An online space for our community to extend our engagement with education and pop culture
Tuesday, August 20, 2024
September 10…Our Ideas about Schooling and TV
What TV shows have influenced how you think about what schools are for, teaching, etc.? In light of what we have been doing in class can you see the show and how you experienced it in a different light? Be specific.
Personally I grew up with more influence from movies rather than TV shows. I was raised by my Dad who was I very big fan of the ‘80s. So I grew up watching the classics. Such as: The breakfast club, weird science, Fast Times, Teen Wolf, Risky Business, etc. Most of the movies I saw made me see high school as the crazy place were parties happened every weekend that involved a bunch of alcohol and lust. Now that I look back, my view was completely off. I can’t say for certain because I wasn’t alive in the 1980’s, however, I’m pretty sure high school wasn’t that crazy then either. It was a cool era of time where the goal was to be cool. I think high schoolers back then wished it was like that, so movies demonstrated the inner most emotions surrounding high school, or education.
Schoolhouse Rock was something I watched as a kid. It was a series of animated shorts with catchy songs that taught subjects like grammar, history, and science. It showed me that learning can be fun and memorable when it’s presented in an entertaining way. The show demonstrated that using creative methods helps me remember and understand difficult topics better.
I feel like most of the shows I watched as a kid involved school as the main place where the main characters came in contact and was the main setting of these shows. A big one that comes to mind is the show Victorias on Nickelodeon, I watched that all the time with my cousins. The show was about a group of talented students at a high school designed for the arts and the show was a very inaccurate depiction of school and led me to not really know what to expect in highschool. This was the case with most of the shows I watched, others depicted huge parties every weekend or a crazy hierarchy based on what grade you were in, but in reality that wasn't the case at all in my opinion high school was easier than it was depicted in pop culture.
The first show that came to mind was Disney’s “A.N.T. Farm.” As a child, I admired its focus on art over traditional schooling, and Chyna Anne McClain, the Black lead actress, made me feel represented. Reflecting on our class discussions, I definitely see the show in a new light. To me, it portrays expressive individualism within a suburban academic setting. While the characters exhibit agency, personal growth, and self-expression, the program also highlights how socioeconomic differences influence their personal goals.
Growing up, I primarily watched Japanese anime, Korean dramas, and some Chinese and Japanese dramas later. Naturally, the culture surrounding education in those shows is quite different from our own. I’m not sure how they affected my idea of schools but I can say one thing I know that I used to think about was the contrast between our education system and theirs. In what I watched growing up, education seemed to be taken more seriously compared to how its treated in America. Often, the teenagers in the drama or anime I watched attended cram schools after normal school had ended. It’s like private tutoring, except you leave your daily school only to attend another one with another group of students later in the day. Not to mention how testing season always seemed to be exaggerated in anime and dramas. It was always described as the make-it-or-break-it point for students. Often, characters crammed untill the last minute and studied intensely, and failure was not acceptable. Now, was this all probably exaggerated because its fictional television? Yes, most likely. However, not all of it is. It’s true that in Japan and Korea, students seem to take their education more seriously than they do here in America. I definitely remember growing up thinking often about this topic and wondering where these core differences stem from. Of course, it's culture, but I just have to wonder what the key differences are. To grow up like me, I saw so much representation of a different culture's school system through the media I consumed, and it seemed to function better, with students respecting teachers and trying their best to succeed academically. While naturally, I understand that all systems have their flaws, I can say it didn’t have me often looking at our own education system very positively.
The show that comes when thinking about schooling is Euphoria. Although I obviously did not watch this show growing up it still made me think of school differently after I watched it. When watching it was so focused on the main characters lives and dramas. The school part of the show seems non existent and this definitely caused me to view school less seriously then I should have. This is because school work and teaching was mentioned only a handful of times during the show. It mostly phrased school as one big party instead of a place to get work done.
I can't really think of a specific show that influenced me because I knew they weren't real and school isn't actually like that, also the shows that I watched that the kids were NOT productive in school whatsoever. My favorite show I watched growing up was The Amazing World of Gumball. In that show they kind of just get into crazy situations in that school, and the whole teaching part of school isn't really the central plot point, the school is just a setting of the show. I can see it in a new light with individualism in some sense, a character just goes through a whole arc by themselves, whether good or bad it has a sense of individualism, that's about it.
