Posted on 03/16/2007 6:09:54 AM PDT by shortstop
Actually, it's sad.
The Rochester City School District has moved to “normalize” ebonics, saying that “Black English Vernacular” is as valid as conventional English and that students and teachers are welcome to use it.
Teachers, in fact, are even encouraged to use ebonics themselves in the classroom.
It's part of the multiculturalism and diversity cult. The belief that all things are equal, even when they clearly aren't. And the deep thinkers at the worst school district in the state have decided that their students will have better self-esteem if their “home language” is respected in school.
A recent district newsletter went so far as to suggest that students be asked to translate materials from standard English into ebonics.
It's ridiculous, of course. And disastrous. Most of ebonics is not a dialect, it is merely bad English. The absence of grammar and vocabulary, the emphasis on crudities, the fact that it is only marginally communicative and limits the ability to express complex thoughts and feelings, and that it isolates those who speak it from the rest of society.
It isn't something that should be celebrated in school, it is something that should be corrected in school. The purpose of an education is to prepare a young person for a happy and productive life by helping to develop the ability to make a living and be a good citizen. Lending credence to ebonics limits that by removing the essential emphasis on mastering conventional English.
Favoring ebonics fosters the development of a separate language, further dividing and alienating one portion of society from another.
But all that is obvious.
What isn't is that this policy is stereotypical, ignorant and disrespectful. It fails to recognize and honor, much lest emulate, the past and present of Black America. Even the name they've applied to this speech pattern -- “Black English Vernacular” -- presumes that this is the way black people do or are supposed to speak.
And that is ridiculous.
Clearly, everyone is free to speak any way they want to. But to suggest that ebonics is the normative black speech pattern flies in the face of the evidence. It also seems to be an almost racist stereotype more expected from a white bigot than a black teacher.
Here's some evidence that this way of speaking has nothing to do with being “black.”
Take Frederick Douglass. This man, who was raised in slavery and was 160 years closer to African language origins than the current generation, spoke and wrote outstanding English. His autobiography, speeches and newspaper columns were the equal in erudition and language mastery of any of his day. He wrote and spoke with a skill and precision that few people could match today.
In the city that was Frederick Douglass's home for much of his life, it is disgraceful to presume that black people are obligated to have a brand of English different from the conventional English that he was a paragon of.
Rochester's first black mayor – recently retired Bill Johnson – is a man whose English was outstanding. Though he had a touch of accent from his native Virginia, his speaking and writing were always intelligent, articulate and grammatically solid. He is a man remarkable for his powers of communication – whether giving a speech or having a conversation – and all of that is in conventional English.
Wouldn't it be natural, in a district focused on giving blacks a good education, for the former black mayor to be an example and role model? Shouldn't his obvious skill with conventional English be something students of all colors – including his own – should strive for?
With the rising emphasis in this district on Afro-centric education, don't you think that someone would have noticed that the great black leaders and thinkers of this country – like W.E.B. DuBois, Edward Alexander Bouchet and Booker T. Washington – wrote and spoke the very best English and did so on purpose?
For all the talk about Martin Luther King Jr., has anyone at the city school district ever read or listened to what he wrote and said? Sure, he had the cadence of the black church, but he had the English mastery of the university classroom. Dr. King played the role he did in the civil rights movement because he could communicate -- in beautiful, almost scriptural English -- the moral power of his cause.
Malcolm X so wanted to improve his English that he copied a dictionary over by hand. Anyone who has heard recordings of his speeches knows that he was a skilled orator with a scholarly dedication to the language.
Even the two most prominent civil rights leaders of today – Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton – while they both have accents and use the cadence of the pulpit, are also powerful speakers whose ability with the language is at least on a par with most other nationally prominent leaders. Some would say they both speak better conventional English than the president.
And a man who wants to replace that president – Barak Obama – is a black man whose proper and intelligent use of the language is second to none. Likewise, the last two secretaries of state have been black people whose spoken and written English were impeccable. Ditto for two of the nation's longest-serving black politicians -- John Conyers and Charlie Rangel.
Even the newest member of the city school board – civil rights lawyer Van White – is a person very dedicated to black issues, but whose language shows the refinement of an educated and intelligent man.
