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.'
The Constitution provides for ADMITTING states into the Union...........Does it provide for EXPELLING them also?............
Disgraceful.
Who be boo?
Just when I think I've heard it all.....
Actually, this will help legalize discrimination in the workplace.
In a professional organization, for example a computer software company, it is legal to require that employees be able to read/write/speak/understand English in order to communicate with other employees.
By defining Ebonics as a foreign language (i.e. not English), I can now refuse to hire people who speak slang in the interview.
Sorry, have to take a letter off that conjugation and give you a B. You gave the third person plural pronoun incorrectly. The correct pronoun is "Dey".
Do you think Mexico could speed up their overwhelming exodus into California? I would like to give it back to them as soon as possible..........
Egads! Ebonics and PC--both are blight on our culture.
(White) liberals are always content to salve their own guilty consciences, regardless of the consequences for those they presume to represent. As long as a social program or educational reform "feels good," it is done. Consequences are for conservatives. So you end up with this really tragic situation in California. The kids who go through this kind of system have no chance--none--at success in the real world. They are doomed to a life of poverty, dependence, and lowered expectations.
All of which suits the liberals just fine, since those are the very characteristics that lead people to vote Democrat.
As I said: sad, sad, sad.
Stupid is as stupid does.
KaliPornia again. Typical!
SANKOFAI?? Geez, they could have at least come up with a real acronym.
How about letting all libbies/leftists move to one state & let them secede, thereby answering everyone's wishes.
Attendant: Can I get you something?
Jiveman #2: S'mo fo butter layin' to the bone. Jackin' me up. Tightly.
Attendant: I'm sorry I don't understand.
Jiveman #1: Cutty say he cant hang.
Woman : Oh stewardess, I speak jive.
Attendant: Ohhhh, good.
Woman : He said that he's in great pain and he wants to know if you can help him.
Attendant: Would you tell him to just relax and I'll be back as soon as I can with some medicine.
Woman : Jus' hang loose blooood. She goonna catch up on the`rebound a de medcide.
Jiveman #2: What it is big mamma, my mamma didn't raise no dummy, I dug her rap.
Woman : Cut me som' slac' jak! Chump don wan no help, chump don git no help. Jive ass dude don got no brains anyhow.
Oops. You're right.
You got to wonder if they will offer courses in ebonics at Cal State San Bernardino ... maybe Mary Texeira could teach that along with Sociology.
more dumbing down...
and people wonder why Blacks on the whole are not prospering as well as others while new immigrants like the Asians are passing up everyone except maybe the Jewish!
Gizoogle: No longer just a joke- a study guide.
http://www.gizoogle.com/
"IT WAS tha biznest of times, it was tha worst of times, it was tha age of wisdom, it was tha age of foolishness, it was tha epoch of belief, it was tha epoch of incredizzles it was tha season of Light, it was tha season of Darkness, it was tha spr'n of hope, it was tha winta of despair, we had everyth'n before us, we had nuttin' before us, we wizzy all going direct ta Heaven, we wizzle all going direct tha motherf*cka way- in short, tha period was so far like tha present period, T-H-to-tha-izzat some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, fo` good or fo` evil, in tha superlative degree of comparizzles only wit da big Bo$$ Dogg."
Setting aside for the moment whether or not "Ebonics" is a foreign language, or even a legitimate dialect of English, does anyone think that it contains enough vocabulary to adequately instruct someone in math, science, or the standard grammar of English?
I think not. Language has long been known to limit the educational capacity of people. It is probably the most powerful of the forces that shape a person's mental capabilities as they grow up. Primitive tribespeople, who grow up speaking a language that lacks a comprehensive number system, often cannot be taught such a number system later in life, as they simply do not have the mental tools to understand things like "zero" or any level of precision beyond "more than two". The world of Orwell's "1984" was controlled primarily through the limitations of the "NewSpeak" language, which took away from the populace the mental tools, acquired through language, to even be able to comprehend rebellion against their tyrannical government.
By incorporating "Ebonics" as the primary language of instruction, these "educators" are condemning these kids to a life in which they will lack the tools to promote themselves within the culture once they become adults.
Just another example of liberals trying to keep blacks as poor and uneducated as possible. Those who 'graduate' will be unable to function in society, and will be left to do the things that those outside of society do. Most will end up dead or in jail at a very early age, which is fine for liberals, because then they can push a guilt trip on whites and funnel more money into programs that encourage working and learning less. A good and proper education for everyone in this country benefits us all.
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.