I believe different shows and movies can alter one's view on high school depending on what you watch. For instance older tv shows or movies like greece, it was more focused on being "cool" and "popular". The movie never necessarily spoke on the actual education, but more so to be cool, parties, and relationships. I believe the older the shows and movies, the more high school is fantasized. Whereas newer movies or tv shows don't really emphasize popularity as much. Sophia Vito brought up Euphoria and it helped make my opinion clear. Newer shows like Euphoria are focused on parties and unfortunately lust, drugs, and alcohol, which has become more common in today's society. Though of course in euphoria, the drugs, alcohol, and drama was emphasized immensely on the show.
A show that influenced the way I think about school would have to be Victorious. This show made me think high school was place that was carefree all the time and just fun 24/7.
A show that influenced the way I think about school would have to be Victorious. This show made me think high school was a place that was carefree all the time and just fun 24/7. With their teacher Sikowitz having a very unorthodox way of teaching. This show painted a really false image of what school is.
Some of the biggest shows I remember watching that influenced my views on school were shows like Victorious and Riverdale. Neither of which really focused on the learning or teaching part of it. Most shows that are out nowadays are becoming increasingly focused on the wilder parts of high school like drugs, sex, and alcohol. In my own school, these had become a prevalent issue but shows like Riverdale or Euphoria have really started to glorify it. In almost all of these, the students have full agency to do mostly whatever they want to with little to no repercussions from family or school.
This is more in terms of higher education as opposed to middle school, but Community in many ways teaches through parody. The point of the show is how bad the community college is due to a lack of funding, compared to the city college that is much more reputable and runs like a normal school. The show is very goofy and has a lot of satire, but at the same time it is perpetuating the notion of community college being lesser than regular college. However, the bigger thematic focus of the show relative to the purpose of education is that Greendale(the school) is in fact better than city college in many ways because it takes in students with problems, and gives them education and eventually degrees. To sum it up in a sentence, I would say Community shows that even if a school has no money or other weaknesses, if it is providing opportunity to a disadvantaged student, it can't be all bad of a school. While this show projects this theme in upper education, in the United States it is definitely a concept that can be applied to public schooling.
One show that I've watched that relates to school is Freaks and Geeks. Some parts of the show remind me of Welcome Back Kotter and how teachers seemed to give up on some of the students. I also used to watch the show Community when I was younger. The show is very unlike college. One part of the show that is very different from actual schooling is the dean. He is always mingling with students and even partakes in classes from time to time. Even though he is at times high energy, the dean can be seem very stressed or beat down like the principal in welcome back kotter. The class has had me think about these shows differently and realize how different education is portrayed in TV and media.
I didn’t grow up with cable television, so my main source of entertainment was PBS Kids. Shows that aired on their channel are meant to help educate children who watched it. A show called “Arthur” aired on the channel that would take place half of the time there.While the show would discuss topics related to school, it made elementary school feel like a community, where everyone seemed to know each other. Looking back on it, school life never felt like that in the sense that no one wanted to get to know each other and would rather hang out in friend groups they were comfortable with knowing.
When I was a younger kid my favorite shows that involved kids at school were Good Luck Charlie and ANT Farm. In Good Luck Charlie schools is depicted in 2 different ways. The boys in the family go because they have to and don't place much importance on grades or respecting teachers, whereas the eldest daughter cares very heavily about her grades. The daughter in the show, Teddy, consistently talks about wanting to go to Yale and needing to get grades just so she can get into this school. This ideology really influenced me, growing up my only concern in school was getting good grades so that I could get into a good college and impress those around me, not actually learning. I think this idea is prevalent across a lot of shows and represents what a lot of students feel. I only ever felt like going to school was to prepare you for college to then prepare you for the workforce. I can see now that the school experience is very different for everyone depending on many different factors.
The show I think impacted my perception of school the most growing up would be magic school bus. I was never someone to watch tv shows that had to do with school, so the episodes I would see in class were the most I saw depicting school on TV. I liked how engaging it made science seem, which I think started my love for science. I also think the show fueled my curiosity with how they went about learning things very hands on and in depth.
As a kid I enjoyed watching Victorious and ICarly. Both shows were about the life of teenagers who would balance school with outside activities like singing or having a broadcast. I thought that this was what highschool and college were like, and you would go to school and enjoy time with your friends while also doing school work. In reality, school isn't a time for socializing. you would go to school, talk to your friends for maybe 5 minutes, before listening to the teacher talk for an hour and a half. The shows never showed the hours you would have to study for a test, or how many homework assignments. you have due in one night. School in TV does hit on one point, and that being social ques and learning how to cooperate with a team.
I grew up with more influence from movies than TV shows. Animated films, project videos, digital books, practice questions, and more may all be used to teach students through a range of captivating images on smart TVs, which can significantly increase student engagement in the classroom. The program proved that coming up with original ideas improves my ability to recall and comprehend complex information. Even though this program focuses on upper education, public education in the US can surely benefit from this idea.
