Posted on 07/18/2005 10:25:14 AM PDT by 45Auto
Incorporating Ebonics into a new school policy that targets black students, the lowest-achieving group in the San Bernardino City Unified School District, may provide students a more well-rounded curriculum, said a local sociologist.
The goal of the district's policy is to improve black students' academic performance by keeping them interested in school. Compared with other racial groups in the district, black students go to college the least and have the most dropouts and suspensions.
Blacks make up the second largest racial group in the district, trailing Latinos.
A pilot of the policy, known as the Students Accumulating New Knowledge Optimizing Future Accomplishment Initiative, has been implemented at two city schools.
Mary Texeira, a sociology professor at Cal State San Bernardino, commended the San Bernardino Board of Education for approving the policy in June.
Texeira suggested that including Ebonics in the program would be beneficial for students. Ebonics, a dialect of American English that is spoken by many blacks throughout the country, was recognized as a separate language in 1996 by the Oakland school board.
"Ebonics is a different language, it's not slang as many believe,' Texeira said. "For many of these students Ebonics is their language, and it should be considered a foreign language. These students should be taught like other students who speak a foreign language.'
Texeira said research has shown that students learn better when they fully comprehend the language they are being taught in.
"There are African Americans who do not agree with me. They say that (black students) are lazy and that they need to learn to talk,' Texeira said.
Len Cooper, who is coordinating the pilot program at the two city schools, said San Bernardino district officials do not plan to incorporate Ebonics into the program.
"Because Ebonics can have a negative stigma, we're not focusing on that,' Cooper said. "We are affirming and recognizing Ebonics through supplemental reading books (for students).'
Beginning in the 2005-06 school year, teachers will receive training on black culture and customs. District curriculum will now include information on the historical, cultural and social impact of blacks in society. Although the program is aimed at black students, other students can choose to participate.
The pilot program at Rio Vista Elementary and King Middle schools focuses on second-, fourth- and seventh-grade classes. District officials hope to train teachers from other schools using the program as a model.
Board member Danny Tillman, who pushed for the policy, said that full implementation of the program at all schools may take years, but the pilot program is a beginning.
"At every step we will see positive results,' Tillman said.
Tillman hoped the new policy would increase the number of black students going to college and participating in advanced courses.
Teresa Parra, board vice president, said she worried the new program would have an adverse effect.
"I'm afraid that now that we have this the Hispanic community, our largest population, will say, 'We want something for us.' Next we'll have the Asian community and the Jewish community (asking for their own programs). When will it end?'
Parra said the district should focus on helping all students who are at risk.
"I've always thought that we should provide students support based on their needs and not on their race,' Parra said.
Tillman disagreed with Parra, saying programs that help Latinos already exist in the district. He cited the district's English- as-a-second-language program.
Texeira urged people not be quick to judge the new program as socially exclusive. She said people need to be open to the program.
"Everybody has prejudices, but we must all learn to control that behavior,' Texeira said. She said a child's self confidence is tied to his or her cultural identity.
She compared the low performance of black students to starvation. "How can you be angry when you feed a family of starving children?'
Ratibu Jacocks, a member of the Westside Action Group, a coalition of black activists, said they are working with the district to ensure the policy is implemented appropriately.
"This isn't a feel-good policy. This is the real thing,' Jacocks said.
Jacocks said he didn't believe the new policy would create animosity. He said he welcomed the idea of other ethnic groups pushing for their own programs.
"When you are doing what's right, others will follow,' Jacocks said. "We have led the way before the civil-rights movement opened the door for women's rights and other movements.'
I mentioned that in an Education class once -- "Ebonics is not a language." BOY, you should've seen the heads swivel. hahah. If looks could kill.
Oh, I know, they could study Ebonics and then they could get jobs as ????? I know, translators. For books and documents, UN stuff, journals. That'll give the students a LIFE. Which the sociologist needs, too, imho.
In a way I hate to say it, but there is one black organization in Oakland, CA, that does exactly the kind of economic help that you speak of - it is the Nation of Islam. They have helped set up a number of small businesses including a very successful bakery. The Nation of Islam is many things, but it is not an organization that encourages disrespectful behavior either of oneself or others. It does have a nasty reputation of racism towards whites. however. Still, I can accept that sort of thing as long as its right up front. That's the thing about Farrakhan - he doesn't try to fool anyone about his position.
It all pays the same.
LOL! I'm in the $% fon boof!
this is beyond stupid.
"It takes hard work, not a handout from the government, and many blacks never make the connection."
And until that changes, all the programs in the world won't make a difference. The question, then, is why is this the case? Is this a result of the "victimhood" culture? Something else? Do the blacks for whom this statement is true simply not want to make the connection (i.e. is it a case of wilful ignorance)?
The teachers unions should be utterly destroyed. Tenure should be done away with; teachers should have to demonstrate top level performance reflected in the product (i.e. the graduates) that they produce. Pay for excellence, just like in every other business and industry in the country(except for government). And the federal government needs to get the hell out of education - the Dept of Ed does nothing but set up financial incentives for school districts that guarantee failure. The Federal Department of Education is the Guardian of Failure.
You are correct. Even tho I could never support Farakhan, I have supported Nation of Islam businesses for the very reasons of which you speak.
That is an excellent idea.
I teach in an inner-city school in Indianapolis. The black students at my school speak "street" all the time, but they also speak correctly, and on average they are achieving better grades than white students at the moment. It only kills me when the TEACHERS say things like "I done PEEPED yo' game" when they're trying to say that they know that a student was trying to get away with something. I feel so sorry for those kids who are being treated like they are totally incapable.
I used to teach in the Inland Empire before I moved to Indy. The big difference between schools here and schools there? If I send a kid to the office HERE, he is suspended or worse. The problem is immediately taken care of. If I sent a kid to the office THERE, he was "counseled." You can't teach ill-behaved Bratleys, no matter what "language" you speak to them in.
You forgot "it bees." As in, "it bees day way."
Oops, should have been:
"it bees DAT way."
"And if a student there really tried to learn something:"
That is really sick of them. I firmly beleive that some liberals want to keep people stupid and dependent on govt services. Much as a heroin pusher keeps his customers dependent on him.
Calling Bill Cosby come in Bill Cosby Moonbat ALERT
This should help these students get ahead. When the students who were taught in ebonics graduate and cannot find a fulfilling job they'll sue.
ou-yay ever-nay alked-tay ig-pay atin-lay?
I disagree Michael. I've spent a lot of time in ed classes. Mine have been fairly conservative but they do emphasize compassion and understanding a great deal. I think this is less laziness than a bunch of "compassionate" nitwits wanting to be approved of by black leaders in their community, or wish not to appear racist.
I won't say the women I have been in school with are brilliant. But I can say that the vast majority have HUGE hearts. Without exception, they do, genuinely, want to do good for children. Sadly, quite a few are willing to do anything that some expert says is best. They lack the maturity and experience to judge it for themselves.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.