with reality and are forced to adapt their futures to fit with their background. The difference in social class is no doubt a huge part of the problems today. Omitting the facts of class differences and how they effected lives in the past, moreover how they are implanting stereotype motivations will not help change anything. Trying to convince students that they all have equal chances, despite their class, will result in low class student's low self esteem, moreover will kill their futures.