One thing I grew up watching that influenced me on my perspective of school is the “High School Musical” movies! They were my first official look into what high school would look like for me. They did an excellent job at highlighting all the social groups/clubs along with how the classes and the way teachers can also play a big part in our lives. When it was my first official day of high school in person (9th grade was covid era), I was totally expecting it to be just like the movies with everyone already knowing where they fit in but it was a fresh start for everyone. I will say that at the end of my high school experience, I can definitely see how “High School Musical” portrayed that it’s about self discovery and finding yourself and your true passions.
Growing up, the majority of the shows that I indulge in had the elements of education in them, being that the audience that was being portrayed was young adults and preteens. The main that truly stuck out to me when it comes to education's portrayal in television would have to be Victorious. Seeing how Victorious portrayed high school was an interesting perspective to have. They made school fun and random, with confused teachers and the freedom to basically do whatever you like. Obviously this is not an accurate representation of how education is shaped, but it was still a way to create an influence on the younger crowd. Now learning the use of media is manipulated to how we view certain things about education. My perspective is different. I still understand that it is just for entertainment, but I can see how it can paint a misleading understanding of high school for those who are coming into it.
An educational children's television program called "Sid the Science Kid" centers on Sid, a precocious preschooler who has a strong interest in science. Through his travels, Sid investigates scientific ideas, questions queries, and conducts practical experiments with his loved ones. Inquiry-based learning and the value of curiosity, experimentation, and observation in comprehending the world are highlighted in the program. Thinking Back: "Sid the Science Kid" emphasizes the importance of encouraging interest and letting kids take charge of their own learning experiences, which is particularly relevant in light of current classroom discussions on educational approaches. The program's emphasis on experiential, hands-on learning emphasizes the advantages of involving students in active inquiry as opposed to rote learning. It makes the case that schools ought to place a high priority on creating spaces that invite inquiry and discovery, in line with modern educational principles that support critical thinking abilities and student-centered learning.
One of the first shows/series that came to mind was “Bill Nye the Science Guy.” The show is so nostalgic and no one can miss the theme song. Bill Nye made learning interesting for me in primary school. He was an example of how to make learning fun and entertaining. I still see it in the same light. I believe it can still be effective to younger generations—maybe more corny now, though. Reflecting on our class discussions, you could argue that Bill Nye had a massive amount of agency. He could’ve stuck with a classroom setting, but every episode was something different and sometimes incorporated other people. On the other hand, his agency, creativity, and individuality could’ve been restricted as he could’ve been told to do these things in order to profit well (I don’t think this is the case though. I believe he likes what he does).
Although I didn’t watch that many shows growing up (at least mainstream ones), there are a few that come to mind that relate to school: The Magic School Bus, Winx Club, and Girl Meets World.
The Magic School Bus was exciting and interesting, as the kids went on cool adventures that were pretty educational too. I feel like it definitely made me think that school was for learning, and that learning can be really interesting and exciting. In terms of our class, I can now see that The Magic School Bus depicted the teacher, Ms. Frizzle, as having a lot of agency, since the students are at her mercy in a sense every time she takes them on an unconventional field trip. However, with these field trips being so interactive and encouraging of discovery, the students also seem to have a great deal of agency in their learning. I can also now see that this show seems to imply that the real learning is outside of the conventional classroom.
Winx Club is a show about a girl named Bloom who discovers she has magic and has to go to Alfea (fairy school). There, she and her friends keep stumbling into schemes by witches from Cloud Tower (witch school), and have to break rules and investigate off campus. Obviously, it’s a bit distant from what school actually is, but being shown how the girls would have homework (and not always do well) as well as stressing about exams made it feel grounded. Since there were so many out-of-school hijinks, it feels like the show implied that although school was helpful for learning and improving, it sometimes holds you back or even obstructs you from the important things happening. Looking back with the lens of our class, it feels like Winx Club emphasizes individualism, as each student has a specific specialization in their power (such as fire, plants, technology, or music). Additionally, in this show, the students appear to have a lot more agency compared to the teachers, as Bloom and her friends continually act outside of school rules, despite their hesitations and fears concerning the consequences, in order to help prevent evil.
Girl Meets World depicted students being able to do almost anything in their history class, along with having lessons being tailored to them. For that reason, the show seems to imply that students have almost all the agency, as the teacher is reacting and adapting to the students most of the time. It also sometimes has a sense of encouraging the students to look through the nonsense that we’re told (like how Postman wrote in his speech), but it’s a bit ironic since there’s plenty of nonsense in Girl Meets World when I think about it in retrospect.
