Leslie Mena

Professor Altman
English 113A
3 November 2014
Argument and Analysis
In the article, Why We Hate Smart Kids, the author argues that the smart people dont
get the respect that they deserve. In our society we see people, such as athletes, as better people
than those who are smart. Starting all the way from high school we start to judge and to label
smart people. We often call them nerds or geeks when they are just smart people. We also start to
consider athletes as cooler kids. He also talks about how people dont recognize all their
accomplishments. What I dont agree with is that even though it is true that smart people but in a
lot of hard work and dedication, athletes too have to put in a lot of work. In high school in order
to be in a sport you have to maintain good grades at the same time. Their practice also ends very
late and then they get home late. If they go home late they start their homework late and then go
to sleep late. So I do think athlete deserve some credit because they have to be very dedicated.
Even though I think he shouldve explained that better, I do agree with his argument. Smart
people are given enough credit and dont get enough attention from the public. Society doesnt
idolize smart people; instead they idolize people like athletes or celebrities such as models,
actors, singers, etc. It is a problem that we dont teach kids that smart people should be idolized.
A lot of people wont know to name one person that is smart. If it werent for smart people we
wouldnt have a lot of things to day. They invent a lot of things that we love. The articles really
get the message through that smart people are rewarded the way other are when they should be
the ones that get rewarded.