TOW #15: When Teachers Favor Attractive Kids

      As some people say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Beauty is opinionated depending on culture, experience, taste, and many different factors. So does attractiveness affect daily human interactions? Could it be possible that a more attractive human being will be treated more favorable? Pepper Schwartz, professor of sociology at the University of Washington, agrees and claims that teachers favor more attractive students. 
      Schwartz introduces with studies proving her claim. A book by Wiley says, "the difference in GPA and college graduation rates between youth rated by others as attractive, versus average in looks, is similar to the differences in academic achievement between youth raised in two-parent versus single-parent families." That shocking claim of fact is introduced within the first few paragraphs of the article, catching the reader's attention. Using credible sources as evidence to back up her claim creates a strong logical structure for her argument that attractive students do better in school. But studies have also shown that this success goes well beyond high school. The key is that these students with lucky DNA start to build their self-confidence early, every time they hear a compliment or receive good grades. Confidence is a key trait in life, and those who gain it early, will go much further than those who are struggling with esteem issues. 
     With Schwartz claim backed by evidence, she then goes on to display a claim of policy. She proposes that teachers should think a minute before giving that grade to an attractive student unless they truly deserve it. In society today, we have put a lot more stress on the importance of stopping bullying because we have advertised the repercussions of it. We should also pay attention to how fairly we treat everyone, no matter how they look. Discussing this openly can help people in our world today realize the impact their words or actions have on young students. I think Schwartz crafts her argument well, backs it up with striking evidence, and then eases into her claim of policy to form a well-written article.