To end, I wanted to mention Abbot Elementary because I’ve watched a good portion of it over the summer, and it was impactful. It made me reflect on the privilege I’ve had. I’ve gone to both a private school and a public school that is situated in a richer area; in both cases, I haven’t really suffered from not having enough supplies or resources at my schools, though I’m sure there were cases here and there. In terms of the class, I’d say that Abbot Elementary depicts teachers as having little agency. They are often restricted by lack of resources and money, as well as by the curriculum and people higher up in the county. The students also don’t seem to have too much agency, thanks to their living situations as well as the limitations of their school. The ones who have the most agency seem to be the principal, who often irresponsibly does whatever she wants, as well as the people with higher positions in the county. I feel like Abbot Elementary emphasizes democratic equality in education, especially in terms of equal treatment and equal access, as well as social mobility (as seen in Labaree).
Growing up I watched cartoons more than anything, especially those that depicted school in more of a high school setting. From what I remember it was used as a plot device to create tension in the form of projects or exams, to a varying degree of effectiveness. Outside of those examples it was seen as more of an excuse to kill time or a setting to place the episode in. The show was similar in nature to "Girl Meets World" in the fact that teaching is either barely relevant to what is happening or was done implicitly, showing it was a place to learn lessons that weren't directly content related. From remembering the show and comparing it to what we have been talking about in class I can see a lot more of the implicit messaging than I remember before, and how they influence the social lives of everyone in the show.
I grew up watching some old movies from the 80s like The Breakfast Club, Clueless, and 10 Things I Hate About You, as well as 2000s TV shows like Victorious, iCarly, and Girl Meets World. I feel like most of these shows and movies don’t really use school for its actual purpose—they often just use it as a setting where the characters can hang out. They tend to exaggerate certain elements by including a lot of clichés, which makes school seem bigger than it actually is. Now, looking at it from a different perspective, I can see that sometimes the plot was meant to be deeper and a lesson was supposed to be taught. However, I still feel like the point isn't always fully met, and it remains more about entertainment than a reflection of real schooling.
What TV shows have influenced how you think about what schools are for, teaching, etc.? In light of what we have been doing in class can you see the show and how you experienced it in a different light? Be specific. In high school I watched grownish and euphoria, these 2 shows portrayed a much different experience of high school and college than I personally experienced. In grownish college was portrayed as mostly partying and socializing; yes I have gone to my fair share of parties and have done plenty of socializing however, my college experience has not been centered around that. In euphoria high school was also portrayed with a lot of partying but also lots of drugs. I personally never experienced walking into a high school bathroom and seeing my peers taking drugs especially not hard drugs at 8 am... Throughout both of these shows it was like actual learning wasn't a priority and the students were never actually learning. I spend a good chunk of my free time studying and completing my assignments unfortunately so I don't believe these portrayals are accurate.
I watched the television show "Glee" a lot growing up. While the show focused on a high school glee club, the show touched on how extracurricular activities can be as important as academic achievements in shaping students identity. It showed challenged stereotypes about what students should be like. While the show contribute to talk about the purpose of education it also portrayed the challenges teachers face with the education system.
mainly there were a lot of tv shows while growing up that had influenced me involving school which is really hard for me, but I would probably would say everybody hates Chris would have me thinking about school involving future success and achievements which it was a funny show involving that main character life growing up, it also involved a lot of the main characters issues and challenges it had when it came to the department education.
A show/movie that I watched growing up that influenced the way I viewed school was Victorious and movies like High School Musical. I remember being forced to watch those as my sisters hogged the television in my parents room. I honestly thought high school was a party all the time before I got there. I probably came to the realization in the 8th grade. I wonder if they made school look fun just to incentivize young minds so that we could further our education, or maybe so we could waste time looking for happiness in places we shouldn't.
Growing up, I watched One Tree Hill which depicts high school falsely as a popularity contest as well as a place to fall in love and do no homework. I also loved the movie Mean Girls growing up which basically has the same themes as One Tree Hill. The media I watched surrounding high school life as a kid painted the wrong image of what reality is like in this environment. Through our class I have learned to become more critical of the archetypes and general implications that much media presents, especially in a high school setting. The idea that popularity is like being crowned queen and education isn't really given much significance is just untrue and largely pushed in our society through our media.
