The Silence Dialogue: By Lisa Delpit
Initially when I began reading this article by Lisa Delpit I taught of racism. Especially when she went to speak about how white people do not listen to black basically that is my understanding of the reading. In regards to education and how black children should be taught differently because, of the five premise she listed, particularly number three "The rules of the culture of power are a reflection of the rules of the culture of those who have power." I found this quote in this article fitting and true. Lisa stated, "I have frequently heard schools call poor parents uncaring when parents respond to the schools urging, saying, but that's the schools job." When people know better they do better, a parent cannot teach their children something that is foreign to them. Parents are only able to teach their children about they are educated on if they choose to teach their children at all. Like the quote stated, many uneducated poor parents believe it is the school system responsibility for providing education to their children. Whereas poor families teach their children how to survive their unfortunate communities. For example, the students at an elementary school where I recently visited the majority of the students were Hispanic. If the student does not understand the homework assignment that is given to them, the student returns to school with the assignment incomplete, due to the parents lack of education and perhaps language barriers. The Distar technique used was somewhat helpful to the black students because, of the slow pace of the program. Using a method like this can put other students who are advanced particularly white students behind. This was the main controversy between the black teachers vs the white teachers. As future educators it is imperative that we understand the diversity we will eventually encounter in our communities.
Below you will find the link to "Skills and other Dilemmas another article Lisa Delpit wrote and mentioned in "The Silence Dialogue.
Was the Distar method of learning really effective?
I liked your example about the homework. If a student does not understand their homework and their parents either are not educated or there is a language barrier, the student will miss out on extra help at home which will make them fall behind.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your thoughts about how we should consider diversities when we begin teaching ourselves. I really enjoyed this post.
ReplyDeleteGreat blog, Marika! I too like your point that as future educators it is imperative we understand diversity. And not just for the classroom but for ourselves as members of a quickly growing diverse world. Perhaps teachers should be required to take mandatory workshops on diversity.
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