tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post658531712371379697..comments2024-03-13T21:26:03.011-07:00Comments on Right on the Left Coast: Views From a Conservative Teacher: Race and Academic PerformanceDarrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15730642770935985796noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-34559770181425864952008-02-12T23:44:00.000-08:002008-02-12T23:44:00.000-08:00I feel the achievement gaps result from Language d...I feel the achievement gaps result from Language deficiencies. It's not 'acting white' that is synonymous with positive achievement, as much as it is 'talking white'. I teach so-called lower socio-economic students, and the culture of the school is challenging overall. But even among equally poor white, black and hispanic students...the white students consistently achieve higher. Why? They speak better English. I believe that ethnic-language styles have held back black students even more so than second language learners because they have been exposed to the language of the majority culture longer, and yet they speak as though they still live in the <BR/>1860's. Even some of our sports heroes, and a few of our elected officials-of-color 'split verbs' as my dad used to describe it. Not much has changed as far as ebonics, but it seems that it is spoken more - rather than less. When I ask my white collegues why they don't correct students when they hear them speak in ethnic-English, they say that they don't want to be considered racist. Of course, I find this ridiculous and condescending. But then you speak to the parents who also refuse to speak the Kings English, which is what our tests are (and should be) written in.<BR/>Blacks have preserved this poor English style as some sort of tribute to the ancestors, and both white and black rappers have made money on it. I 've been through the fires of criticism for 'talking white', but I speak and write well, and I demand that my students do the same, in Standard English, and that, more than anything else (including skin color), is really how people will judge you. At least learn how to switch from one setting to another and in different situations. If that makes this lady a racist, then so be it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-42636196482919823032007-11-19T21:13:00.000-08:002007-11-19T21:13:00.000-08:00When this story ran on our local news, they interv...When this story ran on our local news, they interviewed people from a variety of backgrounds about the findings. Two of the most adamant deniers of the status quo for minority students were two African American, female college professors. While people of color from other walks talked of experiencing racism, they didn't use that as an excuse for crime, for poverty or for lack of education. I don't like to believe that any parent of any persuasion would want less than success for their child, yet within the entertainment industry segment that is marketed to minority youth, the concept of "acting white" is synonymous with getting good grades and doing what you are supposed to do in school. Never mind that many anglo kids choose to ignore these concepts, that is the prejudice of minorities against their own. And it can only be something that comes from envy.Ellen Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02845981491726296767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-43926809769017672652007-11-19T20:32:00.000-08:002007-11-19T20:32:00.000-08:00If O'Connell is going to bring out the same old ti...If O'Connell is going to bring out the same old tired bromides about white racist teachers and misunderstood minority cultures, I hope that he does "back down" as the LA Times columnist urges him not to do.W.R. Chandlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05908482384887766964noreply@blogger.com