Personally I grew up with more influence from movies rather than TV shows. I was raised by my Dad who was I very big fan of the ‘80s. So I grew up watching the classics. Such as: The breakfast club, weird science, Fast Times, Teen Wolf, Risky Business, etc. Most of the movies I saw made me see high school as the crazy place were parties happened every weekend that involved a bunch of alcohol and lust. Now that I look back, my view was completely off. I can’t say for certain because I wasn’t alive in the 1980’s, however, I’m pretty sure high school wasn’t that crazy then either. It was a cool era of time where the goal was to be cool. I think high schoolers back then wished it was like that, so movies demonstrated the inner most emotions surrounding high school, or education.
ReplyDeleteSchoolhouse Rock was something I watched as a kid. It was a series of animated shorts with catchy songs that taught subjects like grammar, history, and science. It showed me that learning can be fun and memorable when it’s presented in an entertaining way. The show demonstrated that using creative methods helps me remember and understand difficult topics better.
ReplyDeleteI feel like most of the shows I watched as a kid involved school as the main place where the main characters came in contact and was the main setting of these shows. A big one that comes to mind is the show Victorias on Nickelodeon, I watched that all the time with my cousins. The show was about a group of talented students at a high school designed for the arts and the show was a very inaccurate depiction of school and led me to not really know what to expect in highschool. This was the case with most of the shows I watched, others depicted huge parties every weekend or a crazy hierarchy based on what grade you were in, but in reality that wasn't the case at all in my opinion high school was easier than it was depicted in pop culture.
ReplyDeleteThe first show that came to mind was Disney’s “A.N.T. Farm.” As a child, I admired its focus on art over traditional schooling, and Chyna Anne McClain, the Black lead actress, made me feel represented. Reflecting on our class discussions, I definitely see the show in a new light. To me, it portrays expressive individualism within a suburban academic setting. While the characters exhibit agency, personal growth, and self-expression, the program also highlights how socioeconomic differences influence their personal goals.
ReplyDeleteRachel Wolburg:
ReplyDeleteGrowing up, I primarily watched Japanese anime, Korean dramas, and some Chinese and Japanese dramas later. Naturally, the culture surrounding education in those shows is quite different from our own. I’m not sure how they affected my idea of schools but I can say one thing I know that I used to think about was the contrast between our education system and theirs. In what I watched growing up, education seemed to be taken more seriously compared to how its treated in America. Often, the teenagers in the drama or anime I watched attended cram schools after normal school had ended. It’s like private tutoring, except you leave your daily school only to attend another one with another group of students later in the day. Not to mention how testing season always seemed to be exaggerated in anime and dramas. It was always described as the make-it-or-break-it point for students. Often, characters crammed untill the last minute and studied intensely, and failure was not acceptable. Now, was this all probably exaggerated because its fictional television? Yes, most likely. However, not all of it is. It’s true that in Japan and Korea, students seem to take their education more seriously than they do here in America. I definitely remember growing up thinking often about this topic and wondering where these core differences stem from. Of course, it's culture, but I just have to wonder what the key differences are. To grow up like me, I saw so much representation of a different culture's school system through the media I consumed, and it seemed to function better, with students respecting teachers and trying their best to succeed academically. While naturally, I understand that all systems have their flaws, I can say it didn’t have me often looking at our own education system very positively.
The show that comes when thinking about schooling is Euphoria. Although I obviously did not watch this show growing up it still made me think of school differently after I watched it. When watching it was so focused on the main characters lives and dramas. The school part of the show seems non existent and this definitely caused me to view school less seriously then I should have. This is because school work and teaching was mentioned only a handful of times during the show. It mostly phrased school as one big party instead of a place to get work done.
ReplyDeleteJeff Baker
ReplyDeleteI can't really think of a specific show that influenced me because I knew they weren't real and school isn't actually like that, also the shows that I watched that the kids were NOT productive in school whatsoever. My favorite show I watched growing up was The Amazing World of Gumball. In that show they kind of just get into crazy situations in that school, and the whole teaching part of school isn't really the central plot point, the school is just a setting of the show. I can see it in a new light with individualism in some sense, a character just goes through a whole arc by themselves, whether good or bad it has a sense of individualism, that's about it.
I believe different shows and movies can alter one's view on high school depending on what you watch. For instance older tv shows or movies like greece, it was more focused on being "cool" and "popular". The movie never necessarily spoke on the actual education, but more so to be cool, parties, and relationships. I believe the older the shows and movies, the more high school is fantasized. Whereas newer movies or tv shows don't really emphasize popularity as much. Sophia Vito brought up Euphoria and it helped make my opinion clear. Newer shows like Euphoria are focused on parties and unfortunately lust, drugs, and alcohol, which has become more common in today's society. Though of course in euphoria, the drugs, alcohol, and drama was emphasized immensely on the show.
