Lisa Delpit
- 1. Essential Questions for to chew on . . . In what ways are the 5 areas of the culture of power relevant to life in schools? What are the educational implications of power and literacy? How can we stop training teachers to expect less of certain children? Skills? Whole Language? Workshop? Phonemic Awareness? Black? White? UGH!!!
- 2. A little bit of Lisa Delpit background Remember, this is a course about the Delpit emerged during the historical, “great Ebonics debate”; Read multicultural, & here to find out more philosophical roots of American schooling. Check out this video: Dr. Ernie Consequently, we need to understand Smith- Ebonics and The Afrikan where we have been Tongue (it is really interesting so as to know where we are going from an historical point of view) Delpit’s Bio
- 3. Recall a time in your life when you felt that you were left out of a secret. When you were left out of something that everyone else, but you, knew….
- 4. Do Blacks and Whites and Others see the world of education differently? In other words: Do Blacks and Whites approach teaching and learning differently? What are the common grounds?
- 5. A Black Educator in a White World? A White Educator in a White Word?
- 6. Process Skills What are the differences between the two? What is Delpit’s position on the two?
- 7. • OK, WE ALL HAVE BEEN RAISED OUR WHOLE LIVES TO BE “RACE NEUTRAL” IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER •HOWEVER, DELPIT’S ARTICLE, IN SOME WAYS, IS A VICIOUS ATTACK ON THE “WHITE WAY” OF KNOWING THE WORLD. DELPIT POINTS OUT TO THE READER THAT WE (COLLEGE PROFESSORS & TEACHERS) HAVE BEEN SOOOOOO “VYGOTSKIED” OUT THAT WE THINK ALL PEOPLE LEARN BY: COOPERATION, EXPLORING, DOING, ETC. . . . •DELPIT IS LIKE A SLEDGE HAMMER THAT SCREAMS, “WHAT ABOUT TEACHING KIDS SKILLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
- 8. Ways of Do children of different races learn differently? knowing How do you feel about this issue? What is Delpit challenging us to see? Are you mad when you read her? If yes, you might not like what she has to say because she is challenging some basic assumptions.
- 9. 3 2 4 1 POWER 5 Where have you seen each of these aspects? What the heck does power have to do with skills vs. process instruction? Do you see the five points Delpit talks about?
- 10. Statement Made Differing Perspective “I want the same thing for everyone Parents outside of the culture of else’s children as I want for mine” power often want something else: “My kids know how to be black – you all teach them how to be successful in the white man’s world.” “Child-centered, whole language, Teachers do students no service to and process approached are needed suggest that product is not in order to allow a democratic state important. They will be judged on of free, empowered adults, and their product, regardless the because research has shown that process, in life. children learn best through these methods”
- 11. Statement Made Differing Perspectives “Children have the right to their We must accept students but also own language, their own culture. take responsibility to teach them. We must fight cultural hegemony Tell students that their language and and fight the system by insisting that cultural style is unique and children be allowed to express wonderful but that there is a themselves in their own language political power game in America – style” they have to access the power codes. “It’s really a shame that she seems Different cultures address each other to be so authoritarian, so focused in different styles. Take Shirley on skills and so teacher directed. Brice Heath’s study, “What no Those poor kids never seem to be bedtime story means” for example. allowed to really express their We can’t judge one culture by the creativity” values of our own.
- 12. Please read this excerpt from. . . Lisa Delpit