Quotes
1. "... ensuring that each classroom incorporate strategies appropriate for all the children it confines" (page 30).
-In this quote, Lisa Delpit is pointing out that not all classrooms have suitable materials and resources for all of the children to learn effectively. She believes that all the schools should make sure that the students have the materials they need to learn. I agree with her but in reality this isn't the case. As pointed out in the article many schools suffer from poverty so they can't afford everything they need. Sadly, the majority of the students being effected by this are students of color.
2. "I am also suggesting that appropriate education for poor children and children of color can only be devised in consultation with adults who share their culture" (page 45).
-This quote goes along with my previous one. The first one stated the issue and this quote is one of Lisa Delpits suggestions on how to start fixing the issue. Many people don't notice a problem or ignore the problem of poverty effecting children of color. Getting adults together to bring up all of the problems is a good place to start. I don't really agree with Delpit here. I feel like having adults who can relate to the issue talk is a good thing but I'm not sure how effective it would be to actually fix the issue.
3. "Teachers are in an ideal position to play this role, to attempt to get all of the issues on the table in order to initiate true dialogue" (page 47).
-Throughout the whole article Delpit was mentioning that many people knew about the problems of race, culture, and poverty but they kept pushing them aside. Nobody wanted to talk about them. Here she is saying that having teachers bring up the issues would be a good place to start in getting the problems put on the table. I agree with her here. I feel like the teachers are a reliable source and that will get people to listen.
One of my personal favorite quotes in the article was the second quote that you selected. Would having a teacher that can relate to the cultures of the impoverished or students of color help a student succeed? I don't know. However, a teacher that can relate to students from different cultures can help the students feel included and not just a "lost cause" like so many teachers out there sadly think. It is tragic how some schools are so poor that they don't have the money for proper materials. I know at some places like Staples, they are trying to raise money to get the proper materials, however, in my opinion, that is not enough. More schools need to be aware of these issues and try to help each other out so that all of the students from all over schools can access the proper materials that can help them succeed in life. I absolutely agree with you that teachers need to educate students about different backgrounds and cultures, so that the students can learn acceptance. Parents need to teach their children about acceptance at a very young age, because there comes a point in life when teaching kids about acceptance is too late. Overall, I enjoyed reading your post and can't wait to discuss about this tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteI thought that you did a good job connecting your personal opinions with the quotes you chose. I also agree that teachers need to be the driving force for change and they have the power to make people listen.
ReplyDeleteYour second quote stands out to me because I discussed a similar quote in my blog post. Having teachers who are of the same demographic, and akin culture can be helpful to relate to the students and to understand a problem, but there is a flaw in that process.. Don't you think how that could also lead to re-segregation? If Delpit is saying how those of similar cultures and demographics should work in schools and with children of similar cultures and demographics sound like this: Black teachers who grew up in poverty should work with the black kids who are living in poverty's schools because they relate better. Doesn't that bring up a few problems in and of itself?
ReplyDeleteJust some thoughts.