ReplyDeleteA show that influenced the way I think about school would have to be Victorious. This show made me think high school was place that was carefree all the time and just fun 24/7.
ReplyDeleteA show that influenced the way I think about school would have to be Victorious. This show made me think high school was a place that was carefree all the time and just fun 24/7. With their teacher Sikowitz having a very unorthodox way of teaching. This show painted a really false image of what school is.
ReplyDeleteEmmanuel Bangura*
DeleteSome of the biggest shows I remember watching that influenced my views on school were shows like Victorious and Riverdale. Neither of which really focused on the learning or teaching part of it. Most shows that are out nowadays are becoming increasingly focused on the wilder parts of high school like drugs, sex, and alcohol. In my own school, these had become a prevalent issue but shows like Riverdale or Euphoria have really started to glorify it. In almost all of these, the students have full agency to do mostly whatever they want to with little to no repercussions from family or school.
ReplyDeleteThis is more in terms of higher education as opposed to middle school, but Community in many ways teaches through parody. The point of the show is how bad the community college is due to a lack of funding, compared to the city college that is much more reputable and runs like a normal school. The show is very goofy and has a lot of satire, but at the same time it is perpetuating the notion of community college being lesser than regular college. However, the bigger thematic focus of the show relative to the purpose of education is that Greendale(the school) is in fact better than city college in many ways because it takes in students with problems, and gives them education and eventually degrees. To sum it up in a sentence, I would say Community shows that even if a school has no money or other weaknesses, if it is providing opportunity to a disadvantaged student, it can't be all bad of a school. While this show projects this theme in upper education, in the United States it is definitely a concept that can be applied to public schooling.
ReplyDeleteOne show that I've watched that relates to school is Freaks and Geeks. Some parts of the show remind me of Welcome Back Kotter and how teachers seemed to give up on some of the students. I also used to watch the show Community when I was younger. The show is very unlike college. One part of the show that is very different from actual schooling is the dean. He is always mingling with students and even partakes in classes from time to time. Even though he is at times high energy, the dean can be seem very stressed or beat down like the principal in welcome back kotter. The class has had me think about these shows differently and realize how different education is portrayed in TV and media.
ReplyDeleteI didn’t grow up with cable television, so my main source of entertainment was PBS Kids. Shows that aired on their channel are meant to help educate children who watched it. A show called “Arthur” aired on the channel that would take place half of the time there.While the show would discuss topics related to school, it made elementary school feel like a community, where everyone seemed to know each other. Looking back on it, school life never felt like that in the sense that no one wanted to get to know each other and would rather hang out in friend groups they were comfortable with knowing.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a younger kid my favorite shows that involved kids at school were Good Luck Charlie and ANT Farm. In Good Luck Charlie schools is depicted in 2 different ways. The boys in the family go because they have to and don't place much importance on grades or respecting teachers, whereas the eldest daughter cares very heavily about her grades. The daughter in the show, Teddy, consistently talks about wanting to go to Yale and needing to get grades just so she can get into this school. This ideology really influenced me, growing up my only concern in school was getting good grades so that I could get into a good college and impress those around me, not actually learning. I think this idea is prevalent across a lot of shows and represents what a lot of students feel. I only ever felt like going to school was to prepare you for college to then prepare you for the workforce. I can see now that the school experience is very different for everyone depending on many different factors.
ReplyDeleteThe show I think impacted my perception of school the most growing up would be magic school bus. I was never someone to watch tv shows that had to do with school, so the episodes I would see in class were the most I saw depicting school on TV. I liked how engaging it made science seem, which I think started my love for science. I also think the show fueled my curiosity with how they went about learning things very hands on and in depth.
ReplyDeleteAs a kid I enjoyed watching Victorious and ICarly. Both shows were about the life of teenagers who would balance school with outside activities like singing or having a broadcast. I thought that this was what highschool and college were like, and you would go to school and enjoy time with your friends while also doing school work. In reality, school isn't a time for socializing. you would go to school, talk to your friends for maybe 5 minutes, before listening to the teacher talk for an hour and a half. The shows never showed the hours you would have to study for a test, or how many homework assignments. you have due in one night. School in TV does hit on one point, and that being social ques and learning how to cooperate with a team.
