Kozol "Still Seperate, Still Unequal"

Kozol opens up his text with the quote “There are expensive children and there are cheap children” (1).  Now this is a great attention getter. I pulled me right in and made we want to read on.  Unfortunately this statement is very true. Kozol goes on to say, in the very first paragraph that the  value of children begins very early with their education. The “privileged” rich kids get the opportunity to go to preschool and the poor kids do not. Definitely it is no fault of their own.  I think about this and wonder how important is preschool.  I never went to preschool but both my boys did.  Although, it was solely because I had the money and I thought my sons could benefit from the social interaction.  I never really thought of it as “school.” I didn’t think that kids would learn things that they would bring with them to kindergarten, and unknowingly they would be assumed to know. This connects to Delpit’s article when she states “Some children come to school with more accoutrements of the culture of power already in place – “cultural capital,” as some critical theorists refer to it – some with less.”  Therefore the knowledge brought into kindergarten by these kids who have the “cultural power” is assumed for all children.  The power of money is astounding.

 “More commonly in urban neighborhoods, large numbers of low-income children are denied these opportunities and come into kindergarten year without the minimal social skill that children need in order to participate in class activities and without even such very modest early-learning skills as knowing how to hold a crayon or a pencil, identify perhaps a couple of shapes and colors, or recognize that printed pages go from the left to right” (2). Before this statement Kozol discusses that there are many exceptions to this pattern but this statement rings true for far too many kids.  Who is to blame or what is to blame for this? It is very easy for us to blame the “privileged culture” but as a parent I have to say that I did not wait for my sons to go to preschool before they were introduced to a book, or a pencil, or the ABC’s. There is a place for parent al involvement in a child’s life.  I think that many parents need to take more of a responsibility to raise their kids academically, socially, and emotionally. Kozol doesn’t address parental responsibility in his text.  It is a fact that the more parental and family support a child has, the better they will do in school. Where are the parents? As a country we need to address the teenage pregnancy rate or the rate of unwanted pregnancies more valiantly.  It seems to be a vicious circle for many. As Cleaver said “Your’re either part of the solution of you’re part o f the problem.” We all become part of the problem if we do not address these concerns.

““It was seen, “ according to the New York Times, “as a promising effort to integrate white, black and Hispanic students in a thriving neighborhood that held on e of the city’s cultural gems,” Even from the start, however, parents in the neighborhood  showed great reluctance to permit their children to enroll at Marin Luther King, and despite “its prime location and its name, which itself creates the highest of expectations,” notes the Times, the school before long came to be a destination for black and Hispanic students who could not obtain admission into more successful schools” (3).

All of the statistics that Kozol cites in his text is astounding. Although most of these schools are in predominately black and Hispanic neighborhoods, why are there still predominately black neighborhoods and white neighborhoods? This really opened my eyes to a world I thought was gone a long time ago. “I Have a Dream” ended it all, right?  We have a black president and famous black people and everything is good, right? Langston Hughes said it best, “Nobody’ll dare say to me, eat in the kitchen then, besides they’ll see how beautiful I am and be ashamed. I,too,  am America.

Is America ashamed?  Have we really changed that much. Unless one has power, fame, and/or money, have things really changed that much.  I wonder how it can be fair that the “privileged” kids of Barrington get a better education then the black kids in Providence. Why do their schools get more money! (I know why but..) Are we still living in a “separate but equal “society?

The Martin Luther King School in Manhattan closed its doors in 2005. “http://insideschools.org/high/browse/school/1418  According to Inside Schools, “Violence was also a consistent problem at King, despite the metal detectors and police presence added there after a shooting and a sexual assault in the 1990s. In 2002, shortly before the DOE announced that it would phase out Martin Luther King, a student shot two other students inside the building after sneaking through a side door.”   What a shame because the irony in the situation is unbelievable. Although the intentions for the school were good, the reality of it was not. We live in a world where realty doesn’t seem to be at the forefront of our minds and our hearts. I thought that we lived in a world of equality but after I read this text this text, and when I  read about the segregation that still goes on openly without hesitation I am worried as a mother, and a teacher and an American. I recently read an article to my students called “A Prom Divided.” After the reading we were all shocked to find out that there are still some schools in the south that have segregated proms. I have imbedded two of the videos, both true stories. The white kids seem rather indifferent to the idea; they think it is just a tradition. One young lady’s says that her best friend is black but the separate proms have been going on forever so they just go along with it. The black kids seem more upset. This is happening today, in 2011!  I didn’t realize there were so many ignorant people still in this world (sorry for my harsh tone but it infuriates me).

