The Skin That We Speak : Thoughts on Language and Culture in the Classroom

I took serious issues with some of the stories and messages in this book, especially when it comes to observations from the classroom and the interpretation of those issues from the author. It is a fact that socioeconomic and cultural status are determinant forces in the learning outcomes of children. While this is true, one cannot remove responsibility from children and young adults and place it on teachers.Take this excerpt: "An African American student walked in halfway through the class, threw his bag on a table, and pushed a Latino student off a chair, laughed, and sat down on it. I waited for a teacher's response. Nothing... My instincts told me she was afraid of them.... The boy continued to disrupt the lesson...[asking the teacher when she tells him to shut up] 'Are you a racist? Do you hate black people?'... This 'new teacher...' There are different ways that the situation could have been dealt with... Her language created hostility..."Teachers are leaving the profession in droves precisely because of similar behaviors cited above. There are no socioeconomic and cultural explanations that excuse such behavior in the classroom. And the issue isn't an "inexperienced teacher" who doesn't know how to respond. Teachers shouldn't have to deal with such behavior to begin with. A teacher is a highly trained professional prepared to teach individuals about an academic subject. A teacher isn't a psychologist, a psychiatrist, a bodyguard, a prison officer, a police officer, or a social worker. These issues do not belong in the classroom. In fact, classroom management starts with the administration of the school. Instead of blaming teacher inexperience, one should start by asking why that student was 30 minutes late. Why was he allowed to walk through a building unattended? Who manages the hallways? What are the consequences for lateness, disrespect, unruly behavior, physical altercations, and bullying of teachers and classmates? Why isn't the school suspending and eventually expelling students who make the school and the classroom unsafe?Education needs to change. These students DO NOT belong in the classroom. A school is not the place where you solve all of societies problems. If these students cannot behave according to expectations, other students should not be punished because we as a society have decided school is where they will be "fixed." And It is enough time we stop excusing such behavior in a school as a "socioeconomic, cultural, and poverty issue." Students who DO want to learn deserve a safe and accommodating environment to do so. Teachers deserve a work environment free from fear, bullying, and violence by students who threaten their safety.

Delpit gives us a variety of essays from different authors considering what race means. Of most interest to me was Delpit's discussion about raising children and dealing with prestige dialects. An important book for parents and teachers.

It had heavy wear.

Great book just as advertised

Important topic. We all need to know this stuff.

An essential read for every educator and member of society, period. The assumptions we carry with us are so limiting, yet devastatingly so when we pass them along unwittingly. Delpit is provocative, so be prepared to think and rethink many things about language in the classroom and society you take at face value.

VERY INTERESTING BOOK AND SHOULD BE A MUST READ FOR EVERYONE.

This is a wonderful read for anyone working with children and families! Offering new perspective on how to look at race and culture! I would recommend this book to anyone working with children and families to take a different approach to working with these families!