just. plain. STUPID.

[Theben]

Originally posted by JimmyCracksCorn
Come on guys, I know we're sheltered here on Poly, but lets be serious for a minute. Are you really trying to tell me that you've never left your neighborhood, never been anywhere where people speak English differently than you? Its a great big world out there, guys. There's room enough for everyone.

Somehow I feel you're the one who needs to get out more.

Now would you please finally answer this simple question, as you've gone back and forth: are speakers of Ebonics able to articulate themselves clearly and thoughtfully to others in the English-speaking world, or not?

In the 5 years I spent managing an "inner-city" restaurant, I never encountered a single speaker of Ebonics who was not able to communicate effectively with me. There were a few who I would have advised to prop up their linguistic skills if they wanted to enter a job field requiring good communication skills. I can't ever recall a time when someone's language skills were so bad that he/she needed a course in a 2nd language to communicate, other than Hispanics and one Iranian woman.

Want to make it part of a high school african-american history class? Fine, go ahead. Want to make it available at the college level, or extracurricular course that they pay for? No problem. Otherwise you've yet to convince me of it's worth.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
I'm still not clear on why Ebonics should be taught and not Creationism?

Ebonics isn't a religion.

[Saras]

Creationism is part of Christian culture and heritage, and teaching that would help people feel good about their culture

[DinoDoc]

Exactly.

[chequita guevara]

Christians, as a group, aren't being failed by the school system at alarming rates. Besides, given how smug Christians are, we don't need them to feel any better about themselves. They're insufferable enough as it is.

[DinoDoc]

Tubbem must be the smart one.

[chequita guevara]

Compared to you?

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
Christians, as a group, aren't being failed by the school system at alarming rates.

Why are you arguing that the system should actively seek ways to fail blacks then?

[Theben]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
Tubbem must be the smart one.

Bleh, don't agree with me. I can see some value in the idea. I just think that the resources involved would be best utilized elsewhere.

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by Theben
Bleh, don't agree with me.

[chequita guevara]

It's not like the school system is doing such a hot job right now. Given the drop out rates and poor education many Blacks have right now, doing the same thing isn't really an acceptable option.

Curricula that are centered around trying to make marginalized students take pride in their culture, and thus themselves, have resulted in some improvment in students scores.

Internalized racism necessitates that instilling a sense of selfworth in students is necessary in order to get them to perform. Study after study shows that if you think you suck, you will suck, and that if you think you rock, you will do better than those who don't.

[Pyrodrew]

Opportunity Cost

Originally posted by Theben
I can see some value in the idea. I just think that the resources involved would be best utilized elsewhere.

Exactly. Aside from the monetary cost, it's not like 30minutes (or however long) gets magically added to the school day. What class gets sacraficed for ebonics? Art/Music class? PE? If those are already gone then what?

Internalized racism necessitates that instilling a sense of selfworth in students is necessary in order to get them to perform.

What if a hispanic child relocates and attends that school? Shouldn't she be taught selfworth with her Spanglish?

Here's an idea, we could have a "Feel Good" Culture class! And it can include art, music and history. There is no reason or benefit to focus specifically on this small subset of culture.

Edit:
Correction, hispanic kids will likely already be in the class...

Blacks make up the second largest racial group in the district, trailing Latinos.

Why are the Latinos and their "it's OK to be latino" culture being ignored? Last I checked they needed better performance too.

[chequita guevara]

That won't work. The idea is that the negative images of sterotypes need to be combatted. Learning about their culture from a standpoint of it having value rather than it being something to be denigrated is seriously helpful.

I personally think it doesn't go far enough, but even a little improvement is better than none. And let's face it, those opposing this aren't trying to replace it with something better, fuller, and more usefull. They're just trying to uphold the failing status quo.

[chequita guevara]

Re: Opportunity Cost

Originally posted by Pyrodrew
Why are the Latinos and their "it's OK to be latino" culture being ignored? Last I checked they needed better performance too.

Cuz it's California and they are prevented by law from doing so because of the English-only anti-immigrant movement.

[DinoDoc]

Re: Re: Opportunity Cost

Originally posted by chegitz guevara


Cuz it's California and they are prevented by law from doing so because of the English-only anti-immigrant movement.

Why are they able to have an Ebonics class then?