 "A Prom Divided"

Lisa Delpit "The Silenced Dialogue"

Throughout Delpit’s article I found myself having to breathe. I was getting frustrated with the generalizations of African Americans, at least what I thought were generalizations.  It doesn’t seem real to me that a black woman, according to Johnson, needs three forms of ID. Nor does it seem realistic that black educators are not listened to or taken seriously when it comes to education. A quote from Delpit’s article that stuck with me is “Most likely the white educators believe that their colleagues of color did, in the end, agree with their logic.  After all, they stopped disagreeing, didn’t they?”  A part of me thinks that this is “assumed,” but after reading Johnson and Delpit’s texts, there is a part of me that thinks perhaps I am very naïve to think otherwise.  Is the world still that racist? Both Johnson’s and Delpit's text were written over 10 years ago, perhaps things have changed. I guess I just don’t WANT to believe that many white people still feel “privileged” or that they think they have the “power.”

The  big picture of Delpit’s article focuses on teaching with cultural diversity in mind.  In an idealistic world each teacher would have the insight into how to best  instruct each and every child sitting in front of them. We live in a diverse country and this diversity is what makes the world interesting. I agree that in the classroom, teaching with strategies that aim to incorporate cultural diversity would be wonderful. My school does have an ESL program but that doesn’t foster and nurture their diversity, it helps them learn to speak English and be more like the “norm.”  This link is a website devoted to diversity education. Delpit is listed under the references.

http://www.ncte.org/cee/positions/diverselearnersinee

I also found a great video with characters of Lisa Delpit and Christine Sleeter, a professor and author of many multicultural education books, discussing some of their arguments about cultural teaching in education. It is very interesting, and although the voices sound computerized, it is very informative.

Many times, teachers are damned if they do and damned if they don’t.

“A doctoral student of my acquaintance was assigned to a writing class to hone his writing skills.  The Student was placed in the section led by a white professor who utilized a process approach, consisting primarily of having the students write essays and then assemble into groups to peer edit each other’s papers. That procedure infuriated this particular student. He had many angry encounters with the teacher about what she was doing” (31).

First off I understand the student frustration. He wants to learn from the teacher and he feel s like other students will not be able to help him. Although this particular student was a doctoral student, he still felt like he had more experience knowing how the teacher should teach. This does sound familiar, as a teacher I have had students tell me the best way to teach.  However, the students usually jump to conclusions and do not realize the depth of what they will learn or the skill the lesson is geared at.  I will admit I have tried some strategies that have failed, but what if they worked and worked well.  I can’t help but wonder why Delpit puts this story into her article. Black and white teachers both incorporate peer editing as a skill to help students. It may work out well for some students, and not as well for others. The teacher needs to try it. If it works, great, if not, then try something else.  This young man she quotes sounds racist against white teachers, he says “”Now my buddy was in a black teacher’s class. And that lady was very good. She went through and explained and defined each part of the structure.  This white teacher didn’t get along with that black teacher. She said she didn’t agree with her methods. But I don’t think that white teacher had any methods” (32).  Yes, there are bad teachers, but there are also many good teachers.  There are corrupt policeman and there are also fine, heroic policemen and women.   There are corrupt politicians, but there are also many honest politicians.  I personally do not see color or race. I wish others didn’t either.

Teachers need to be a “person “first

“But those veiled command are command none the less, representing true power, and with true consequences for disobedience. If veiled commands are ignored, the child will be labeled a behavior problem and possibly officially classified as behavior disordered. In other words. The attempt by the teacher to reduce an exhibition of power by expressing herself in indirect terms may remove the very explicitness that the child needs to understand the rules of the new classroom culture” (34).