It seems that the past and the present show just the opposite of the district's assumption. Instead of “Black English Vernacular” being substandard ebonics, it is – as demonstrated by the individuals mentioned – often the very best usage made of our language. Being black means many things, but it doesn't mean using bad English. History and current events show that.
Black students – like all students – are helped by holding up examples and standards for them to rise to, not by lowering expectations and curricula to accommodate them. The language of a home that is otherwise dysfunctional doesn't necessarily have much to recommend it and it should not be endorsed by a school whose calling it is to raise everyone to a higher plane.
We are one nation under God, indivisible – even by language. All students should learn one English. And black students should not be sold short or sold out by a policy which, while pretending to respect them, actually demeans them by presuming and reinforcing a stereotype that is both hurtful of students and inconsistent with the aspirations and accomplishments of black Americans.
In slave days, the masters did everything they could to keep blacks from being literate and articulate.
In our day, some schools seem to have the same objective.
Yet another move by the liberals to ensure blacks never get educated beyond a certain point in order to keep them in economic slavery.
Diversity initiative gone mad.
They be crazy!
It be whack.
(Rochester, NY) CITY SCHOOLS EMBRACE EBONICS Actually, it'ssad.
The Rochester City School District has moved ta “normalize” ebonix, saying dat “Black English Vernacular” iz as valid as conventional English an' dat students an' teachers iz welcome ta use it.
Teachers, in fact, iz even encouraged ta use ebonix themselves in da classroom.
It'spart o' da multiculturalism an' diversity cult. The belief dat all things iz equal, even when dey clearly aren't. And da deep thinkers at da worst skoo district in da state gots decided dat they students will gots bettah self-esteem if they “home language” iz respected in skoo.
A recent district newsletter jet so far as ta suggest dat students be asked ta translate materials from standard English into ebonix.
It'sridiculous, o' course. And disastrous. Most o' ebonix iz not uh dialect, it iz merely bad English. The absence o' grammar an' vocabulary, da emphasis on crudities, da fact dat it iz only marginally communicative an' limits da ability ta express complex thoughts an' feelings, an' dat it isolates those who speak it from da rest o' society.
It ain't somethin' dat should be celebrated in skoo, it iz somethin' dat should be corrected in skoo. The purpose o' an education iz ta prepare uh young person fo' uh happy an' productive life by helping ta develop da ability ta make uh living an' be uh pimp-tight citizen. Lending credence ta ebonix limits dat by removing da essential emphasis on mastering conventional English.
Favoring ebonix fosters da development o' uh separate language, further dividing an' alienating one portion o' society from another.
But all dat iz obvious.
What ain't iz dat dis here policy iz stereotypical, ignorant an' disrespectful. It fails ta recognize an' honor, much lest emulate, da past an' present o' Black America. Even da name they've applied ta dis here speech pattern -- “Black English Vernacular” -- presumes dat dis here iz da way negroid peeps do or iz supposed ta speak.
And dat iz ridiculous.
Clearly, brothas iz free ta speak any way dey wants ta. But ta suggest dat ebonix iz da normative negroid speech pattern flies in da face o' da evidence. It also seems ta be an almost racist stereotype mo' expected from uh whitey bigot than uh negroid teacher.
Here'ssome evidence dat dis here way o' speaking has nuttin' ta do wiff being “black.”
Take Frederick Douglass. This nig, who wuz raised in slavery an' wuz 160 years closer ta African language origins than da current generation, spoke an' wrote outstanding English. His autobiography, speeches an' newspaper columns wuz da equal in erudition an' language mastery o' any o' his day. He wrote an' spoke wiff uh skill an' precision dat few peeps could match taday.
In da city dat wuz Frederick Douglass'shome fo' much o' his life, it iz disgraceful ta presume dat negroid peeps iz obligated ta gots uh brand o' English different from da conventional English dat he wuz uh paragon o'.
Rochester'sfirst negroid mayor – recently retired Bill Johnson – iz uh nig whose English wuz outstanding. Though he had uh whack o' accent from his native Virginia, his speaking an' writing wuz always intelligent, articulate an' grammatically solid. He iz uh nig remarkable fo' his powers o' communication – whether giving uh speech or havin' uh conversation – an' all o' dat iz in conventional English.
