I respond to the article on hidden intellectualism, which can be found in Chapter 17 (They Say, I Say). Gerald Graff, the author of this article, uses language to relate to the reader. He uses language to show similarities between his thoughts and the situation that the reader might have found himself in. Gerald believes that some intellectualisms are more valuable than the majority of colleges. For instance, Gerald says that “What we don’t realize is that colleges and schools might be to blame for missing an opportunity to tap into these street smarts and channel them to good academic work.” (Graff 359) Gerald is offering his opinion on how important it is to help one learn academically, and to give them a chance at displaying their talent and knowledge.
Gerald shares his personal experiences from his childhood and tells the reader about his life. This may make it easier for the reader to connect with Gerald. “I was a terrible reader and a horrible sportsman until I went to college. But, I’ve recently realized that I wasn’t anti-intellectualism as much as I was pro-intellectualism. Gerald discusses how his views on intellectualism changed over time and explains why different ideas or things are more important and intelligent than others. His main perspective was formed from his own experiences as well as what he learned about education. Scott Burkun’s evaluation of the pros and cons of being street-smart over book-smart was a good read. His article stated that “Street smart is a result of experience.” It is the ability to see past experiences and take them as they are. I believe that Gerald and Scott have the same view on intellectualism. Both agree that it is possible to be as smart or as intelligent as someone who is just as good at school. It’s not as important to be book-smart and have high-level learning skills. However, street smartness is better than being smart and capable of high-level learning.
Gerald’s piece is, to my mind, a very important issue in the current educational system. It also highlights how we are seen and judged. Today, schools are judged on how many students cheat on one test. Your ability to perform well on tests and in school shouldn’t make you “intellectual.” You could be as knowledgeable and skilled in one way or the other, but you shouldn’t base your intelligence on educational systems that aren’t able to see where they’re truly gifted. “What a waste!” (Graff 369). It doesn’t take much to possess intellectual gifts and skills. Many colleges do not encourage students to use their street smarts in school. This may make them more successful than regular book work.
