Mike Hawk's Journal: English teachers & ebonics

That whole ebonics thing didn't go away. It appears that this is required reading for at least some post-graduate future English teachers. The book's conclusion being that to correct "Black English" in the classroom and requiring black students to conform to American English is racist. Is it?

We teach English to Spanish speakers. This isn't considered racist. I would even correct a child of an Australian immigrant in cases where their spelling differs from American.

The most startling claim in the book is that black students don't learn the same way white students do and therefore shouldn't be taught in the same way. Is that true? Thats a scary claim.

The last is more racist than teaching

[Marxist Hacker 42]

Good ole' American Standard. I personally think that Bill Cosby is right- as long as *some* blacks decide to be separate, they will never be equal.

Having said that- there is some evidence FOR the racists when taken from a purely objective viewpoint. But that same evidence, interpreted in a slightly different way, could also apply to economic class instead of race; or even to local cultures. The real answer is that different people learn differently; and the lines are not clearly cut across race, color,

Where is this happening?

[L-Train8]

What school is requiring masters in education students to read this book? Where did you hear this is happening?

Re:Where is this happening?

[Mike Hawk]

The old lady is wrapping up her master's in English. I didn't just hear about it, I know it first hand and even read large sections of the book myself. She attends the state school here that is largely considered the school to go to for the fast track into teaching, especially for liberal arts.

I'm not claiming all students in every college everywhere are reading this book, but some are, and the book's claims are being taught as theory that is to be implemented into the classroom. She thinks for hersel

Never Mind

[mercedo]

Language changes very rapidly. The ones which were thought to be standard yesterday are subject to misuse today. In school standard language ought to be taught but in reality we use language as we like it. What's important is not how to use language correct but how to transmit what we really want to say. However correct someone speaks language as 'standard' it is useless unless they can transmit it as they wish.

Language is a best way to communicate with someone at the same time it continues to be a poor too

"In school standard language ought to be taught"

[Mike Hawk]

Thats the point. The book argues that this isn't worthwhile. It argues that teaching the American "standard language" is racist. I strongly disagree.

I think its important to know the language of business. I may not always use it outside of work, but I have access to it and know how to use it when necessary. If the author and the professors who require it for English majors have their way, the next generation won't. Haves and have-nots will be reduced to those who write isn't and ain't because their

Re:"In school standard language ought to be taught

[mercedo]

Language we use is a criteria for many things, so when we heard about how they speak or write, we can usually tell how and where they raised up.

Haves and have-nots will be reduced to those who write isn't and ain't because their mothers told them to.

If there were two languages for haves and have-nots, they would only help widen the chasm between two people, and they will never be able to promote understanding between two people. Since language is for people to understand each other, not meant for segrega

Your conclusion...

[geoswan]

"...The book's conclusion being that to correct "Black English" in the classroom and requiring black students to conform to American English is racist..."

I did a google search on the author's name. This link [freep.com] suggests that Dr Smitherman's conclusions are not as controversial as your representation of them.

So, do I think it is racist to use ebonics as a bridge to teaching students standard English? Nope. Do I think it would be racist to try to stamp out Black English? Yes. Do I think the USA would

Now I understand

[Mike Hawk]

You consider an article about the person equal to having read the book yourself. Or to knowing someone who is in a class to which this book was assigned as required reading.

You used this psuedo-knowledge to try to contradict my point. Normally I wouldn't respond because any thinking person knows that your information is incomplete and second-hand. Most of your posts are like this. But to demonstrate how poor your understanding can be, I just thought I would pop back in and point it out.

My "represe