Today's literature circle was a success. I felt the group worked together well and had a very good grasp on their material, which was difficult to begin with. I felt that they got some good discussion going and their timing was excellent.

As far as the subject matter is concerned, I was interested yet distressed by McLaren's idea of critical pedagogy. I believe that critical pedagogy is a step in the right direction towards reducing the social stratification in our society and changing the pattern of social reproduction. As society is structured now, we stand to lose more than we stand to gain because the lower class is growing larger while the elites are becoming fewer and fewer. I agree that the ultimate outcome of this will be some kind of oligarchy/dictatorship if we continue in this cycle. People in the lower class do not see a way out because they are not presented with the skills for critical thinking and challenging social norms.

However, McLaren's concept of a marxist classroom without any classes represented at all made me consider the outcome of this type of classroom. If the children are not exposed to what is reality, will they be able to understand that not all of life can be marxist? I think it is a very good idea to incorporate these ideals of equality in the classroom, but I also think it is important to directly communicate to the students that they need to feel comfortable and compelled to challenge the ideas and processes that they believe are wrong. If we can develop a sense of comfort with challenging authority that perpetuates these negative social patterns, then we are one step closer to achieving a less socially stratified society.