Blog Entry # 8, Gerald Graff "Hidden Intellectualism"

Gerald Graff begins his essay "Hidden Intellectualism" with the view that we generally associate "book smarts" with intellectualism and "street smarts" with anti-intellectualism. And, I completely agree with his words, "Real intellectuals turn any subject, however lightweight it may seem, into grist for their mill through the thoughtful questions they bring to it, whereas a dullard will find a way to drain the interest out of the richest subject."
Then Gerald Graff provides an example from his early life to counter his viewpoint. He was "typical teenage anti-intellectual" and his "preference for sports over schoolwork was not-intellectualism so much as intellectualism by other means." He talks about how he wanted to fit in with the "hoods" and also tried to be smart, but did not show it too much for fear of being beaten. In the author 's case, his involvement in sports allowed him to see that discussing and reading about sports, he was able to develop his intellectual skills.
The author emphasizes, "I believed that street smarts beat out book smarts in our culture not because street smarts are nonintellectual, as we generally suppose, but because they satisfy an intellectual thirst more thoroughly than school culture, which seems pale and unreal." In these words I feel strong critique on how schools are missing out on a valuable opportunity to encourage students to learn more academically. The important concept that the author points out is "not to simply exploit students' non-academic interests, but to get them to see those interests through academic eyes." Being involved in non-academic matters such as sports, fashion and music can help the students to develop their academic way of thinking.
To my mind, schools should encourage students to think critically, read and write about areas of their personal interest, the author underlines that "it makes pedagogical sense to develop classroom units on sport, cars, fashion, rap music, and other such topics." So, as long as the students do so in a serious way, there is a chance for them to express their true precious intellect.