ReplyDeleteI grew up with more influence from movies than TV shows. Animated films, project videos, digital books, practice questions, and more may all be used to teach students through a range of captivating images on smart TVs, which can significantly increase student engagement in the classroom. The program proved that coming up with original ideas improves my ability to recall and comprehend complex information. Even though this program focuses on upper education, public education in the US can surely benefit from this idea.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I grew up watching that influenced me on my perspective of school is the “High School Musical” movies! They were my first official look into what high school would look like for me. They did an excellent job at highlighting all the social groups/clubs along with how the classes and the way teachers can also play a big part in our lives. When it was my first official day of high school in person (9th grade was covid era), I was totally expecting it to be just like the movies with everyone already knowing where they fit in but it was a fresh start for everyone. I will say that at the end of my high school experience, I can definitely see how “High School Musical” portrayed that it’s about self discovery and finding yourself and your true passions.
ReplyDeleteGrowing up, the majority of the shows that I indulge in had the elements of education in them, being that the audience that was being portrayed was young adults and preteens. The main that truly stuck out to me when it comes to education's portrayal in television would have to be Victorious. Seeing how Victorious portrayed high school was an interesting perspective to have. They made school fun and random, with confused teachers and the freedom to basically do whatever you like. Obviously this is not an accurate representation of how education is shaped, but it was still a way to create an influence on the younger crowd. Now learning the use of media is manipulated to how we view certain things about education. My perspective is different. I still understand that it is just for entertainment, but I can see how it can paint a misleading understanding of high school for those who are coming into it.
ReplyDeleteAn educational children's television program called "Sid the Science Kid" centers on Sid, a precocious preschooler who has a strong interest in science. Through his travels, Sid investigates scientific ideas, questions queries, and conducts practical experiments with his loved ones. Inquiry-based learning and the value of curiosity, experimentation, and observation in comprehending the world are highlighted in the program. Thinking Back: "Sid the Science Kid" emphasizes the importance of encouraging interest and letting kids take charge of their own learning experiences, which is particularly relevant in light of current classroom discussions on educational approaches. The program's emphasis on experiential, hands-on learning emphasizes the advantages of involving students in active inquiry as opposed to rote learning. It makes the case that schools ought to place a high priority on creating spaces that invite inquiry and discovery, in line with modern educational principles that support critical thinking abilities and student-centered learning.
ReplyDeleteOne of the first shows/series that came to mind was “Bill Nye the Science Guy.” The show is so nostalgic and no one can miss the theme song. Bill Nye made learning interesting for me in primary school. He was an example of how to make learning fun and entertaining. I still see it in the same light. I believe it can still be effective to younger generations—maybe more corny now, though. Reflecting on our class discussions, you could argue that Bill Nye had a massive amount of agency. He could’ve stuck with a classroom setting, but every episode was something different and sometimes incorporated other people. On the other hand, his agency, creativity, and individuality could’ve been restricted as he could’ve been told to do these things in order to profit well (I don’t think this is the case though. I believe he likes what he does).
ReplyDeleteAlthough I didn’t watch that many shows growing up (at least mainstream ones), there are a few that come to mind that relate to school: The Magic School Bus, Winx Club, and Girl Meets World.
ReplyDeleteThe Magic School Bus was exciting and interesting, as the kids went on cool adventures that were pretty educational too. I feel like it definitely made me think that school was for learning, and that learning can be really interesting and exciting. In terms of our class, I can now see that The Magic School Bus depicted the teacher, Ms. Frizzle, as having a lot of agency, since the students are at her mercy in a sense every time she takes them on an unconventional field trip. However, with these field trips being so interactive and encouraging of discovery, the students also seem to have a great deal of agency in their learning. I can also now see that this show seems to imply that the real learning is outside of the conventional classroom.
Winx Club is a show about a girl named Bloom who discovers she has magic and has to go to Alfea (fairy school). There, she and her friends keep stumbling into schemes by witches from Cloud Tower (witch school), and have to break rules and investigate off campus. Obviously, it’s a bit distant from what school actually is, but being shown how the girls would have homework (and not always do well) as well as stressing about exams made it feel grounded. Since there were so many out-of-school hijinks, it feels like the show implied that although school was helpful for learning and improving, it sometimes holds you back or even obstructs you from the important things happening. Looking back with the lens of our class, it feels like Winx Club emphasizes individualism, as each student has a specific specialization in their power (such as fire, plants, technology, or music). Additionally, in this show, the students appear to have a lot more agency compared to the teachers, as Bloom and her friends continually act outside of school rules, despite their hesitations and fears concerning the consequences, in order to help prevent evil.
Girl Meets World depicted students being able to do almost anything in their history class, along with having lessons being tailored to them. For that reason, the show seems to imply that students have almost all the agency, as the teacher is reacting and adapting to the students most of the time. It also sometimes has a sense of encouraging the students to look through the nonsense that we’re told (like how Postman wrote in his speech), but it’s a bit ironic since there’s plenty of nonsense in Girl Meets World when I think about it in retrospect.
