Lisa Delpit- Other People's Children
"Other People's Children" by Lisa Delpit dives into the struggles and obstacles that exist when trying to create classroom environments that promote cultural diversity. At the beginning of the reading, Delpit explains the idea of "The Silenced Dialogue." She utilizes multiple examples to describe how people of color will have their voices be disregarded or ignored, and focuses on how this applies in education settings. For example, one teacher explains how her words seem to go in one ear and out the other when she has discussions regarding how to best serve students of colors with her coworkers, who are predominantly white teachers. "No, they listen, but they don't hear - you know how your mama used to say you listen to the radio, but you hear your mother? Well they don't hear me" (Delpit 21). Similarly, a black woman who works as a school principal and is also a doctoral student explains "I try to give them my experiences, to explain. They just look and nod. The more I try to explain, they just look and nod, just keep looking and nodding. They don't really hear me" (Delpit 22). Ultimately, silencing people of color in these discussions greatly harms students and teachers and drastically effects student learning. It sets society back from being able to have these important discussions and change the way society functions. Therefore, it is crucial that those who experience privilege recognize that there is always more to learn, and in order to learn one must be willing to truly hear what others have to say.
Further into the reading, Delpit continues to emphasize how disparities within the classroom can negatively effect students. She also explains that although students must be taught how to navigate through a society that values the dominant culture, it is crucial students recognize and value their own culture. "The answer is to accept students but also take responsibility to teach them" (Delpit 38). It is important to teach students how to make sense of the power realities that exist within society so that they will then be able to change these realities for the better.
Hi! I totally agree when you mentioned "Therefore, it is crucial that those who experience privilege recognize that there is always more to learn, and in order to learn one must be willing to truly hear what others have to say." As future educators its important to realize that the students will look up to us to learn and it is our responsibility on being able to manage how we show power. Hearing students in my FNED class I hear a lot about how some teachers use their power to punish students.
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