Hi everyone. I have to say that honestly, when I read some of these chapters I was very upset. I feel like a lot of these issues are focused around race and that teachers are really being portrayed as horrible creatures who, in Delpit's view, create this environment of ""Say it right or don't say it at all!"" How many of us have actually ever done this? And why is everything being focused around race in these chapters? I am as white as all of my other children, yet I do not speak with this southern drawl that is found in this area. Each of my students is unique in their own way. They are not all EXACTLY alike and this is something to be celebrated!
I was also really thinking about Delpit's use of her daughter as an example. Her daughter spoke the same way as everyone else in her private school so language was not the seperating boundary making her have lower self esteem. Their were other African American students present, but no African American girls. So, of course being around other students similar to her own physical background and now having others like her to play with made her self esteem grow. I don't see how learning and speaking ebonics had a lot to do with it. That would be like taking the only female in an all boys school, placing her in a southern public school and saying that her self esteem increased because she started saying ya'll, not because she had other females to associate with! Delpit's observations and theories do not hold up here.
Overall, children like new things. They get excited when I speak Spanish in my classroom. It is the learning of new knowledge that makes this fun and interesting, not just the language! They get excited about using big "adult" words when I teach them words like frustrated, pilfer, etc. And these are new things that they can use later on in life. Think about it, the proper use of the English Language, or any other foreign language can be used to reach millions of other people. Ebonics, just like southern slang, only reaches a collective group. It is limiting. So, I understand when people like Maya Angelou fought out against teaching children ebonics and accepting that as a form of communication. As I have said before, the reason for speaking and writing is to express one's feelings, thoughts, and beliefs. Aren't you losing that ability if you can only express them to a certain minority?
It also infuriated me that she was making so many presumptions about educators. Stating that we don't know what our children go through or what kind of backgrounds our children come from. I am sorry, but if that is really the type of teachers she has observed, than she needs a better perspective! I, along with the rest of the teachers I know and admire, make it a POINT to know our children and their lives. We constantly act as social workers, parent educators, nurses, lawyers, best friends, etc. all day every day. That is why we work so hard to help our children get out of the situations that many are in by trying to encourage and empower them with the knowledge they need to be successful and to show the world that they are the bright intelligen children we love! Thus is why I did enjoy Baker's article.
IBaker really examines the idea that there are certain instances in which one speaks differently and needs different types of language. She also did not limit her ideas just race. Her different levels of language (home, formal, professional) are very important for students to understand and as she shows, can easily be taught in a caring way like many of us want to do and by simply explaining WHY it may be important. By having students examine their home language, they can see the areas in which they need to improve on in academic language and decide to so if they wish, thus motivating them to learn. I am in fact conducting an action research project on this very topic right now for another class. I am looking at how the use of modeling correct grammar in a written and recorded response log effects the use of correct grammar by a child. I am not saying "That's not right! Now fix it or don't talk". It is a very natural process with some minor heartfelt corrections along the way. I would provide the student wit a unique opportunity, the ability to hear theirself speak.
I do have strong beliefs and I am fortunate to never have felt or experienced a teacher making fun of or chastising children for the way they speak, but I still believe correct English grammar is important for any child to succeed whether they are black, white, "country", "ghetto", it doesn't matter. Everyone needs and deserves a voice that can reach the masses.
Whitney Gilbert
Comments (4)
Whitney--I hear ya! Your 4th paragraph subject is something I mentioned in my post as well. I could have gotten more on Delpit's side had she not made this sweeping generalization about teachers. As a whole, I think teachers get into the profession to do the exact opposite of what she described. I could get on board with some things Delpit mentioned in her chapter, but I'm glad I wasn't the only one seeing the holes in her thinking.
Posted by Christy Rivers | January 31, 2009 12:32 PM
Posted on January 31, 2009 12:32
Thank you Christy for your comment. I do really feel like these articles are really chastising and comdemning teachers because we care. Many of the authors are very self righteous! I have been in the reverse role, being a minority in one of my upper level spanish classes and I was always open to my teacher's correction because I wanted to learn the correct way to speak a language, pure and simple. I think people as a general population take things too personally. And, I also think that standards are being lowered to be "politically correct" and that is why to some degree, our government and nation are facing the crisis with the upcomming generations.
Posted by Whitney Gilbert | February 2, 2009 7:12 PM
Posted on February 2, 2009 19:12
Whitney
I enjoyed reading your blog. You made some very interesting points. I agree I have never heard anyone say "Say it right or don't say it all." Most teachers are much more tactful.
I had not thought of the changes in Delpits daughter in the light of what you said. I was assuming what she wrote was true. I agree her self esteem certainly could have risen because she was around girls, not because of the language.
I feel as though while I have many roles in the classroom as you stated, that I do not have enough time to do a good enough job at being a social worker/counselor to my students. I feel that this is one area that I need to improve upon.
I like the idea of your action research project. That sounds as if it will be a good one. I too am getting ready to start one, but am still defining my topic.
And finally your closing statement rang true. Everyone, no matter their background needs a voice that can be understood by all.
SuSu Watson
Posted by SuSu Watson | February 2, 2009 8:05 PM
Posted on February 2, 2009 20:05
Whitney,
I'm a little confused about why a study of race is so off-putting for you. Is your point that the authors are using race as an only factor? Or that they are describing AA children as all the same?
If so, perhaps it would be helpful to remember that the authors are African-American and they are writing about White teachers of minority children. I didn't read anywhere that they are referring to ALL teachers EVERYWHERE -- just teachers in their lifeworlds and research that have been in the majority, who are teaching minority children. There is a difference there. And as minority writers, they have a perspective that as White, middle-class people, we will never understand, or even experience.
I see your point about gender being an issue in Delpit's story of her daughter, but it's too strong of a statement to say that her ideas don't hold up -- perhaps your critique would be that her analysis could be more inclusive by including gender. Does that make sense?
Also, thanks for reminding us about Maya Angelou's perspective on Ebonics. It's important to remember that not all minorities feel the same about Ebonics and communication!!
Posted by Alecia Jackson | February 8, 2009 3:42 PM
Posted on February 8, 2009 15:42