Wouldn't it be natural, in uh district focused on giving blacks uh pimp-tight education, fo' da former negroid mayor ta be an example an' role model? Shouldn't his obvious skill wiff conventional English be somethin' students o' all colors – including his own – should strive fo'?
With da rising emphasis in dis here district on Afro-centric education, don' ya th'o't dat someone would gots noticed dat da great negroid leaders an' thinkers o' dis here country – like W.E.B. DuBois, Edward Alexander Bouchet an' Booker T. Washington – wrote an' spoke da very bomb English an' did so on purpose?
For all da jive about Martin Luther King Jr., has anyone at da city skoo district ever read or listened ta what he wrote an' said? Sure, he had da cadence o' da negroid church, but he had da English mastery o' da university classroom. Dr. King played da role he did in da civil rights movement cuz he could communicate -- in fine, almost scriptural English -- da moral power o' his cause.
Malcolm X so wanted ta improve his English dat he copied uh dictionary over by hand. Anyone who has heard recordings o' his speeches knows dat he wuz uh skilled orator wiff uh scholarly dedication ta da language.
Even da two most prominent civil rights leaders o' taday – Jesse Jackson an' Al Sharpton – while dey both gots accents an' use da cadence o' da pulpit, iz also powerful speakers whose ability wiff da language iz at least on uh par wiff most other nationally prominent leaders. Some would say dey both speak bettah conventional English than da prezident.
And uh nig who wants ta replace dat prezident – Barak Obama – iz uh negroid nig whose proper an' intelligent use o' da language iz second ta none. Likewise, da last two secretaries o' state gots been negroid peeps whose spoken an' written English wuz impeccable. Ditto fo' two o' da nation'slongest-serving negroid politicians -- John Conyers an' Charlie Rangel.
Even da newest member o' da city skoo board – civil rights lawyer Van White – iz uh person very dedicated ta negroid issues, but whose language shows da refinement o' an educated an' intelligent nig.
It seems dat da past an' da present show just da opposite o' da district'sassumption. Instead o' “Black English Vernacular” being substandard ebonix, it iz – as demonstrated by da individuals mentioned – often da very bomb usage made o' our language. Being negroid means many things, but it don' mean usin' bad English. History an' current events show dat.
Black students – like all students – iz helped by holding up examples an' standards fo' dem ta rise ta, not by lowering expectations an' curricula ta accommodate dem. The language o' uh home dat iz otherwise dysfunctional don' necessarily gots much ta recommend it an' it should not be endorsed by uh skoo whose calling it iz ta raise brothas ta uh higher plane.
We iz one nation under God, indivisible – even by language. All students should learn one English. And negroid students should not be sold short or sold out by uh policy which, while pretending ta respect dem, actually demeans dem by presuming an' reinforcing uh stereotype dat iz both hurtful o' students an' inconsistent wiff da aspirations an' accomplishments o' negroid Americans.
In slave days, da masters did everything dey could ta keep blacks from being literate an' articulate.
In our day, some schools seem ta gots da same objective.
what 'chew thinking man?
all I can say is, "we be boned"
Whatchoo you talkin' 'bout, Wilis?
First Jive Dude: Shi* man, that honky mus' be messin' my old lady... got to be runnin' cold upside down his head. You know?
Second Jive Dude: Hey home, I can dig it. You know he ain't gonna lay no mo' big rap up on you man.
First Jive Dude: I say hey sky, s'other s'ay I wan say?
Second Jive Dude: UH...
First Jive Dude: Pray to J I get the same ol' same ol'.
Second Jive Dude: Eh. Yo knock yourself a pro slick, gray matter live performas down now take TCB'in man.
First Jive Dude: Hey, you know what they say... See a broad, to get that booty yak 'em.
First Jive Dude, Second Jive Dude: Leg 'er down 'n smack 'em yak 'em
First Jive Dude: Cold got to be. You know? Shiiii*.
I take it you mean to be sarcastic but you might be right on bullseye.
They are already teaching them to put condoms on cucumbers because "they are going to have sex anyway" and here comes the Ebonics.
Social programs studies and how to safely use illegal drugs classes are probably not too far down the road.
Of course, whatever they say.
Cute, but it's even worse, perhaps...
