Ebonics suggested for district

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.

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?'

"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.

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.'

Here ya go. I guess formatting isn't a part of ebonics :-)

Ebonics suggested fo' district San Bernardino County Sun ^ | 17 July 2005 | Irma Lemus Posted on 07/18/2005 10:25:14 AM PDT by 45Auto

Inco'po'atin' Ebonics into some new farm policy dat targets brother students, de lowest-achievin' group in de San Bernardino City Unified Farm District, may provide students some mo'e well-rounded curriculum, said some local sociologist. Man! De goal uh de district's policy be to improve brother students' academic puh'fo'mance by keepin' dem interested in farm. Compared wid oda' racial groups in de district, brother students go t'college da damn least and gots de most dropouts and suspensions. Blacks make down de second largest racial group in de district, trailin' Latinos. A pilot uh de policy, knode as de Students Accumulatin' New Knowledge Optimizin' Future Accomplishment Initiative, gots been implemented at two city farms. Mary Texeira, some sociology super honcho at Cal State San Bernardino, commended da damn San Bernardino Bo'd uh Educashun fo' approvin' de policy in June. Texeira suggested dat includin' Ebonics in de honky code would be beneficial fo' students. Ebonics, some dialect uh American English dat be rapped by many brothers droughout da damn country, wuz recognized as some separate language in 1996 by de Oakland farm bo'd. "Ebonics be a different language, it's not slang as many recon',' Texeira said. "Fo' many uh dese students Ebonics be deir language, and it should be considered some fo'eign language. Dese students should be taught likes oda' students who rap some fo'eign language.' Texeira said research gots shown dat students learn betta' when dey fully comprehend da damn language dey is bein' taught in. 'S coo', bro. "Dere is African Americans who do not agree wid me. Dey say dat (black students) is lazy and dat dey need t'learn t'talk,' Texeira said. Len Coopuh', who be coo'dinatin' de pilot honky code at da damn two city farms, said San Bernardino district officials do not plan t'inco'po'ate Ebonics into de honky code. "A'cuz Ebonics kin gots some negative stigma, we's not focusin' on dat,' Coopuh' said. "We is affirmin' and recognizin' Ebonics drough supplemental eyeballin' scribblin's (fo' students).' Beginnin' in de 2005-06 farm year, head homeboys gots'ta receive trainin' on brother culture and customs. District curriculum gots'ta now include info'mashun on de histo'ical, cultural and social impact uh blacks in society. Slap mah fro! Aldough de honky code be aimed at brother students, oda' students kin choose t'participate. De pilot honky code at Rio Vista Elementary and Kin' Middle farms focuses on second-, foed- and sevend-grade classes. District officials hope t'train head homeboys fum oda' farms usin' de honky code as some model. Bo'd memba' Danny Tillman, who pushed fo' de policy, said dat full implementashun uh de honky code at all farms may snatch years, but da damn pilot honky code be a beginnin'. "At every step we gots'ta see positive results,' Tillman said. Tillman hoped da damn new policy would increase da damn numba' of brother students goin' t'college and participatin' in advanced courses. Teresa Parra, bo'd vice super-dude, said she wo'ried da damn new honky code would gots an adverse effect. Man! "I'm afraid dat now dat we gots dis de Hispanic community, our largest populashun, gots'ta say, 'We wants' sump'n fo' us.' Next we'll gots de Asian community and da damn Jewish community (ax'in' fo' deir own honky codes). When gots'ta it end?' Parra said da damn district should focus on helpin' all students who is at risk. Ya' know? "I've always dought dat we should provide students suppo't based on deir needs and not on deir race,' Parra said. Tillman disagreed wid Parra, sayin' honky codes dat help Latinos already 'esist in de district. Man! He cited da damn district's English- as-a-second-language honky code. Texeira urged sucka's not be quick t'judge da damn new honky code as socially 'slusive. She said sucka's need t'be jimmey to de honky code. "Everybody gots prejudices, but we gots'ta all learn t'control dat behavio',' Texeira said. She said some child's self confidence be tied t'his o' ha' cultural identity. Slap mah fro! She compared da damn low puh'fo'mance uh black students t'starvashun. "How kin ya' be angry when ya' feed some family uh starvin' children?' Ratibu Jacocks, some memba' of de Westside Acshun Group, some coalishun uh black activists, said dey is wo'kin' wid de district t'ensho' man de policy be implemented appropriately. Slap mah fro! "Dis ain't some feel-baaaad policy. Slap mah fro! Dis be de real doodad,' Jacocks said. Jacocks said he dun didn't recon' de new policy would create animosity. Slap mah fro! He said he welcomed da damn idea uh oda' ednic groups pushin' fo' deir own honky codes. "When ya' is hangin' whut's right, oders gots'ta follow,' Jacocks said. "We gots led da damn way befo'e da damn civil-rights movement jimmey'd de doo' fo' honky chicks's rights and oda' movements.'

nco'po'atin' Ebonics into some new farm policy dat targets brother students, de lowest-achievin' group in de San Bernardino City Unified Farm District, may provide students some mo'e well-rounded curriculum, said some local sociologist. Man!

