The Media and Assumptions about Education

Here are some examples that illustrate a representation of suburban, urban and rural education in the media:

Film

Suburban: 10 Things I Hate About You

This film focuses on the lives of two suburban sisters and the teenage boys at school who are vying for them. One sister mourns the fact that she is surrounded by convention and the other strives to obtain “teenage normalcy.” The school they attend is enormous and the teachers in it seem annoyed to be there, frequently sending students to detention and brushing their concerns for more important matters. In general, the movie gives off the idea that school is just a drudgery that gets in the way of real life.

Urban: Dangerous Minds

Michelle Pfeiffer plays a school teacher in an inner city school, where her students are described as “uneducatable.” Throughout the course of the movie, she struggles to get through to her students who have a lack of interest in education. But with persistence (and bribery) she garners the attention, and eventually affection, of the class. To me, this movie makes teaching look too easy. It sends the unrealistic message that no matter the circumstances, if you are persistent, you will always succeed.

Rural: Napoleon Dynamite

This movie revolved around a socially awkward teenage boy who goes to a rural high school. It centers on his attempts to become accepted, make friends and even get a girlfriend. The school in this movie is very provincial, where events like talent shows and school elections are the only buzz of the town. It general, it gives off the idea that rural schools are very humdrum and uninteresting.


Music

Suburban: “Rockin’ the Suburbs” by Ben Folds

In this song, Ben Folds complains about the everyday annoyances of being “male, middle class and white.” He references many other famous middle-class artists and a lot of the frustrations that come along with living in suburbia. This song relates the mundane concerns of people in the suburbs. In some ways, I see this song reflecting the frustrations of many suburban students, who might be bored with everyday conventions and would want to rebel.

Urban: “Gangsta’s Paradise” by Coolio

In this song, Coolio sings about the struggles of living in poverty. He references his life as a “gangsta” and the hardships of living in the inner city. There’s a line in the song that reads, “They say I got ta learn, but nobody’s here to teach me.” This line reflects how he feels people in urban environments are brushed aside and forgotten. It touches on the idea that most of the world think of people like him as worthless thugs.

Rural: "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd

The only song that comes to mind when I think of rural America is Sweet Home Alabama. The song is a proclamation of pride for rural Alabama. It makes me believe that schools in rural areas are proud of their customs and ideas, especially when it comes to education.


Television

Suburban: Saved By The Bell

This series follows a group of suburban high school friends and the trials and tribulations that come with growing up. Although there are countless jokes and XXXX, the general consensus is that school is important. It’s necessary to do well in school and be accepted by peers in order to be well-liked. Education in this series is taken seriously, for the most part.

Urban: Boston Public

Boston public showcases the lives of teachers in an urban high school in Boston. Throughout the course of the series, the teachers deal with troubled students, violence and balancing their personal lives. This show makes teaching in an urban environment seem impossible, with serious problems always waiting just around the corner. Teaching in this environment is more like a struggle in this show.

Rural: Smallville

Yes, this show is about the teenage life of Superman. But Clark Kent does go to a very rural high school in the middle of farmland, Kansas. When watching this show, I get the sense that education in a rural environment is second class to the drama and concerns of everyday life and chores on the farm.


News

Suburban:

From the Star Ledger: Two suburban schools refuse trips to Newark for football

In this article, it is explained that two suburban high schools – with plans to play Newark teams in football – have cancelled their trip because of the fear of drive-by shootings. This decision comes days after a drive-by shooting killed two people and injured another. In this article it can be seen that parents of students from suburban areas have fears their safety is in danger by going to Newark. It highlights the perception of education in an inner city school as being violent and dangerous, while suburban students must be sheltered.

Urban:

From the New York Times: Urban Schools Aiming Higher Than Diploma

This article explains the new trends of urban schools to encourage college education, and not just high school diplomas, for their students. Many urban schools are adding advanced placement courses where there were none previously and courses about maintaining GPAs and creating resumes. This article does show that the majority of urban students do not aspire to go to college, but that the trend is changing. Educators in urban schools are concentrating on the positive concerns of their students and helping them to achieve their goals.

Rural:

From the New York Times: On the Reservation and Off, Schools See a Changing Tide

Schools on American Indian reservations are losing students to less rural school systems. Hardin High School, which is close to the reservation center Lodge Grass high school – has gone from about 50 percent white, to about 70 percent American Indian in the course of 10 years. The move marks a striking change in the attitudes of families and students who live on rural reservations. This article shows a general that people in rural areas find their schools are too small to offer enough opportunities for the future.