Most of American society views those who speak AAVE as lower-class and at a disadvantage to succeed in life, regardless of age or race of either the speaker or those judging the speaker.
I think I had a large problem with a specific point in the introduction. It is stated that the book’s purpose is in part “to provide teachers insight into the educational dispositions necessary to expand the language repertoires of children , while at the same maintaining their connection to their mother tongue.” I understand learning a language in order to teach another language; I feel that that is important in understanding the students, not only for communication, but in learning a language, one often learns part of a culture. Why, though, do students need to hold onto the mother tongue so much? As Dowdy had mentioned, it creates a feeling of home. But are the languages in questions so different that this feeling of home is ripped away? Do the idioms of Standard English come haltingly to those who speak AAVE? My stepfather was forbidden to learn French in high school because his mother was punished cruelly for speaking the only language she knew when she started school, Cajun French. Although I feel a little sad for my stepfather’s mother, and even my stepfather, because he still wants to learn, I really don’t feel that it has caused that much lingering pain for either party. Mrs. Valia, my stepdad’s mother, may certainly have some bad memories and of course she doesn’t have positive feelings towards those teachers, or maybe even the fact that it was allowed to happen, but again, I think she feels that it was in the past and she got over it.
Would it be so hard for those who speak AAVE to teach their children Standard English? If a parent has learned Standard English well, there’s no reason in my mind to not teach their children Standard English considering the years of the belief that AAVE is an obstacle to learning, or at least being perceived as an intelligent person. Maybe that’s harsh, but isn’t the education (or at least the positive responses from those in authority) of the child more important?
In the words of Derek Zoolander, "How bout I answer your question with another question?" My question to you is - Why not? Why shouldn't students be allowed to hold onto the mother tongue? Especially if the student is fully capable of holding onto both AAE and "Standard English."
ReplyDeleteIn reading Chapter 11, The Clash of "Common Senses": Two African American Women Become Teachers, both Tanya and Linda are products of Blsck self-love. These women came from families where great importance was placed on being an African American. I see no problems with studying and remember one's cultural heritage.
Requiring Standard English of Linda and Tanya led to obvious personal discomforts. When Linda's competence and intelligence were questioned, she began doubting her strongest supporters - her family - who had encouraged her in every step of her education, BUT were speakers of AAE. Tanya, a speaker of Standard English, struggled for a great portion of her life with this language. "[She] faced the mainstream perception that she could not be professional competent, be a speaker of Standard English, and still be Black," thus creating an insecurity within her own identity.
Allowing AAE to go unspoken is the death of a language. Yes, this may make our task as teachers more difficult. But just the other day at my cooperating school, I was privileged to listen to the school's entire squad of English teachers discussing their ESL students and how to help them out. If they are making an effort to overcome the language barrier, shouldn't we? We cannot remain "blind to any other common sense which may be academically and linguistically valid."
This is what it's all about, you two. Great conversation. I appreciate your willingness to try out ideas, push against them, and challenge one anothers' thinking. There are no easy answers in this debate, but there are enlightened attitudes, and those come about through rigorous examination. They're also what will equip you to serve all of your students regardless of their linguistic diversity. Keep it up!
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