Curr 509 - The Silenced Dialogue

When i started reading the article, yes the first thing i noticed was the way the author was writing and referring to the "white" teachers. She went on to describe how white teachers were teaching, and I kept asking myself what does teaching style have to do with race or racism. Teaching is a matter of style and not race. I agree with the author in the fact that cultural differences do affect the way we handle and portray ourselves. I agree in that the way we speak and act are part of our culture, and that it is hard to communicate across cultures, especially when guidelines are not clear. I understand why she is angry at the white teachers, because she does have a point that no one should assume they know more about a subject or situation if they themselves have never been in that situation. But, instead of getting angry and shutting down, teachers who feel this way should find a creative way to communicate or enlighten the others. Or since she is so focused on power, and it made me feel like she was saying it was wrong for someone to be in power, then she should strive to reach that position of power to make a change. It is true that one of the ways to make change is to make waves, but the best way to make a change is not to complain about or get angry it is to put yourself in a position to have the power to make the change.

Another way to approach the issues raised in this article are to change the curriculum,  implement teaching guidelines, specify to teachers that they must give clear cut instructions, and everything must be taught. Obviously, I know everything cannot be taught, but when I say that I refer to the part she discusses not assuming children know certain things like the alphabet when they reach school. Culture affects us but it does not define us, according to the article white teachers would say things such as would you like to put the scissors way in a suggestive manner. But, not all white teachers speak this way, I know I would not because I like clear cut directions.

As for power, in every society there are people in different levels of power, we put people in that position because someone does have to be the gatekeeper. A gatekeeper is necessary because if there wasn't one we could have people who do not know how to do something such as read or write themselves teaching an English class, and that would be a disservice to the person and to their students. I do not think people are lying to themselves thinking that no one is in power, or that there is no gate keeping. People are very aware of these situations.

All students no matter race or class should be taught the "codes of power", we cannot assume that because a child is white they will already know certain codes. But, everything cannot be placed on the teacher, it is also the students responsibility to ask for her when they need it. A change could be made if everyone stopped looking at each other as a race or economic level and started thinking that all children deserve the right to the same kind of education, and that children should be encouraged to ask questions, communicate, and ask for help.