Ebonics suggested for district

San Bernardino County Sun ^ | 17 July 2005 | Irma Lemus

[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.'

[Iron Matron]

I wonder why we even bother spending education dollars on these kids in the first place.

MINORITY parents,particularly mexican immigrants and inner city blacks, have obviously taught their children that living off of taxpayers is more acceptable than actually learning enough, or having enough self-respect to support themselves.

So, we get to spend hard earned money because the Mexicans won't learn English, and now the blacks think they too good fo da english..

It's like sending money down a bottomless pit.

STOP EDUCATING THOSE WHO CAN NOT BE EDUCATED.

[thoughtomator]

It's as if they want these kids to remain on the bottom rung of the social ladder.

Oh wait. They do.

[hineybona]

participating in advanced courses ?????
What the hell is he talking about ..How friggin dumb is this guy..GEEEZ I though the Ebonics thing was dead and buried ..Another jerk off college educated Lib with another stupid idea ..

[libs_kma]

"...Most will end up dead or in jail at a very early age, which is fine for liberals..

I'd have to disagree with that. Liberals don;t want them to go to jail because they don't get to vote Dem from the big house. Now when Hill-Da-Beast can pass her jailbird/convict/parolee voter bill, then yeah, I'll agree.

[txhurl]

Hysterical.

[Trueblackman]

President Bush said it best...."soft bigotry of low expectations."

[45Auto]

My primary and secondary education stressed critical thinking - a damning concept to liberal/socialist/commie creeps.

[Stu Cohen]

This should help the rest of you communicate with these new graduates .... biyatch (always end a sentence with biyatch or you risk have your street cred questioned).

http://www.atlantaga.com/ebonics.htm

[peacebaby]

Next there will be a class called ESL for "Ebonics as a second language," rather than "English as a Second Language."

[TAquinas]

"Ebonics is a different language, it's not slang as many believe,'"

So-called ebonics is neither a language or a dialect. It's an idiolect intended to distiquish blacks as different from the rest of the population.

I have no qualms about teaching black students in ebonics. If blacks want to ascend into the abyss of decadence, let them do so. It's their choice.

[rockabyebaby]

There are just soooo many things wrong with this, don't even know where to begin....can one get a job speaking ebonics???? I can see it now, let me ax my boss, geez, how stupid does that sound, I worked for the State of MA and we had a black guy who spoke ebonics, the rest of the office found it "refreshing", two of us found it offensive and ignorant, keep in mind this is LIBERAL Massachusetts so anything goes. We also had several immigrants answering the phones, a russian, an asian, one from Lebanon, one from Puerto Rico, one from Portugal, none of them spoke English, yet they got offended when they had to repeat themselves several times so they could be understood, (rolling eyes, shaking head in disgust!)

[PLK]

Tillman hoped the new policy would increase the number of black students going to college and participating in advanced courses.

Whatever. As a college professor, I will not even grade a paper that is not grammatically correct and written in an organized, logical fashion. They get returned, and until the student either cleans it up themself, or visits the writing center for assistance, their score is a zero.

[auntyfemenist]

Da man be all up on dat. I ain't down wit it myself, unowutimsyin?

[Stu Cohen]

Whatever. As a college professor, I will not even grade a paper that is not grammatically correct and written in an organized, logical fashion. They get returned, and until the student either cleans it up themself, or visits the writing center for assistance, their score is a zero

Ah ah ah!!!

You did not end ANY of your sentences with "biyatch"! Not even one of them.

You sir, are a grammatical disgrace.

[WillMalven]

It's the typical lowest common denominator theory of education.

"the bigotry of low expectations" is how our President expressed it.

[tfecw]

"STOP EDUCATING THOSE WHO CAN NOT BE EDUCATED."

Naw that's bunk. You just need someone willing to teach and isn't completely hamstrung by the school, teachers union, and parents that only seem to remember their children when they can use them to cash in on a law suite.

[HereInTheHeartland]

This is sick, abusive, and very racist. (They can't learn because they live in the inner city and are minoritys)
Lets just give them crack, booze and porn while at it.

Standards should be increased, not decreased.

Everyone can learn if they are expected to, race has nothing to do with it. Expections do.

[Lil'freeper]

"This isn't a feel-good policy. This is the real thing,' Jacocks said.

Then lead by example: "Yo, b****, this aint no feel-good policy. Dis be da real thing, yo."

[rockabyebaby]

Who be boo?

LMAO! Boo hoo? boo be boo!

[Iron Matron]

But I have a question. How long do you think it's going to be before it is a requirement to speak Spanish?<<

It already is for some jobs in some areas. If you want to work for the City and County here in Texas..one needs to learn Spanish. SO I've taken the language in self-defense (Spanish is EASY, BTW, no wonder they don't want the hassle of learning English..that might be..work. Which, takes..a...brain!)

You ought to hear some of the BS I hear the local Mex's speaking..especially if they believe no one around them knows Spanish..incredible..a$$holes..most of 'em.