 I found it interesting that the example given was an example of dialogue between mother and child.  One mom says “Isn’t time for your bath?” and the other says “Boy, get your rusty behind in that bathtub.” Both moms love their kids, but each communicates differently. Teachers are the same way.  They all want to teach effectively but they can‘t be expected to know how children are spoken to at home. Also, adding a question mark shouldn’t give a student the right to misbehave.  “Its veiled nature only makes it more difficult from some children to respond appropriately, but in no way mitigates its existence.”  I don’t think the teachers “indirect terms” are veiled, they are just different.  A good teacher will know how to respond to a student who may question his or her authority, as a result of miscommunication or a “veiled command.” And I don’t mean by punishing the child but by explaining or refraining the command.

Johnson's "Privilege, Power, and Difference"

September 11, 2011

As I was reading the excerpt from Johnson’s book Privilege, Power, and Difference I wondered when in 2001 is written; before or after 9-11.  The world since 9/11 is a different place; the people of America have changed.  Johnson does not allude to this extraordinary event that changed the way we live and think in his book. So one can infer that it was written earlier .This does not mean what he says is not relevant, but I believe times have changed since then and much of what he says about the “privileged” is not entirely accurate anymore. Not only is his book written before 9/11, since then America has seen the first Africa American president.  America has also seen women run for president, and gay men and women serve in congress.  No,  America is still not equal when it comes to race, gender, or sexual orientation, but when I explore The Diversity Wheel” and reflect about “privilege” I do not think like Johnson when he says “privilege is organized according to race.” Nor do I think the rings of the “diversity wheel” are accurate. In 2011, age, race, ethnicity, gender, physical ability and sexual orientation should be the outer hub of the wheel and social-class should be in the inner hub.

Matt Clark begins his online article “Celebrity Justice: Prison Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” by stating “There are two criminal justice systems in the United States. One is for people with wealth, fame or influence who can afford to hire top-notch attorneys and public relations firms, who make campaign contributions to sheriffs, legislators and other elected officials, and who enjoy certain privileges due to their celebrity status or the size of their bank accounts. The other justice system is for everybody else”

https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/(S(myhtoimek3qnv445vssf5xb0))/displayArticle.aspx?articleid=22532&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

The privileged in our society are not the white men but the rich people.  Privilege does not discriminate against race, color or sexual orientations, as long as one is rich. Why do I say this? When I think of the privileged I also think of opportunities that are only available to the rich and famous. As Johnson quotes Peggy McIntoch “privilege exists when one group has something of value that is denied to others simply because of the groups they belong to, rather than because of anything they’ve don or failed to do.” One does not have to be an educated person who has won a Noble prize or has created a cure for infectous diseases to be privileged.  Service men and women do not even have the privileges of the rich and famous. Today, being privileged is white, black, Hispanic, and gay, as long as you are rich! Let’s look at President Obama’s Inaugural Ball invitation list. 

 According to Msmbc .com,
“Celebrities were a plenty at the balls, with Stevie Wonder, Shakira, Mary. J. Blige, Faith Hill, Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, Adam Levine, will.i.am, Sting, Mariah Carey, and Leonardo DiCaprio in attendance at the Neighborhood Ball. In addition, the other nine balls also featured a star-studded lineup including Kanye West and Kid Rock at the Youth Ball, Marc Anthony at the Western Ball, and Cheryl Crow at the Western Ball.” I am not sure why these people were invited to the ball. Sure they are talented, but thin about how many doctors, teachers, police and other Americans who work every day to make a difference. Actors and actresses are not the only rich privileged in the world. We know who they are, and many of them, unlike Johnson’s view, are gay, black and female. As long as they have money they have social status. Education is not a factor!  In fact President Obama is the first American president to not attend the Heroes Inaugural Ball. It seems as though it was more important to be with the privileged then with Metal of Honor Veterans who put their life on the line for Americans.

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The privileged are very lucky, they get the best seats to sporting events, they get invited to Royal Weddings, and Inaugural Balls. They shake hands with and sit and dine with dignitaries, and they get to travel the world and be admired by everyone

Meet Diana

Hi ,
I am a hgih school English teacher at EP High for the past 6 years. I am also a mother of two boys, Jerry who is  19 years old  and Quinn who will be 15 in December.
It is imporant to me to get my graduate degree because teaching and learning is always changing and I want to be able to teach to the best of my ability.
I enjoy golfing, tennis and wine tasting.