The Silenced dialogue response.

 

"The Silenced Dialogue" by Lisa Delpit made very interesting points on how teachers are discouraged from their teaching strategies and how administrators often push a white agenda in their teaching. One point consistently implied through the chosen quotes was the need to teach children differently based on the students or the teacher's race. I believe that this point is very dangerous. The main goal of school should be an equal opportunity to equal education, no matter their race, background, ethnicity, or any underlying identities. 

I am probably just really struggling to understand what the differences could be between teachers of different races in bringing up curriculum and my brain kind of spews off in two different directions with it:

#1: Statistics show that Asian Americans and White Americans hold the most wealth per household. This automatically makes my brain assume that they have a different level of understanding and connection to the education system in America. It is one that they personally can relate to and one that they have been able to benefit from, so VERY GENERALLY SPEAKING, Asian and White voices are louder in education because they are the most educated in America. White and Asian Americans hold that system up.

#2: We can get more Black Americans and Hispanic Americans to become more prosperous and educated by giving them an education they can relate to. 

I would be lying if I said this wasn't concerning as a White American to try to empathize with, but it is the truth. On that same note it makes me nervous to divide a "White education" from a "Black education" because that calls for even more segregation and history shows that separate NEVER means equal. Now what are the solutions to this issue. 

Tying back to another huge point of discussion in the article, being able to listen and learn about all sides, ensuring everyone's personal identity is represented is SO IMPORTANT in receiving a "good" education. I learned a lot about this in last classes discussion. We got onto the topic of Christopher Columbus, and I was totally schooled. The other students in my small group explained that we need to stop treating him as such a hero. I immediately thought and challenged that we also probably shouldn't explain that he raped a bunch of Native Americans and cut off their hands and stuff. Now... OBVIOUSLY we shouldn't do that. No one IS doing that or stating that that is okay. I learned that the debate comes in opening up ALL sides and experiences in this conversation. While not necessarily painting him as a hero and showing people were harmed by his agenda is important.

I hope in class I can hear about these teachings and how the system built by white people has continued to uphold White America and suppress Black America and how I can be more open to all voices in order to improve the overall merit and productivity of ALL Americans.