Critical Pedagogy in an Urban High School English Classroom

Relevancy is an important part of the education of an English class.  I was very touched by the efforts Duncan-Andrade and Morrell made to introduce and teach “dead white guy” literature next to pieces of popular culture.  They were teaching specifically in urban schools, but whether a school is in the ghetto of Los Angeles or in the affluent areas of Dallas, relevancy remains the same.  It’s true, most literature can be boring to kids, especially to those who live in a low-socio economic area, because in reality, they are just trying to survive.  They find the music and writings of contemporary artists more relatable than Mark Twain.  Frankly, I understand them.  What these teachers did was pretty innovative for English teachers.  They recognized who their students were, where they were from, what they had experienced, their personal interests.  They asked themselves how they could make important classic literature interesting to their students, and, in my opinion, they did it.  By knowing their students, they were able to incorporate popular culture to keep classic literature relevant.  I think it’s a constant battle for English teachers to make reading and writing attractive to their students, but if we develop a relationship with our students and make the learning about them, reading and writing can become fun.  I loved the idea of comparing popular music lyrics with classic poetry; putting them side by side and finding the similarities and differences each artist used, understanding word choices, determining where the metaphors are (both old time-y and new), and analyzing them to a point where students can use the examples to create their own piece of writing.  I think this is the answer to any English class.  Yes, English teachers in urban areas may have more of a struggle, but I honestly think English teachers in ALL areas fight a similar battle.  It actually doesn’t just stop in English class, it’s important for all teachers to be able to compare modern day events with historical events.  Be in the know, stay abreast of popular culture and use it in the classroom to keep kids engaged.  Stay relevant and relatable.  English classes have the potential to be awesome and student-centered.