Delpit Response
I found Delpit’s article interesting because it brought up an important point. Many do not realize it but we live in a “culture of power”. It is important that students learn about this “culture of power” and how to compete in a society where not everyone is valued equally. I think that simply teaching acceptance and thereby raising an entirely new generation of citizens who do not discriminate between race, gender, and faith is an unrealistic goal. I think that if our education system is to produce intelligent and capable citizens it needs to empower those citizens with the ability to compete in a “culture of power”. One way of doing this is by teaching minority children the language of power and thereby giving them the communicative skills they need to be taken seriously by those who might otherwise ignore or even devalue them.
4 Comments:
As I read your comment, I started to wonder why some individuals disagree with teaching the language of power to minority students who don't naturally possess it. Is it merely becuase the language of power happens to be the language of choice for the majority? If, hypothetically, the language of power were the language of a particular minority, would it meet with as much opposition? (Or is this scenario even possible?)
It is unfortunate that there is this culture of power and the language associated with it that many do not possess. It may seem unfair, but realistically, it is how the world is. In my opinion, there will always be a "culture of power" because there will always be superior and inferior groups. I hate to say that raising a new generation of citizens who don't discriminate is impossible; it may be that we are so far from achieving that goal that it just really seems unrealistic. In addition, we are raised in a society where discrimination is inevitable so we see it as impossible to change. As for now, teaching the language associated with power is what will give students the ability to succeed in society, so I don't think that should be changed.
I agree with Odan. I never could have written it so eloquently. Language is a tool that we all need and should all have. It's silly to think that not giving kids this tool will benefit them.
I like what you are saying here. I personally feel that this whole idea of a "culture of power" has little to do with discrimination and should be looked at, not as a race/gender problem, but as a plan and simple language problem that deals with professionalism in particular environments.
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