De goal uh de district's policy be to improve brother students' academic puh'fo'mance by keepin' dem interested in farm. Compared wid oda' racial groups in de district, brother students go t'college da damn least and gots de most dropouts and suspensions.

Blacks make down de second largest racial group in de district, trailin' Latinos.

A pilot uh de policy, knode as de Students Accumulatin' New Knowledge Optimizin' Future Accomplishment Initiative, gots been implemented at two city farms.

Mary Texeira, some sociology super honcho at Cal State San Bernardino, commended da damn San Bernardino Bo'd uh Educashun fo' approvin' de policy in June.

Texeira suggested dat includin' Ebonics in de honky code would be beneficial fo' students. Ebonics, some dialect uh American English dat be rapped by many brothers droughout da damn country, wuz recognized as some separate language in 1996 by de Oakland farm bo'd.

"Ebonics be a different language, it's not slang as many recon',' Texeira said. "Fo' many uh dese students Ebonics be deir language, and it should be considered some fo'eign language. Dese students should be taught likes oda' students who rap some fo'eign language.'

Texeira said research gots shown dat students learn betta' when dey fully comprehend da damn language dey is bein' taught in. 'S coo', bro.

"Dere is African Americans who do not agree wid me. Dey say dat (black students) is lazy and dat dey need t'learn t'talk,' Texeira said.

Len Coopuh', who be coo'dinatin' de pilot honky code at da damn two city farms, said San Bernardino district officials do not plan t'inco'po'ate Ebonics into de honky code.

"A'cuz Ebonics kin gots some negative stigma, we's not focusin' on dat,' Coopuh' said. "We is affirmin' and recognizin' Ebonics drough supplemental eyeballin' scribblin's (fo' students).'

Beginnin' in de 2005-06 farm year, head homeboys gots'ta receive trainin' on brother culture and customs. District curriculum gots'ta now include info'mashun on de histo'ical, cultural and social impact uh blacks in society. Slap mah fro! Aldough de honky code be aimed at brother students, oda' students kin choose t'participate.

De pilot honky code at Rio Vista Elementary and Kin' Middle farms focuses on second-, foed- and sevend-grade classes. District officials hope t'train head homeboys fum oda' farms usin' de honky code as some model.

Bo'd memba' Danny Tillman, who pushed fo' de policy, said dat full implementashun uh de honky code at all farms may snatch years, but da damn pilot honky code be a beginnin'.

"At every step we gots'ta see positive results,' Tillman said.

Tillman hoped da damn new policy would increase da damn numba' of brother students goin' t'college and participatin' in advanced courses.

Teresa Parra, bo'd vice super-dude, said she wo'ried da damn new honky code would gots an adverse effect. Man!

"I'm afraid dat now dat we gots dis de Hispanic community, our largest populashun, gots'ta say, 'We wants' sump'n fo' us.' Next we'll gots de Asian community and da damn Jewish community (ax'in' fo' deir own honky codes). When gots'ta it end?'

Parra said da damn district should focus on helpin' all students who is at risk. Ya' know?

"I've always dought dat we should provide students suppo't based on deir needs and not on deir race,' Parra said.

Tillman disagreed wid Parra, sayin' honky codes dat help Latinos already 'esist in de district. Man! He cited da damn district's English- as-a-second-language honky code.

Texeira urged sucka's not be quick t'judge da damn new honky code as socially 'slusive. She said sucka's need t'be jimmey to de honky code.

"Everybody gots prejudices, but we gots'ta all learn t'control dat behavio',' Texeira said. She said some child's self confidence be tied t'his o' ha' cultural identity. Slap mah fro!

She compared da damn low puh'fo'mance uh black students t'starvashun. "How kin ya' be angry when ya' feed some family uh starvin' children?'

Ratibu Jacocks, some memba' of de Westside Acshun Group, some coalishun uh black activists, said dey is wo'kin' wid de district t'ensho' man de policy be implemented appropriately. Slap mah fro!

"Dis ain't some feel-baaaad policy. Slap mah fro! Dis be de real doodad,' Jacocks said.

Jacocks said he dun didn't recon' de new policy would create animosity. Slap mah fro! He said he welcomed da damn idea uh oda' ednic groups pushin' fo' deir own honky codes.

"When ya' is hangin' whut's right, oders gots'ta follow,' Jacocks said. "We gots led da damn way befo'e da damn civil-rights movement jimmey'd de doo' fo' honky chicks's rights and oda' movements.'

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