Educational System and Self Identity
Davidson, Cathy. “Project Classroom Makeover.” The New Humanities Reader. 5th ed. Stamford, CT: Cengage, 2015. 47–71. Print.
Davidson criticizes the discrepancy between current educational system and evolving expectation of the students. She points out the necessity of reform and launches an iPod experiment to initiate a student-led learning process. By valuing the creativity and voices of students, she emphasizes the concept of self identity and believes that every student is a unique learner. By individualizing the educational system, students are encouraged to find their own identities instead of being framed by the standardized norm.
Solomon, Andrew. "Son." The New Humanity Reader. 5th ed. Stamford, CT: Cengage, 2015.
369–390. Print
Children inherit both parental identities (vertical identity) from birth and societal identities (horizontal identity) from interactions with peers. When the horizontal identity is one of the minority groups such as gay, disabled, or mental illness, parents often attempt to curb the development of that certain identity and refuse to acknowledge that aspect of their children. As a result, the system is suppressing the expression of self identity and lowering their self-esteems. An accepting attitude is necessary for everyone to embrace as who he or she is.
The self-esteem program implemented in mid-1990s boosted up the self-esteems of numerous students; yet, it also causes the rising number of narcissism. Twenge argues that the educational system encourages a high self-esteem, thus, a strong belief in self identity. Yet, this rising self-esteem is detrimental to not only the society, but also the students themselves by implying that working hard isn't necessary to succeed in school work.
Crawford, Matthew B. "Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry into the Value of Work." New York: Penguin, 2009. Print
Crawford argues about how the current educational system is designed to convert students into "knowledgeable workers", creating standardized and demoralized individuals. He uses his own experience as an electrician and mechanic to explain the significance of self-reliance, of finding self identity and living up to one's own standard.
Burch, Rebecca L., and Gallup, George G. "Perceptions of paternal resemblance predict family violence," Evolution & Human Behavior 21, no. 6, November 2000.
Burch and Gallup state that the greater paternal resemblance there is, the less likely the child would be abused. As a result, parents reproduce to attempt to achieve the continuity of their own identities. In another word, they are imposing their own standard onto the next generation. And the self identity of children is restrained due to the expectation of parents.
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