I remember hearing about how the African American people wanted to officiate their language and have it referred to as Ebonics. When this surfaced, I thought to myself—oh gosh, now we are going to legitimize the use of incorrect grammar, because if not someone might view it as being racist. As a teacher, I was furious that this type of language was going to be seen as acceptable to in the professional world.
As a first grade teacher, I am expected to teach students to read and write with accuracy and fluency. If I allow students to use their “mother language” in the classroom, how will I ever be able to teach them to read and write the English spoken word? If students are accustomed to saying “ovuh dyuh” and it is accepted within the classroom walls, will they be able to recognize the words “over there” in their text? Will they be able to learn to spell “over there” for use in their writings?
I am a little confused about what both authors want us (all people) to do. I recognize that everyone is different and that is what makes us unique. As part of my curriculum, I teach students about different cultures. I use a wide variety of multi-cultural text to help students realize that it a big world out there and that we are all special regardless of our visual and verbal differences. I do not feel that if I require my students to use proper English while in my classroom that I am in any way hindering their development of self esteem or confidence. It is all in how the correction is done. In order to appreciate the differences in upbringings and backgrounds, you have to teach students about different cultures and highlighten the differences in a positive manner.
In the Deplit article, I do not necessarily agree that the school in which Maya attended was the sole cause for her feelings of inferiority and acceptability. Teachers cannot assume the blame for every negative thing that impacts students. Parents have to assume some of the responsibility. Had Maya’s mother involved her in activities and social settings that provided her with a sense of belonging, or had she been listening to her daughter the need for switching school may not have been necessary.
The overall view towards teachers and school professionals in this article is very negative. With statements such as, “almost no one in the school listens to students” and “schools aren’t inviting to students” is very upsetting to me. I can guarantee that if as a teacher I polled the same students, about their parents and home-life, the same kind of responses would be given. It is important that people stop pointing fingers at who is to blame for all the “wrong” that is happening with today’s youth and start working together to make a difference. Education begins at home—and it is the job of teachers provide a continuation of that learning!
I applaud the way Delpit took the interest of the girls wanting to do hair and turned it into a learning experience. The curriculums used in schools across the country definitely lack in the area of student interest. It is the teacher’s job to find what motivates and interest her students and then pull it into the curriculum. However, I do feel that just because students rebel against a rule, doesn’t mean the rule is not valid. For example, I taught in a middle school that wore uniforms. On a daily basis I would have to tell numerous male students to pull up their pants. So, as suggested by Delpit, should I encourage it and make it a learning experience just because the students are not obeying or “are tired of listening to it”?
In Dowdy article, I enjoyed reading about how she found other fields in which she could show her talents and “be herself”. We are all forced to do things and act in ways that are not our norm. This is not an issue of culture, but just society as a whole. So, it is the responsibility of the individual to find opportunities that allow them to express themselves feely!
Kim Shaw
Comments (5)
I agree that teachers are taking the brunt of the blame for the failure of students. I would like to think the parents are teaching their children, real world, many of them have had bad experiences with education so they do the best they can. However it is sad to say that many teachers, of various ages, think they know the "right" way and everyone should conform. We all want what is best for our children/students. I was very strict with corrections but have lightened up in the way I correct students. I will correctly restate what I understood the child to say,to "check" my understanding of the conversation. This way they hear it correctly and are not offended. We need to hold our students to a high standard and the children will learn to use the appropriate language in the appropriate settings. We don't speak the same every where we go, so we must teach our students right place, right time, "right" language. Kids also like to tap into your life, opening avenues to insert curriculum through your activities. I used my motorcycle for writing, math, and research, the kids loved it.
Posted by Grandma Cunningham | June 8, 2009 7:28 PM
Posted on June 8, 2009 19:28
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and reactions. I do agree with your statement that, “We all are forced to do things and act in ways that are not our norm”. But I do believe that IT IS an issue of culture. As you stated, “It is the responsibility of the individual to find opportunities to allow them to express themselves freely”. I agree with the latter statement because depending on the person’s economic situation, and if they are economically disadvantaged then they are in a culture where they may find it difficult to achieve what we view as manageable. It may not always be conducive for individuals to find or even have opportunities to allow them to express themselves freely. I have several students in my classroom who think that the way out of their ‘getto small town’, is to get married right out of high school. So part of my job is to educate them so they know there are opportunities out there bigger than what they were taught/educated at home.
Toni Wheeler
Posted by Toni Wheeler | June 9, 2009 7:44 PM
Posted on June 9, 2009 19:44
Hmm I did not think about it like this, but teachers should not be blamed for every negative thing that impacts students. A child’s education does begin at home and a large majority of parents do not believe that it is their job to teach or to help teach their children.
I have had multiple parents that have told me, it is not my job to teach my child to read and write. These are very negative comments for a child to hear. I am sure this upsets the child just as much as their dialect. I believe that parents need to slow down and listen to their child. They need to be involved and active in their child’s life, hobbies, and education. Many parents including myself take our life for granted every day! You begin to take life differently when something tragic happens in your life. Parents need to realize that the Lord does not guarantee them tomorrow and therefore they should live every day with their child as their last day with their child.
Misty Mistretta
Posted by Misty Mistretta | June 9, 2009 9:43 PM
Posted on June 9, 2009 21:43
Kim,
I do agree with your points and I share the feelings of frustration when people outside the education realm want to blame schools and teachers for our youth turning out the way they do. The old saying "It takes a village to raise a child" rings true here. Children are not molded by any one experience or aspect of their life; ALL the things they experience and encounter shape them into the creatures they become. As teachers, we are only a part of that molding process. In my 16 years of teaching, I can definitely say things "ain't what they used to be". Children today are more disrespectful, parents less involved, and discipline is a daily battle. Do I think it's because our teachers today are less qualified? No, I think that children come to us with personalities that have already been shaped in their 5 little years and to some extent, we as teachers can't do much about it. If a child has been let run wild and do as he wishes at home, then he is probably not going to sit still and work for me. Sadly, as teachers we don't get to go out on the street and pick the kids we want to teach; we take what we get. (That's what my principal always says!) You do the best you can and that's all you can do. Teachers today have to have a great deal of tolerance and be very understanding about the situations their kids come from. I wish all my kids got healthy meals at night, read to before bed, a bath, and lots of love and support from their parents. But that is not the reality they go home to. It's sad, but I can't change it. People who are not in education just don't understand what a challenge teaching really is and what we as teachers face on a daily basis. It's not the same as it was when I grew up in public school 25 years ago. I've tried to make myself not listen to the negatives other people say; there will always be somebody out there who wants to criticize what you do. And, it's usually somebody who has never tried to do it themselves before!!
Lorie Hedrick
Posted by Lorie Hedrick | June 13, 2009 12:41 PM
Posted on June 13, 2009 12:41
I am amazed at how well children from my school can code switch. Recently a 3rd grade class went on a field trip to meet pen pals from a local church. The party was held at a farm -- and the pen pals were all from upper middle to upper class white families.
The children could carry on conversations with people 30-50 older than they are and from entirely different worlds.
They were able to speak, for the most part in as perfect English as I would imagine most 8 year-olds could.
Now at home and school they fall back on their nativce language.
Posted by Caroline Walker | June 18, 2009 10:10 PM
Posted on June 18, 2009 22:10