Argument: Sculpting A Culture

Argument- Shenk argues through economic observations of cultural differences that the key to a strong education system is "To sculpt a culture that can accommodate different personality types and levels of motivation" (151). This theory of sculpting a culture is one which seems to be even more improbable in present day education. Shenk also reflects that this system can be created through lessons learned from a 2006 study which observed that in matriarchal cultures, women were more likely to exhibit competition thriving personalities and in patriarchal cultures, men were more likely to exhibit competition thriving personalities. The lesson being that "There is no fixed male or female competitive biology"(151). Shenk, quoting Gneezy, goes on to express that what may be the best education policy is one "Targeting the socialization and education at early ages as well as later in life" (151). Seeing that this is a fairly bold assertion as students in the US generally have stood by a multiculturalist sentiment since the 1970s, how does this idea of sculpting a culture apart from ethnic or social norms play into the "AP Biology Culture" at Stevenson High School in teaching methodology (Hint: Look at Erdmann's "Growth Mindset")? Also, what biologically justifies the method of sculpting a culture based on targeting socialization at early ages as superior to the present day American educational structure (Think effect of coed vs. single sex schools)? 


Alex Nye
alex.nye95@gmail.com