Week #8

 Literacy with an Attitude 

Patrick J. Finn

Reflection

   After reading Patrick Finn’s Literacy with an Attitude really made me rethink what it means to be “educated.” Previously, I had assumed that literacy was primarily about learning to read and write effectively. But Finn makes it clear that literacy is actually about power and who gets it, what kind they get, and what they’re allowed to do with it. That idea hit me because it explains a lot about how school can look so different for different people, even within the same city or district.

    Finn talks about the difference between “domesticating” literacy and “liberating” literacy. Domesticating literacy teaches people enough to function in society, follow rules, and do what they’re told. Liberating literacy, on the other hand, helps people question things and challenge unfair systems. When I read that, I started thinking about my own school experiences. In some classes, it really did feel like we were just learning how to follow directions and not make trouble, while other times, teachers encouraged us to think for ourselves and have opinions.

    The way he describes working-class schools versus wealthy schools is honestly frustrating but not surprising. In working-class schools, students are taught to obey rules, complete tasks, and focus on the basics. In upper-class schools, students are taught to think critically, lead discussions, and take control of their learning.

This movie and Finn's readings have a very similar message. This is a documentary about education inequality in the U.S., examining how, despite desegregation progress, many schools still reproduce segregation and unequal opportunities. Very much in line with Finn’s concern about how literacy/education systems serve working‐class students less “liberating” literacies.