To end, I wanted to mention Abbot Elementary because I’ve watched a good portion of it over the summer, and it was impactful. It made me reflect on the privilege I’ve had. I’ve gone to both a private school and a public school that is situated in a richer area; in both cases, I haven’t really suffered from not having enough supplies or resources at my schools, though I’m sure there were cases here and there. In terms of the class, I’d say that Abbot Elementary depicts teachers as having little agency. They are often restricted by lack of resources and money, as well as by the curriculum and people higher up in the county. The students also don’t seem to have too much agency, thanks to their living situations as well as the limitations of their school. The ones who have the most agency seem to be the principal, who often irresponsibly does whatever she wants, as well as the people with higher positions in the county. I feel like Abbot Elementary emphasizes democratic equality in education, especially in terms of equal treatment and equal access, as well as social mobility (as seen in Labaree).
^^Christine Jacob
DeleteGrowing up I watched cartoons more than anything, especially those that depicted school in more of a high school setting. From what I remember it was used as a plot device to create tension in the form of projects or exams, to a varying degree of effectiveness. Outside of those examples it was seen as more of an excuse to kill time or a setting to place the episode in. The show was similar in nature to "Girl Meets World" in the fact that teaching is either barely relevant to what is happening or was done implicitly, showing it was a place to learn lessons that weren't directly content related. From remembering the show and comparing it to what we have been talking about in class I can see a lot more of the implicit messaging than I remember before, and how they influence the social lives of everyone in the show.
ReplyDeleteI grew up watching some old movies from the 80s like The Breakfast Club, Clueless, and 10 Things I Hate About You, as well as 2000s TV shows like Victorious, iCarly, and Girl Meets World. I feel like most of these shows and movies don’t really use school for its actual purpose—they often just use it as a setting where the characters can hang out. They tend to exaggerate certain elements by including a lot of clichés, which makes school seem bigger than it actually is. Now, looking at it from a different perspective, I can see that sometimes the plot was meant to be deeper and a lesson was supposed to be taught. However, I still feel like the point isn't always fully met, and it remains more about entertainment than a reflection of real schooling.
ReplyDeleteWhat TV shows have influenced how you think about what schools are for, teaching, etc.? In light of what we have been doing in class can you see the show and how you experienced it in a different light? Be specific.
ReplyDeleteIn high school I watched grownish and euphoria, these 2 shows portrayed a much different experience of high school and college than I personally experienced. In grownish college was portrayed as mostly partying and socializing; yes I have gone to my fair share of parties and have done plenty of socializing however, my college experience has not been centered around that. In euphoria high school was also portrayed with a lot of partying but also lots of drugs. I personally never experienced walking into a high school bathroom and seeing my peers taking drugs especially not hard drugs at 8 am... Throughout both of these shows it was like actual learning wasn't a priority and the students were never actually learning. I spend a good chunk of my free time studying and completing my assignments unfortunately so I don't believe these portrayals are accurate.
I watched the television show "Glee" a lot growing up. While the show focused on a high school glee club, the show touched on how extracurricular activities can be as important as academic achievements in shaping students identity. It showed challenged stereotypes about what students should be like. While the show contribute to talk about the purpose of education it also portrayed the challenges teachers face with the education system.
ReplyDeletemainly there were a lot of tv shows while growing up that had influenced me involving school which is really hard for me, but I would probably would say everybody hates Chris would have me thinking about school involving future success and achievements which it was a funny show involving that main character life growing up, it also involved a lot of the main characters issues and challenges it had when it came to the department education.
ReplyDeleteYaseen Salih:
ReplyDeleteA show/movie that I watched growing up that influenced the way I viewed school was Victorious and movies like High School Musical. I remember being forced to watch those as my sisters hogged the television in my parents room. I honestly thought high school was a party all the time before I got there. I probably came to the realization in the 8th grade. I wonder if they made school look fun just to incentivize young minds so that we could further our education, or maybe so we could waste time looking for happiness in places we shouldn't.
Growing up, I watched One Tree Hill which depicts high school falsely as a popularity contest as well as a place to fall in love and do no homework. I also loved the movie Mean Girls growing up which basically has the same themes as One Tree Hill. The media I watched surrounding high school life as a kid painted the wrong image of what reality is like in this environment. Through our class I have learned to become more critical of the archetypes and general implications that much media presents, especially in a high school setting. The idea that popularity is like being crowned queen and education isn't really given much significance is just untrue and largely pushed in our society through our media.
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