Saints Vs Saints Essay

Words: 579
Pages: 3

Race plays a large role within educational institutions that in turn influences ideas adults hold on youth. The radical schooling theory assumes that the dominant group’s ideologies, interests, and ideas are reflecting in what is taught at school. Known as the “hidden curriculum”, this educational disparity puts minority students at a disadvantage as the tests that determined the track in which a student might take where dominated by white student. As well, many of the behaviors expressed by African American students were seen as troubled, calling for punishment and making these students into “troublemakers”. In regards to appearance, school dress codes favor those white students. “Black English” also often gets students in trouble as Standard English is the norm for the school setting. These racial differences that are apparent in educational institutions play into the creating of the students’ identity. As there is little to no representation of these minority …show more content…
Through this study of the two groups – the Saints being upper-middle class and the Roughnecks being lower-class—there is a clear divide in the way that teachers, police, and other members of society think and treat these young men. Visibility and demeanor are different for these two classes, as the richer Saints play more to the emotions of those in authority and have cars to quickly leave a situation in which they may get in trouble, advantages the Roughnecks do not have. The impact this bias perception of the two groups by adults influenced the future success of these individuals. Many of the Saints went on to be successful, except for the one that talked back to the teacher and had to repeat his senior year. In contrast, the Roughnecks who did not receive special treatment and were seen as been deviant lived up to this social perception that has been reinforced over the