Da Rochester Skool Dudes, day wanna make it be OK fo ebonix, know whut I mean? Day say dat “Black English Vern.. van, vern sumpin” be good as white English, you know, an' dat brothers, hoes, an' bitches should be usin it, know whut I mean?...
In truth, even this article is too complex to be expressed in ebonix.
Fo shizzle my nizzle (whatever)
Here is your very own personal ebonics translator- soon to made availble to all public school teachers as part of their required cultural sensitivity training -
No kidding! Or, as translated:
"an' I be not kidding Don't make me come ovah there b**ch...
http://www.joel.net/EBONICS/translator.asp
Wassup? You hos wanna hang wit me and my homies
Hell to tha naw!
My nephews are in Rochester....can't wait to hear dem talk when they visit dis summer!
I can't wait for Obama and Hillary to pander to the Black inner city types by speaking in ebonics.
Since the kids already know how to speak ebonics, why do they need to be in school at all? Why pay teachers' salaries if all they are doing is validating what the kids are already doing?
Years ago, when this foolishness was proposed, I debated an enlightened Liberal educator who felt it "Included and empowered disenfranchised Blacks".
Here is what stopped him cold:
"I was a child in an neighborhood of displaced Eastern European immigrants where English was rarely spoken in the home. The children picked up a lot from their playmates, and it did not take long for them to begin learning it. In the two-room schoolhouse to which we walked, English was resolved quickly and by Second Grade, other than accents, the distinction disappeared. By Third Grade, we were all going to schools outside the neighborhood. In a very few years, the parents were speaking English at home..Never as fluently or as well as their children, but nevertheless could not function outside the neighborhood."
"ARE YOU TELLING ME THAT FOUTH GENERATION PEOPLE FROM AFRICA are genetically INFERIOR to FIRST GENERATION EASTERN EUROPEANS, you CONDESCENDING RACIST ????"
Hey, if it is okay for Mrs. Bill Clinton (RAT-NY) to speak ebonics in a black church, why not her young constituents in Rochester? She is such a shining example! (sarc)
And they wonder why people describe some blacks as "articulate". You can't have it both ways.
Y u axe dat? Who u be callin uh hoe?
I'm gonna have to brush up on my ebonics. You are far better than I at this.
It's racist, plain and simple. The libs don't think blacks are smart enough to learn to speak proper English. Either that or they are worried that they ARE smart enough and the libs don't want the blacks to have the tools necessary to succeed in society. Successful people don't need the government to take care of them and are less likely to think of themselves as victims.
"Chump don't want no help, chump no get no help."
Actually, I saw a similar reply on the previous thread.
This is absolutely ridiculous. Those teachers and administrators are failing those students and every adult on that payroll should be fired. Those kids are walking welfare - they'll not work unless they can communicate.
And ebonicatin like that used to earn me the wrath of the PC police on FR.com
What is it with Rochester ?
These kids will never be able to get a real job.
And heres I's thot yu wazza brotha from da hood.
I think you're exactly right. It's very deliberate. Karl Marx talked about two classes of people--the decision makers and the foot soldiers. I would think that our belief in democracy would be very inconvenient for those who want an elite class to control an underclass. And just consider who is pushing this...
Great.. they can hire the Beaver's mom to teach it.
"Find a Jooo and be off wit 'is head 'n' shi*".
Help me here, does that sound about right?
Nam Vet
Funny how some of the 'e-Bonix' sounds like YODA.
RAP LYRICS
TRANSLATED
On the other hand, this dialect IS pretty widespread, particularly in the lower classes. The media has almost completely blocked it out as if it didn't exist.
You forgot to insert the phrase "no what ahm sayin'?" three times (minimum) in each "sentence."
Hell, what I want to hear is the 'Ebonic ABCs',
loud and clear.
The left is determined to keep blacks down.
There is absolutely no doubt that this will prevent blacks from advancing!
Nothing happens in politics that is not intended, therefore it is the INTENTION of the left to keep blacks down.
Dats "Ayyy, Beee, Ceee what am sayin'?"
While radical Muslims are now the point of the left's (revolutionary) spear, blacks have an honored place in the left's universe and therefore must be kept down in order to foster the optimal amount of hatred and resentment.
I believe you are correct. LOL!
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