EDL 820 - Unit 1 - Critical Theory Analysis

     I grew up in small town Saskatchewan, where looking back I can now see how the public school setting really supported the unjust power structures in society.  The students I attended school with from the various surrounding are with were mostly middle to upper class and of 2 parent families with European ancestry. It was very apparent early on in my public education that you would be judged on your ability to conform as a student in the classroom and on your appearance as a citizen, that looked good and spent money and time to do so.  I say these two things critically now, but as a child I strongly believed in both concepts, unknowingly. Personally being very proud of my ability to complete school tasks swiftly, stand in line perfectly and follow the rules in class and at recess without question. I also placed great value in fitting in based on appearance through all the horrendous trends of the 80’s and 90’s, from Pace-setters to Hyper-color T-shirts to Mushroom cuts.  This idea of competitive consumerism became very clear to me in reading the book “The Rebel Sell” by Joseph Heath and Andrew Potter from 2004.      

Read More