Hidden Intellectualism

In the writing Hidden Intellectualism, Gerald Graff is focusing on how he feels that being street smart and being intellectual can benefit each other. Motivating young people in school can be done by the teachers being more creative in their lessons and focusing on the interests of the students. One of the examples Graff makes to back up his point is, he reflects on when he was younger and how his endless debates with his friends about sports and who is the toughest kid helped him in an intellectual way. These things in his youth helped him to understand how to make arguments and converse with others. Graff also brings up the points about students being able to see their interests "through intellectual eyes." This means that street smarts alone is not enough, but if a student can use their intellect to focus on a topic they are interested in this could help them in their studies. This also ties in with Graff's points about how if the student uses their interests for a topic, they are likely to approach the material in a reflective and analytical way.

In the writing Can You Hear Me Now? Sherry Turkle makes the connection between street smarts being similiar to emailing or texting. Graff may think this would be a good place for the teacher to incorporate the current interests of students into their learning. The students would benefit if part of their academics involved technology that they are currently interested in. This goes along with how Graff feels street smarts can benefit an intellectual goal.

Antonia Peacocke mentions how the show Family Guy "intentionally satirizes some aspects of American culture," in her writing Family Guy and Freud. Graff would identify with this as some street smart humor being used in a more intellectual way. The topic of the satire may not be the most intellectual thing but the way the jokes are delivered would be more intellectually based.

Over all Graff's points about the importance of streets smarts being important to intellectual goals would help a lot of people realize they have been acting like an intellectual maybe without even knowing it. His approach to learning could help many people look at their interests in new ways and ultimately help them with their educational goals as well.