Slam School Critical Book Review

As a response to the marginalization faced by minority youth in schools, a growing number of educators are introducing hip-hop education in their classrooms. Bronwen Low’s text, Slam School explored the dynamics of teaching and learning through the story of Tim, a classroom teacher who utilized student-centered pedagogy to engage with hip-hop culture. Low’s research intricately examined Tim’s classroom experiences, where discourse was filled with conflict, tension, and ambivalence. This critical book review will focus on two themes of Slam School: 1) student-centered pedagogy, and 2) the notion of conflict. Using Low’s text, this paper will examine how critical pedagogy disrupts the notion of ‘dominant culture’ by emphasizing the narratives of those experiencing oppression in schools. Additionally, it will refer to Michael Apple’s framework of The Hidden Curriculum, to advocate for the pedagogical value of conflict, demonstrating how it could lead to new insights for both teachers and students