Talking Points:
1. Delpit discusses how teachers in power dismiss the ideas of teachers who are not in power leading them to feel unheard. Those in power will not listen to the opinions of those not in power and cite research in defense of their position. They believe their way is the best way to educate all students.
2. The example Delpit included about the black elementary principal who indicated that there were many issues with black children being sent to the office for disobedience to some of the white teachers. When parents were contacted, they expressed that they simply just had to tell the child what to do and they would do it. I’ve observed these types of interactions at my school. For example, when the students’ behavior needs to be redirected, the teachers will ask “What are you supposed to be doing right now?’ or “How are you supposed to be walking in the hall?”. It is not clear and direct to those who are not use to being spoken to that way. Instead, some may respond better to “Sit down and finish your assignment” or “Stop running and be quiet”.
3. I liked how Martha Demientieff taught her students the difference between the two different language styles. She labeled them Formal English and Village English. I thought it was clever to have them associate Village English with the casual picnic and Formal English with the formal dinner. She celebrated the fact that they are able to communicate both ways and the others who judged them were only able to use Formal English. She tried to make them appreciate and feel good about their way of talking but made them aware that it was necessary to learn how to use Formal English in order to compete and be successful.
Argument statement:
In Other People’s Children, Delpit argues that our schools are not neutral spaces. She labels them as having a “culture of power”. The power is held by those who are white and of the middle class. This results in the rules and norms of their culture being the standard in schools. This causes those in minority communities to be disadvantaged.
Connections:
The Precious Knowledge documentary showed how incorporating students’ culture changed how they viewed and experienced school. They became excited, engaged, and felt a sense of belonging. As a result of the school embracing their culture and making lessons relatable, their education was enhanced and their performance improved. The students benefitted and thrived from the shift in power. It is a good example of how changing the rules of power allowed the students to be heard.
Lisa Delpit’s Keynote Address 2022
Black Students, White Curriculum...
Hey Heather, I really enjoyed that you connected the Precious Knowledge documentary to this week's reading. I totally agree! I felt so sad watching that documentary because the explicit instruction on that population's culture was so so important to those students' upbringing and motivation, and even helped the school get higher test scores when the ethnic studies program was introduced! I think the fostering of cultural identity in the classroom really can strengthen student social and cultural awareness and it really sucks that some politicians felt otherwise. Because of how catastrophic that situation was, while maybe cultural classes such as ethnic studies are not yet formalized in the classroom, it takes educators to have to take on this responsibility themselves.
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