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.
