Other Peoples Children: By Dakota Amaral
Other Peoples Children
By: Lisa Delpit
Quote One: "There are codes or rules for participating in power; that is, there is a 'culture of power.' The rules of the culture of power are a reflection of the rules of the culture of those who have power" (Delpit 27).
Explanation: I chose this quote because I feel like it is the unspoken rules that govern academic and professional success. As future educators, we need to recognize and acknowledge that not all students have been exposed to these rules at home and have been educated properly. It is our job as teachers to teach these codes while valuing and respecting students cultural backgrounds and identities.
Quote Two: "But parents who don't function within that culture often want something else. It's not that they disagree with the former aim, it's just that they want something more. They want to ensure that the school provides their children with decoupage patterns, interactional styles, and spoken and written language codes that will allow them success in the larger society" (Delpit 28/29).
Explanation: I found this quote important because it highlights the need for future educators to recognize the culture of power in schools and ensure that ALL students regardless of backgrounds are equipped with the skills to navigate life. Parents aren't rejecting education but want their children to learn the social and academic codes needed for success in society.. Educators must balance cultural respect with instructing providing students identities and the tools they need to survive society.
Quote Three: "I suggest that students must be taught the codes needed to participate fully in the mainstream of American life, not by being forced to attend to hollow, inane, deincontextualized subskills, but rather within the context of meaningful communicative endeavors; that they must be allowed the resource of the teachers expert knowledge" (Delpit 45).
Explanation: I can't emphasize this quote enough and how important it is for educators to teach their students the skills needed for success in society that is taught in a meaningful and respectful way. Delpit challenges traditional methods that rely on learning of isolated skills that don't prepare young students for the real world problems. This is crucial for readers to understand because it highlights to need for educators to provide students with both access to power and learning experience that is relevant, empowering, insightful, important, and make an impact on the students.
Reflection: After reading Lisa's powerful writing, one of the most striking themes in her discussion is the culture of power and how educators often fail to recognize that the way they teach reflects on the norm. Her work is a call for educators to listen to parents and communities, to ensure that students are taught in an engaging and useful way to prepare them for the world. This writing has ensured me that as a future educator I want to make is my responsibility that my students feel safe, seen, valued, and equipped for success.
Hello. I completely agree with your reflection from the reading. Teachers need to work with parents and the community so that the teacher can learn about issues that their students are facing or that certain students are facing and can educate themselves to help their students be successful in their classroom.
ReplyDeleteHi Dakota! I like the quotes you have picked as they highlight the importance of acknowledging how the culture of power is reflected in the classrooms. I agree with your explanation for the second quote you picked because it emphasizes the importance of recognizing the culture of power and ensuring that educators address this by ensuring that all students have the tools and resources they need to work their way through not only school, but also to set them up to be able to navigate their futures after school. However, like you have said it is important to respect the cultural differences that the students may have because it is a crucial part of who they are. As an educator it it's critical to teach students of all backgrounds the unofficial codes, while still honoring and acknowledging the importance of embracing their cultures as well.
ReplyDeleteHi Dakota! I loved the third quote you added. It is so important to teach kids skills needed for society, but in a way that is respectful. As a student I feel like in most things in school I was just memorizing for a test then forgetting it. Not really learning meaningful skills to thrive in society. Students rely on teachers to show them the ways of the world because not everyone's parents or guardians do it for them. This is why it is so important for teachers to show kids how to function in the world (while not being culturally biased).
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