Ebonics being pushed - idiot educators

[Prudence]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

How about -

Little Johnny, I want you to succeed. Bad habits are going to make it hard for you succeed. The fact is that in the world of college and business, no one speaks like this, and it makes communication very difficult. I think it would be best, then, if we focus on not trying to talk like that or read words written like that at school. If you can completely weed it out of your life at school, then you can do the same later in life in college and in the job market.

How about, I don't want you speaking that Navajo any more. Educated people don't speak like that. You'll never succeed in this country if you continue to talk like that. If we remove you from your family, we can completely weed it out of your life and ensure your integration into society.

As if kids, young adults, adults are not capable of discerning appropriate speech based on setting? I manage every day to refrain from screaming "FVCK YOU!" at my boss, no matter how much I might want to. That manner of speech might be acceptible at home or with my friends, but is not appropriate in the workplace. You seem to imply that they would somehow be incapable of making such distinctions and that we should do it for them. I'm not into paternalistic education, thanks very much.

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by Prudence

As if kids, young adults, adults are not capable of discerning appropriate speech based on setting? I manage every day to refrain from screaming "FVCK YOU!" at my boss, no matter how much I might want to. That manner of speech might be acceptible at home or with my friends, but is not appropriate in the workplace. You seem to imply that they would somehow be incapable of making such distinctions and that we should do it for them. I'm not into paternalistic education, thanks very much.

First of all, I have suggested no such thing. What I have suggested is that in education, encouraging ebonics in any way is a disservice to these students. If we suggest in school that it is appropriate by spending educational time on it, when math and normal language scores are so low and programs such as music are being radically cut due to budgetary concerns, then we are in a way endorsing it as acceptable.

"Well, Interviewer man, teach be speak me dat dis be da cool tang in de biz place. Me not gets da jobbaden?"

Paternalistic education? Telling students about proper speech is paternalistic? I guess we certainly disagree on what is paternalistic. I'd like education to focus on helping kids succeed. Any focus on ebonics does no such thing.