I agree that students' home languages should be recognized, however in reality, being able to speak and write standard English is the ticket to a higher education, higher class, and better job. I know that it is unfair for those who come from homes where standard English is not spoken, but it is equally disadvantageous for students not to teach them the rules of the "cash language."
Christensen's classroom is very diverse. In a classroom like this, I think it is important to do activities that incorporate and celebrate ethnic diversity. I especially enjoy the poems and stories that use the students' home language. I do wonder what Christensen would do in a high school like the one I attended, where 90 percent of the students are white. What would these poems look like? Should people in power be ashamed of the world they have created? How can you make a classroom of privileged students learn a lesson about language without making them feel like their ancestors were evil?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment