Everything Isn't Always What it Seems- Week 2 - Delpit

Lisa Delpit "The Silenced Dialogue: Power and Pedagogy in Educating Other People's Children"

Argument:

Lisa Delpit's general argument is that White teachers educating Black children isn't quite working out for the Black students.  I think her argument is that White teachers often times don't want to listen to the idea that their methodologies are not benefiting the black learners.  They may "hear" it when someone proposes the idea but don't actually listen.  Therefore if they don't want to listen that their system is not beneficial to all they won't have to change their flawed system.  There are so many smaller ideas under her main argument but one I found interesting is the idea that we all want the same conclusion.  As educators of any race, the main goal is to make these students well-rounded citizens that can go out and maintain a profession geared to each unique individual.  If as educators we all have this goal then why can't these two sides come together?  I wish that Delpit's five rules for the culture of power was a mandatory read for all those involved in education from the curriculum writers to the faculty and staff of all schools.  Perhaps then this would shed some light as to what is really happening in our education system.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/11/black-teachers-may-not-be_n_1587896.html

I found the link above to be interesting because it contradicts what I have read so far in both Delpit's and Johnson's articles.  In essence, the article claims there is a larger gap in black and white students on campuses with more Black professors.  The articles claims that hiring Black and Hispanic teachers to relate better to their student counterparts goes against equality.  I am against this statement very passionately.  There are things that must happen before we can even approach that statement.  Now this isn't to say I think all Whites belong in a "White" group and all Hispanics belong in the "Hispanic" group.  I think there has to be a place in the middle.

Quote #1:
This is from a Black woman principal in a Doctoral program that resides on the West Coast:
"If you try to suggest that that's not the way it is, they get defensive, then you get defensive, then they''ll start reciting research."

Even in this short quote there is a lot to be said.  First, there is the idea that there are two groups in this quote.  The two "they's".  It goes back to Johnson when he quotes the very famous King saying "can't we all just get along".  She divides White educators into one group and Black educators into another group.  Now while I may have had an issue with this ten years ago, I am not so naive to think this is wrong now.  These two groups that are trying to work towards the same goals are getting defensive.  It is not possible for these two groups to come together for the benefit of Black students when there is a contest going on.  It should be a meeting of the minds not a war for whom is correct.  Secondly, there is this idea that research is one size fits all.  It just doesn't make sense! Perhaps instead of all this research we should be focusing on actual experiences of what goes on in the classroom.  Lastly, there is this idea that we are getting defensive and it is causing a wider gap.  I think this goes back to Johnson when he claims we don't have to love or even like each other.  We simply must value each other's experiences and views so that we may work with one another.

Quote #2:
"The rules for the culture of power are a reflection of the rules of the culture of those that have the power"

This is a valuable quote because it's saying those that have the power get to make the rules that we all must live by.  If someone has the power they can say what they want and don't necessarily have to value anyone else.  If the same people stay in power we will never have the ability to change.  Delpit claims we must start from the top and this is directly linked to just whom is at the top.  We must somehow get diversity and those that value all cultures in this culture of power.  But how?  If the rules of the culture of power are made to keep those that they benefit in power how will things ever be different?  For the first time in my life I am giving some serious thought to these issues and getting mad in the process.

Quote#3:
This was a quote a Native Alaskan teacher discussed in her English class.  The class was discussing how come people judge others based on the kind of "English" they use.

"We listen to the way people talk, not to judge them, but to tell what part of the river they come from.  These other people are not like that.  They think everybody needs to talk like them.  Unlike us, they have a hard time hearing what people say if they don't talk exactly like them.  Their way of talking is called Formal English.  We have to feel a little sorry for them because they only have one way to talk".

This quote is very meaningful when discussing appreciating other's differences.  In our country, there are many ways to speak English.  I don't know why some would view this as a negative thing.  Is one way to speak more "American" than another?  Is this why there are negative connotations with the dialects and accents from different regions of our country?  The person that said this simply listens to accents/dialects to know where someone is from with no judgement.  I think that is commendable in a world with so much bias and discrimination.  This is where we should all be in a "civilized" society.  So then that question comes up.  Are we as civilized as we think we are? And by we I mean White, middle-classed people.