Lisa Delpit's view on DIVERSITY
As I sat back and thought about the article written by Lisa Delpit, I realized that there are some major communication blocks between white individuals and people of color. I knew that there was a barrier, but I never realized the extent to which people of color felt about this topic. There are several quotes in Lisa Delpit’s article that come to mind as I think about the unfortunate struggles people of color face. “People of color feel left out of the dialogue about how best to educate children of color” “what you have to say about your life, your children, doesn’t matter. They don’t really want to hear what you have to say. They wear blinders and ear plugs.” Delpit’s view on this topic and the many questions that were asked in the article… “How can the bitterness and resentment expressed by the educators of color be drained so that the sores can heal?” encouraged me to think about the solution to the problem.
I believe the first step of healing involves acknowledging power. I then believe educators of different races should come together and share their experiences and opinions on the best ways to educate children. Collaboration and listening to what people of color have to say is key. The more information the better. Although this may be a difficult task due to the power white educators have, it is in the best interest of the children. Both white people and people of color want the same things for their students. As a whole, Delpit feels that when the power of white educators has been acknowledged more open communication and honesty will be established. With this line of direct communication amongst people of color and white educators, I believe academic success will be promoted amongst all races and ethnicities.
Delpit comments, “I do not advocate a simplistic “basic skills” approach for children outside the culture of power.” Delpit feels that children should not be separated according to family background but instead ensure that each classroom incorporates strategies appropriate for each individual student. Delpit states that it is not the schools job to attempt to change the homes of poor and non-white children to match the homes of those in the culture of power.
I agree with this. It would be unfortunate to operate as if these children were incapable of critical and higher level thinking and reasoning. They may not be incapable just because they are outside the culture of power. As Delpit states “not all children learn the same way”. A child’s background knowledge, style of learning and cultural beliefs play a major role in how the child will learn. Instead of a simplistic “basis skills approach”, instruction needs to be adapted according to individual styles of learning.
Melissa, I agree with the thought you presented in your third paragraph, "ensure that each classroom incorporates strategies appropriate for each individual student." These students should not be taught separately, but as you said, educators need to provide a multi-faceted approach to learning, incorporating many different styles of teaching in each of our lessons so that all students have the opportunity to be successful and are exposed to different styles of teaching that may be different from the culture that they grew up in.
ReplyDeleteMelissa, I connected your blog with mine. Teachers need to be flexible and willing to adapt to their students so that the lesson can be successful. Regardless of race, background or culture, teachers are teaching information that needs to reach all students
ReplyDeleteI agree with the Lisa Delpit quote about how we must first acknowledge the power differential before we can address it. Unless we know what we are fighting against, the problem can never be resolved. This also reminds me of the reading from last week where the author said that only in using "impolite" terms such as racism and sexism can we begin to address the problem.
ReplyDeleteHi Melissa!
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your post. In the first paragraph, you state that you didn't realize just how large the communication block between white individuals and people of color was. Me either! I think that more articles like this need to be published in order to see that barrier. That way, when white individuals read it, they can become more aware of the communication block and work on fixing it.